Wild and medicinal plants of British Columbia
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There are numerous wild edible and medicinal plants in British Columbia that are used traditionally by First Nations peoples. These include seaweeds, rhizomes and shoots of flowering plants, berries, and fungi.


History

Almost all major groups of wild plants in British Columbia have edible members that are reported to have been used by the First Nations peoples. Many are still used today. Native plants of B.C. largely contributed to the diets of First Nations peoples of this area before these people and their land were colonized.


Seaweed

Seaweed Seaweed, or macroalgae, refers to thousands of species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae. The term includes some types of '' Rhodophyta'' (red), ''Phaeophyta'' (brown) and ''Chlorophyta'' (green) macroalgae. Seaweed species such as ...
has been an important plant for many First Nations peoples of British Columbia. Along the coast, families still travel out to seaweed beds that have provided food for thousands of years. Dried red laver (Porphyra abbottiae Krishnamurthy) is a type of edible seaweed. Laver is usually gathered in great amounts in Spring. They were used traditionally by virtually all the coastal groups, with the possible exception of some Nuu-chah-nulth, or Westcoast peoples, and some Salishan peoples of Vancouver Island, and various species were used. They are harvested at their young growing stage in the spring, usually around May, the exact time depending on latitude, local conditions, and type of laver. Older plants were too tough to be eaten. Traditionally, women were seaweed harvesters. Working from canoes, women would pull seaweed from the rocks until their canoes were full. At the beach it would be piled up, covered with mats and then finally dried on
cedarwood Cedar is part of the English common name of many trees and other plants, particularly those of the genus ''Cedrus''. Some botanical authorities consider the Old-World ''Cedrus'' the only "true cedars". Many other species worldwide with similarl ...
frames, where is would hang to dry for 2–3 days. Sometimes it would be hung out for only one day, and then moved to the smokehouse for the remaining time. Lightly smoked, it was found to take on a unique flavor. The Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakwala speaking villages), for example, traditionally prepared cakes of red laver by covering the harvested seaweed and allowing it to decompose for 4–5 days, then pressing it into wood frames and drying it in the sun. The resulting cakes were then placed in cedar-wood boxes in layers alternating with layers of
chiton Chitons () are marine molluscs of varying size in the class Polyplacophora (), formerly known as Amphineura. About 940 extant and 430 fossil species are recognized. They are also sometimes known as gumboots or sea cradles or coat-of-mail s ...
juice (obtained by chewing the chiton and spitting out the saliva) and young boughs of red-cedar ( Thuja plicata). When the box was filled, it was weighted with several large rocks, tied down with rope, and left for about a month. Then the entire process was repeated, altogether four times. Finally, the cakes were packed in a box without cedar boughs and stored for winter, when they were eaten with smoked salmon at tribal feasts. At this time, they were torn into strips, chopped with adzes, chewed, and put into a large dish. Water was poured overtop, and the seaweed was stirred and allowed to boil for a long time. Then
eulachon The eulacheon ( (''Thaleichthys pacificus''), also spelled oolichan , ooligan , hooligan ), also called the candlefish, is a small anadromous species of smelt that spawns in some of the major river systems along the Pacific coast of North Americ ...
oil was added and the mixture was served in small dishes and eaten with spoons by the guests. The
Haida Haida may refer to: Places * Haida, an old name for Nový Bor * Haida Gwaii, meaning "Islands of the People", formerly called the Queen Charlotte Islands * Haida Islands, a different archipelago near Bella Bella, British Columbia Ships * , a 1 ...
used a similar method, leaving piles of the harvested seaweed to
ferment Fermentation is a metabolism, metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic Substrate (chemistry), substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in ...
for a few days before drying it. Dried seaweed cakes were chopped or shredded into pieces, then boiled or used in soups and stews. Kwakwaka'wakw people sometimes dried and toasted individual sheets of the seaweed on a rack over the fire, then powdered it and boiled it with water. The simplest method of curing the seaweed, most commonly used at present, is to spread it out on rocks in the sun. When dry, it is broken into small pieces and stored. It is then eaten dry, as a snack, or cooked in a variety of dishes. It is commonly mixed or cooked with eulachon oil, halibut heads, clams, fat of deer, bear or seal, or with salmon or salmon eggs. One contemporary innovation is creamed corn with seaweed. Dried seaweed is a common trade item among various families and communities.


