Alexanders identification (Smyrnium olusatrum)

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

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[@fionnualamurphy125]

Loads of this growing along the coast walk of Malahide, Co Dublin and also those very large Chamomile. Don't know if they spray them. But I ate a bellyful last year and I'm grand

[@charliebrown6850]

have you tried eating perfoliate alexanders, which i believe is related? I have some growing locally but unsure if it is edible. Many thanks

[@blueotter5990]

I have been trying to find out its various nutrient values - iron, vitamins, protein etc but not had much luck. Does anyone have any information?

[@Nathanhiggerz]

Plenty vit c and a

[@eddieslowburn3341]

Looks quite similar to ground elder. Can you please explain the differences between the two?

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Hi mate. So they're from the same family (Umbellifer) so fairly similar. Firstly, Alexanders is an earlier plant. This time of year it's already in late bloom whereas ground elder won't be for a few months. Alexanders has yellow bloom to ground elders white. Ground elder has triangular stems, Alexanders has a sheath on side shoots. Also the smell of Alexanders is quite distinct, especially when in bloom, very floral.

[@eddieslowburn3341]

UK Wildcrafts thanks a lot mate! Learnt a lot from your videos, went and foraged some hogweed for the first time yesterday. Fried her up in a bit of homemade garlic butter, lovely!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Awesome. I love them. And they have quite a long season. Just keep in mind hemlock water dropwort whenever you pick something from this family. Doesn't look like hogweed but it's good to know it just in case

[@eddieslowburn3341]

UK Wildcrafts much appreciated man, I actually managed to identify regular hemlock yesterday whilst foraging, lots of it growing near me. I was proud of myself haha. I was transfixed by it, knowing that a plant has the capacity of killing you is very humbling

[@jim.m75]

I was just thinking, 'that's ground elder isn't it?', thanks for the clarification!

[@ruthsmith2367]

Hi, Ive got a load of this near me which somebody identified for me last year, not done anything with it yet so just brushing up on ID before I go out again and forage. Have you dehydrated any of it by chance, was going to give it a go and make some powders if I don’t like the leaves cooked. Might powder the seeds to, they might be good. What do you think thanks.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

This time of year the little 'brocolli like' florets of unopened flowers are the best part. Dig into the foliage and check the side shoots, they should have some young leaves on them. Steamed with a little butter, it's an acquired taste but I love them

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

I've not tried it dried yet but I can imagine if powdered and added to salt it would make a good seasoning, I do a similar thing with wild garlic.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

The seeds are great. Leave them whole and bring them when you need them like you would with peppercorns.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

*grind not bring

[@ruthsmith2367]

UK Wildcrafts thanks a lot, will go out in the next couple of days and try a few things out. We might all be foraging soon if no food in the shops 😎

[@irishfruitandberries9059]

There's a huge patch of these not far from my house. Unfortunately the council sprays them back every year

[@nomadnomad9109]

❤️

[@davidedge8808]

they always seem to have a yellowy tinge too

[@frze5386]

Yes! I live near the coast, and these guys grow everywhere in Spring, although I've noticed the first sign of them growing in October and they all seem to have yellow leaves.

[@MrsPillows]

No hairs on the stem either right ?

[@ThePostalGril]

there's some bushes that grow near me that are growing blue berries. (i don't know if htey're literally blueberries though?) they look so different to blueberries. they're like oval almost teardrop shaped and bright blue. inside they're red. what are they? are they blueberries? i should have got a photo, i keep googling and googling and googling and just can't find any photo that looks similar to what im lookign for, when i search for "blue berries" i get hte obvious search results. blueberries look round and darker blue/purple. these are bright sky blue and oval shaped.

[@jamesonminto8294]

Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) could fit that description

[@MCshlthead]

looks a bit similar to water hemlock though

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

It does a bit yes. As long as you check the smell and the sheath at the base of the flower stems it’s fine. But yeah never take the risk if not totally sure

[@julianmcfarlane8445]

I ate some and died. RIP me.

[@andreahodson7031]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👌