Roots, sprouts, leaves, and rhizomes

Berries and seaweeds are widely eaten by the First Nations peoples of British Columbia. Traditionally, root vegetables held a very high status in First Nations food systems. Root vegetables were important for food, ceremonial and economic reasons. Some nations held a First Roots ceremony to show respect for the roots before the community went digging for their needs. Roots were dried in large quantities, traded from one place to another and were kept as a "back-up" in times of food shortage. For example, during the summer months, St'at'imc, Nlaka'pamux and Secwepemc women would dig the corms of yellow glacier lily (
Erythronium grandiflorum ''Erythronium grandiflorum'' is a North American species of plants in the lily family. It is known by several common names, including yellow avalanche lily, glacier lily, and dogtooth fawn lily. The Ktunaxa name for glacier lily is ''maxa''. De ...
). Families would gather upwards of 2000 lbs. The corms were cleaned then steamed or pit-cooked. Large quantities of yellow glacier lily roots would be dried for later use or for trade. In addition, Camas used to be an important staple across Southern BC. Access to and the use of camas by Interior communities was made possible through trade from the peoples of what is now northern Washington. Large camas beds on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands were kept free of invading plants through regular clearing and burning. Traditionally, for the Kwakwaka'wakw village of Haada, trade in root vegetables (springbank clover (
Trifolium wormskioldii ''Trifolium wormskioldii'' is a species of clover''Trifoli ...
),
silverweed ''Argentina'' (silverweeds) is a genus of plants in the rose family (Rosaceae) which is accepted by some authors, as containing 64 species, but classified in ''Potentilla'' sect. ''Leptostylae'' by others. Selected species *''Argentina anserina ...
and northern riceroot ( Fritillaria camschatcensis) with the Nuxalk and Heiltsuk was an important part of their regional economy.


Berries

For thousands of years, over 30 types of berries have been harvested in traditional territories of British Columbia from early summer ( soapberries, salmonberries, thimbleberries), to late fall ( cranberries, crabapples), depending on the berry type and location. Berries were an important part of traditional knowledge. First Nations peoples were shown when the berries were ripe by listening and observing the changes in the animals and plants. The wild rose blooming announced the readiness of sxusem (soapberries) for Nlaka'pamux. The song of
Swainson's thrush Swainson's thrush (''Catharus ustulatus''), also called olive-backed thrush and russet-backed thrush, is a medium-sized thrush. It is a member of genus ''Catharus'' and is typical of it in terms of its subdued coloration and beautiful, ascending ...
heralded the ripening of salmonberries for Tlingit, Tsimshian,
Haida Haida may refer to: Places * Haida, an old name for Nový Bor * Haida Gwaii, meaning "Islands of the People", formerly called the Queen Charlotte Islands * Haida Islands, a different archipelago near Bella Bella, British Columbia Ships * , a 1 ...
,
Haisla Haisla may refer to: * Haisla people, an indigenous people living in Kitamaat, British Columbia, Canada. * Haisla language, their northern Wakashan language. * Haisla Nation The Haisla Nation is the Indian Act-mandated band government which nominall ...
,
Oweekeno Oweekeno is a First Nations village of the Wuikinuxv located on the north bank of the Wannock River just upstream from its mouth into Rivers Inlet Rivers Inlet is a fjord in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, i ...
, Squamish, Nuu-chah-nulth, Ditidaht, and
Northern Straits Salish North Straits Salish is a Salish language which includes the dialects of *Lummi (also known as W̱lemi,Ćosen, Xwlemiʼchosen, xʷləmiʔčósən) ''(†)'' * Saanich (also known as Senćoten, sənčáθən, sénəčqən) *Samish (also known as ...
people. Soapberries hold a high place and have a lasting taste memory.
Saponins Saponins (Latin "sapon", soap + "-in", one of), also selectively referred to as triterpene glycosides, are bitter-tasting usually toxic plant-derived organic chemicals that have a foamy quality when agitated in water. They are widely distributed ...
in the soapberries allow them to be whipped up into a frothy 'ice cream' which was traditionally eaten in British Columbia. So-called 'Indian' ice cream has often been mixed in with dried meat, or may be served alone. Soapberries have been mixed with sugar and added to carbonated water as an alternative to pop. Berries contain vitamin C, fibre, and carbohydrates.


Traditionally harvested berries

North Coast: bunchberries,
blueberries Blueberries are a widely distributed and widespread group of perennial flowering plants with blue or purple berries. They are classified in the section ''Cyanococcus'' within the genus ''Vaccinium''. ''Vaccinium'' also includes cranberries, bi ...
,
cloudberries ''Rubus chamaemorus'' is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae, native to cool temperate regions, alpine and arctic tundra and boreal forest. This herbaceous perennial produces amber-colored edible fruit similar to the blackb ...
, cranberries,
crowberries ''Empetrum nigrum'', crowberry, black crowberry, or, in western Alaska, blackberry, is a flowering plant species in the heather family Ericaceae with a near circumboreal distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. It is usually dioecious, but the ...
(mossberries), currant,
gooseberry Gooseberry ( or (American and northern British) or (southern British)) is a common name for many species of ''Ribes'' (which also includes currants), as well as a large number of plants of similar appearance. The berries of those in the genu ...
,
blue elderberry ''Sambucus cerulea'' or ''Sambucus nigra'' ssp. ''cerulea'', with the common names blue elderberry and blue elder, is a coarse textured shrub species of elder in the family Adoxaceae. Description ''Sambucus cerulea'' is a large, deciduous ...
,
red huckleberry ''Vaccinium parvifolium'', the red huckleberry, is a species of ''Vaccinium'' native to western North America. Description It is a deciduous shrub growing to tall with bright green shoots with an angular cross-section. The leaves are ovate to o ...
, salmonberry, thimbleberries ( Rubus parviflorus), black hawthorn (jam/jelly), crabapple (jam/jelly), oregon grape (jam/jelly), soapberries,
strawberry The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus '' Fragaria'', collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely ap ...
South Coast: cranberries, red huckleberries, salmonberries, thimbleberries, oregon grape (jam/jelly),
cherries A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus ''Prunus'', and is a fleshy drupe (stone fruit). Commercial cherries are obtained from cultivars of several species, such as the sweet ''Prunus avium'' and the sour ''Prunus cerasus''. The nam ...
, currants, blackberries, gooseberries, soapberries, strawberries Southern interior: blueberries, cranberries, currants, blue huckleberries/bilberry (
Vaccinium deliciosum ''Vaccinium deliciosum'' is a species of bilberry known by the common names Cascade bilberry, Cascade blueberry, and blueleaf huckleberry. ''Vaccinium deliciosum'' is native to western North America from British Columbia to northern California w ...
), blue elderberry, soapberries, black raspberry, strawberries Northern interior: blueberries, cranberries, blue huckleberries/bilberry, crowberries (mossberry), currants, bunchberries, saskatoons, and cloudberries.


Fungi

Among the Northwest Coast peoples, despite the availability of innumerable kinds of edible mushrooms, few were recognized with names, and with some minor exceptions, few were eaten. In some coastal languages, such as Haida, there does not appear to have been even a general name for "mushroom." In the Nuxalk (Bella Coola) language, the name for mushrooms means "hats-on-the-ground". Sometimes ' puffballs' are associated with stars. In the Sechelt ( Shishalh) language, Shashishalhem (/ʃáʃíʃáɬəm/), for example, their name translates as "star-excrement". In other areas, such as Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) Interior Salish, puffballs are associated with ghosts and corpses. Puffballs and some tree fungi (
polypores Polypores are a group of fungi that form large fruiting bodies with pores or tubes on the underside (see Delimitation for exceptions). They are a morphological group of basidiomycetes-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi, and not all polypor ...
) were used medicinally by Interior Salish and other peoples. In addition, the Interior Salish did eat approximately six different types of mushrooms traditionally and some Chilcotin people were said to eat certain types. Considering the large variety and general abundance of different types of mushrooms and fleshy fungi available to First Nations peoples of British Columbia, it is somewhat surprising that so few were used traditionally as food. Possibly this is because it is difficult to distinguish toxic from non-toxic types. However, some First Nations peoples who did eat some mushroom species were certainly aware of, and had names for poisonous species as well. For example, the Nlaka'pamux Interior Salish recognized a whole class of "bad mushrooms," including at least one type called "hole-in-the-top," a
Lactarius ''Lactarius'' is a genus of mushroom-producing, ectomycorrhizal fungi, containing several edible species. The species of the genus, commonly known as milk-caps, are characterized by the milky fluid ("latex") they exude when cut or damaged. Like ...
species (tentatively, L. resimus). It was said that if one ate this, (his) stomach would "swell up"; the only cure was to eat bear's grease. Studies of edible mushrooms in the Interior Salish area of British Columbia have resulted in the collection and verification by mycologists of four traditionally used species: Cottonwood mushroom (
Tricholoma populinum ''Tricholoma populinum'' is a mushroom of the agaric genus '' Tricholoma''. It was formally described by Danish mycologist Jakob Emanuel Lange Jakob Emanuel Lange (2 April 1864 – 27 December 1941), was a Danish mycologist who studied the s ...
), Oyster Mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus; including P. sapidus), Pine mushroom (
Tricholoma magnivelare ''Tricholoma magnivelare'' is a gilled mushroom found East of the Rocky Mountains in North America growing in coniferous woodland. These ectomycorrhizal fungi are typically edible species that exist in a symbiotic relationship with various specie ...
) and Red Waxy Cap/Larch Waxy Cap (
Hygrophorus ''Hygrophorus'' is a genus of agarics (gilled mushrooms) in the family Hygrophoraceae. Called "woodwaxes" in the UK or "waxy caps" (together with ''Hygrocybe'' species) in North America, basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are typically fleshy, often wi ...
speciosus). Other varieties eaten by B.C. First Nations peoples include: Chanterelle ( Cantharellus cibarius), Shelf Fungus (
Ganoderma applanatum ''Ganoderma applanatum'' (the artist's bracket, artist's conk, artist's fungus or bear bread) is a bracket fungus with a cosmopolitan distribution. Description This fungus is parasitic and saprophytic, and grows as a mycelium within the wood o ...
), Slippery-top (
Hygrophorus ''Hygrophorus'' is a genus of agarics (gilled mushrooms) in the family Hygrophoraceae. Called "woodwaxes" in the UK or "waxy caps" (together with ''Hygrocybe'' species) in North America, basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are typically fleshy, often wi ...
gliocyclus), Morel (
Morchella ''Morchella'', the true morels, is a genus of edible ascomycota, sac fungi closely related to anatomically simpler Cup fungus, cup fungi in the order Pezizales (division (mycology), division Ascomycota). These distinctive fungi have a honeycomb ...
spp.) Jelly fungus ( Tremella mesenterica) and St. George's mushroom ( Tricholoma gambosum).


A list of 'safe' wild mushrooms of British Columbia include

* apricot jelly mushroom * bear's head tooth mushroom * black mole * blue chanterelle * cauliflower mushroom *
chicken of the woods ''Laetiporus'' is a genus of edible mushrooms found throughout much of the world. Some species, especially ''Laetiporus sulphureus'', are commonly known as sulphur shelf, chicken of the woods, the chicken mushroom, or the chicken fungus because ...
* comb tooth mushroom * common puffball * fairy ring mushroom *
golden chanterelle ''Cantharellus'' is a genus of popular edible mushrooms, commonly known as chanterelles, a name which can also refer to the type species, ''Cantharellus cibarius''. They are mycorrhizal fungi, meaning they form symbiotic associations with pla ...
(aka chanterelle) * hedgehog mushroom * hexagonal-pored polypore * horn of plenty (aka black chanterelle, black trumpet) * horse mushroom * ink cap *
jelly ear ''Auricularia auricula-judae'', which has the recommended English name jelly ear, also known as Judas’s ear or Jew’s ear, is a species of fungus in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are brown, gelatinous, and have a noti ...
(aka wood ear) * king bolete (aka cepe) *
larch bolete The name larch bolete is used to describe a number of fungi in the order Boletales which occur in association with species of larch, conifers in the genus ''Larix''. These fungi include: *members of the genus ''Suillus'': **''Suillus cavipes, S. ...
* lion's mane *
lobster mushroom ''Hypomyces lactifluorum'', the lobster mushroom, contrary to its common name, is not a mushroom, but rather a parasitic ascomycete fungus that grows on certain species of mushrooms, turning them a reddish orange color that resembles the outer s ...
* meadow mushroom * mica cap *
oyster mushroom ''Pleurotus'' is a genus of gilled mushrooms which includes one of the most widely eaten mushrooms, '' P. ostreatus''. Species of ''Pleurotus'' may be called oyster, abalone, or tree mushrooms, and are some of the most commonly cultivated edib ...
* red cracked bolete * rosy gomphidius *
saffron milk cap ''Lactarius deliciosus'', commonly known as the saffron milk cap and red pine mushroom, is one of the best known members of the large milk-cap genus '' Lactarius'' in the order Russulales. It is native to Europe, but has been accidentally introd ...
* scaly hedgehog *
shaggy mane ''Coprinus comatus'', the shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig, or shaggy mane, is a common fungus often seen growing on lawns, along gravel roads and waste areas. The young fruit bodies first appear as white cylinders emerging from the ground, then t ...
* slimy spike cap * western giant puffball * yellow swamp russula * yellow-gilled russula


Most common traditionally harvested plants by First Nations peoples in B.C.

Some of the most important traditional plant foods of British Columbia include: * Red laver * Nodding Onion (
allium cernuum ''Allium cernuum'', known as nodding onion or lady's leek, is a perennial plant in the genus ''Allium''. It grows in open areas in North America. Description ''Allium cernuum'' is a herbaceous perennial growing from an unsheathed elongated conic ...
Roth) * Blue Camas ( camassia quamash Greene) * Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria lanceolata Pursh
Fritillaria affinis ''Fritillaria affinis'', the chocolate lily, is a highly variable species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae native to western North America. Description It grows from a bulb, which resembles a small mass of rice grains. The ste ...
) * Bog Cranberry * Cow Parsnip ( Heracleum maximum) * Wild Hazelnuts ( Corylus cornuta) * Red Elderberry (
Sambucus racemosa ''Sambucus racemosa'' is a species of elderberry known by the common names red elderberry and red-berried elder. Distribution and habitat It is native to Europe, northern temperate Asia, and North America across Canada and the United States. It ...
) * High Bush Cranberry (
Viburnum edule ''Viburnum edule'', the squashberry, mooseberry, moosomin, moosewood viburnum, pembina, pimina, highbush cranberry, or lowbush cranberry is a species of shrub native to Canada and the northern parts of the US. It stands roughly 2 m (6.5 ft) tall w ...
) * Soapberries ( Shepherdia canadensis) * Kinnikinnick ( Bearberry, Arctostaphylos ova-ursi) * Salal ( Gaultheria shallon) * Mountain Bilberry (
Vaccinium membranaceum ''Vaccinium membranaceum'' is a species within the group of Vaccinium commonly referred to as huckleberry. This particular species is known by the common names thinleaf huckleberry, tall huckleberry, big huckleberry, mountain huckleberry, square ...
) * Canada Blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtilloides) * Oval Blueberry (
Vaccinium ovalifolium ''Vaccinium ovalifolium'' (commonly known as Alaska blueberry, early blueberry, oval-leaf bilberry, oval-leaf blueberry, and oval-leaf huckleberry) is a plant in the heath family having three varieties, all of which grow in northerly regions, inc ...
) * Evergreen Huckleberry (
Vaccinium ovatum ''Vaccinium ovatum'' is a North American species of flowering shrub known by the common names evergreen huckleberry, winter huckleberry, cynamoka berry and California huckleberry. Distribution and ecology ''Vaccinium ovatum'' is a small to medium ...
) * Red Huckleberry (
Vaccinium parvifolium ''Vaccinium parvifolium'', the red huckleberry, is a species of ''Vaccinium'' native to western North America. Description It is a deciduous shrub growing to tall with bright green shoots with an angular cross-section. The leaves are ovate to ...
) * Nettle ( Urtica dioica) * Springbank Clover (
Trifolium wormskioldii ''Trifolium wormskioldii'' is a species of clover''Trifoli ...
) * Wapato (
Sagittaria latifolia ''Sagittaria latifolia'' is a plant found in shallow wetlands and is sometimes known as broadleaf arrowhead, duck-potato, Indian potato, katniss, or wapato. This plant produces edible tubers that have traditionally been extensively used by Nati ...
) * Stink Current (
Ribes bracteosum ''Ribes bracteosum'', the stink currant, is a species of currant native to western coastal North America from southeastern Alaska to Mendocino County in California. ''R. bracteosum'' is a deciduous shrub, without thorns, growing to tall. T ...
) * Coast Black Gooseberry ( Ribes divaricatum) * Saskatoon Berry ( Amelanchier alnifolia) * Coastal Strawberry ( Fragaria chiloensis) *
Pacific Silverweed ''Argentina pacifica'', sometimes called pacific silverweed, silverweed cinquefoil, or simply silverweed, is a low-growing Perennial plant, perennial (6") with pinnately compound green leaves with silvery undersides. It is a member of the species ...
* Wild Crabapple (
Malus fusca ''Malus fusca'', with the common names Oregon crabapple and Pacific crabapple, is a species of crabapple native to western North America. Description ''Malus fusca'' is a deciduous tree growing up to tall, with a trunk thick. The leaves are lo ...
) * and Salmonberries ( Rubus spectabilis).


References

{{authority control Medicinal plants of North America Flora of British Columbia First Nations in British Columbia First Nations cuisine Indigenous cuisine in Canada Foraging