EatTheWeeds: Episode 13: Plantagos, Plantains

www.eattheweeds...
Learn from Green Deane about Plantagos (Plantains) a wild food spring and summer green near you.

[@jpjacobs436]

miss you green deane. you taught me so much about roughin it here in FL. home u come back soon.

[@GiantPetRat]

I juice 'em, as well. Their flavor is pretty strong, but at least it's distinctive. Excellent with orange juice!

[@EatTheWeeds]

Environment is certainly a significant concern. That said, there are some guidelines: 1) Uphill rather than down hill, as in up from the drainage of a road. 2) At least 150 feet from a major highway. 3) Wholesome water supply. While Plantagos are salad material when very young they are usually a pot herb. They grow quite stringy past their youth.

[@EatTheWeeds]

@rvlqcitizen Yes, many plants absorb different elements differentlly. I have not heard of that being a problem with plantagos, or dandelions.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Young and tender are good in salads (and a good rule to follow with most wild greens, that is young and tender.) Older leaves need to be cooked.

[@tribalwind]

i've been Juicing it, it's Great! (need to add quit a bit of fruit or carrot to kill the harsh bitterness)

[@EatTheWeeds]

@ABADYHWH It's usually not found in the wild. It is usually found in suburbia, in your lawn, in the local city parks. Of course, the also depend on which plantago you are askig about. Natives will be more widspread, imports will be citified.

[@JaniceCrowell]

Plantago lanceolata (something like that) is the one we have lots of in Georgia.

[@EatTheWeeds]

@JolicoeurJay I am not an herbalist, but I have been told by them that the native plantago can be used like P. major.

[@Tossdart]

Yup are in Northern Alberta to. I did not know they were yet another invasive species. Something for my neighbours to spray anywhooo lol. They get bored if they can't spray so I keep them supplied. Trouble is one does the other sees & does somedays it isn't safe to go out side besides if we go out we may wake up their baby the sprayer put to sleep as it passes by basinet on lawn, no bull either. lol. Tossdart

[@JeraPerthro]

You mean that incredibly common freaky little weed with the spaceships on top is edible? rock on! I've been letting my yard grow up and I have some very nice violet leaves. Heck, if I take some video later today of things outside, are you open for giving me an assessment?

[@EatTheWeeds]

@zbyrdman No those are plantagos. Most of the wild lettuce are in the Latuca genus.

[@EatTheWeeds]

@tribalwind Cooking reduces the bitterness.

[@Cheryl_izzy]

I have tons of plantain leaves in my yard wow! Can I eat lots of them raw in a salad?

[@EatTheWeeds]

@xxDogsoldierxx It's not a plantain. It is in the greater aster family. Dr. Francois Coupain says on page 411 of his book Encylopedia of Edible Plants of North America about Antennaria: "The gum exuding from the stalk has been used for chewing and was said to be nourshing."

[@EatTheWeeds]

@firebrandsgirl Does it have a seed spike? Send me a picture.

[@EatTheWeeds]

What geographical area is this? Vitis riparia has two to six seeds but don't eat it until you get a positive ID. How did the vine climb? It should have tendrils. This is exactly the kind of stuff one has to answer.

[@rvlqcitizen]

The plantain was used by the Native Americans also and esp. as a poultice for poison ivy. It can almost always be found close by to it. It is practically a miracle plant. The ones in our yards though, esp up here in Maine can be suspect, as our yards are often contaminated with lead paint from the houses being stripped and painted over the years. Same goes for other plants like dandilions. Do you reckon some plants absorb more lead than others?

[@EatTheWeeds]

@ABADYHWH Yes, but it depend on where you live.

[@firebrandsgirl]

i see plant like that but how can i tell. I see something like that in lawns all in Atlanta

[@EatTheWeeds]

@JeraPerthro Sure, send me a video or pictures.

[@JolicoeurJay]

I live on 10 acres in Bell, FL. We have these all over the place. Do these have the same medicinal uses as Pantago major? It would be great if I could use this in salves!

[@EatTheWeeds]

@JolicoeurJay First, I have a class tomorrow in Gainsvile...

[@tribalwind]

@EatTheWeeds thanks dean. but i dont cook my juice :) most wild foraged things i prefer to have raw,and probably 80% for juicing only.

[@EatTheWeeds]

@TheGazoo31 yes, or eat them raw.

[@cutlerylover]

I am very new to plants myself and have really enjoyed your videos! I just got that bit of info from another youtube video from a man who runs a site called learningherbs...I have become interested in bushcraft stuff and survival things lately so I wanted to learn all about plants and wild edibles...once again your videos are very friendly and informatiuve, I greatly appreciate the time you take to film and post them!

[@EatTheWeeds]

Thank you....bushcraft is a hobby of mine, and while I am not a survivalist there is some peace of mind knowing some wilderness skills and some of the edibles around you (plant and otherwise.)

[@cutlerylover]

AWESOME!!!! I think there is a good way of makign sure you have plantain, although it is easily identifiable...If you pull the stem apart towards the base of the leaf you will see a couple of stringy fibers that connect each part of the stem when you break them...Sort of the same way you showed how to help identify chickweed....But once again great informative and friendly video!

[@EatTheWeeds]

That's why we study foraging. Plantagos are in most foraging books. I know many hundreds of edibles but I am always studying to find more and learn about them.

[@Zidana123]

I've got a culinary application for the big tough late season leaves for ya! It even deals with the strings. After washing, dry the surface of the leaves throughly and chop into very small pieces, about 1 cm square. Mince a few cloves of garlic and get some red pepper flake and some salt ready. In a skillet (or wok preferably if you have one) add a small amount of cooking oil, roughly 1/2 tablespoon for the leaves of each plant you're using. Sorry for the crap measurement here. Usually I just eyeball this thing. Generally you want enough oil to coat the leaves but not to stand in the cooking vessel. After the oil is heated you add the chopped plantain, garlic, red pepper flake, and salt. Go easy on the salt, cause the plants will shrink up and it might wind up saltier than you wanted. Cook on high heat, moving the plantain CONSTANTLY. Keep at it until all the moisture is gone from the leaves. You must keep it moving. The goal is to dissicate the leaves without charring them, and with pieces this small on high heat if they stop moving they will char very very quickly. The final product should be dark green and very crispy. It's aromatic, spicy, and has a tiny bit of bitterness. You can eat it straight up with a spoon as a side dish, but it's also very good added to other things, like you can use it as a green onion substitute for omlettes or scrambled eggs. Put it into sandwiches! You can also sprinkle it on top of rice.

[@ricaldrich3424]

Nice Thanks

[@Cheryl_izzy]

the wild grapes in my yard have heart shaped leaves, serrated, blueish black grapes, 2 seeds inside, heart shaped front, but lay flat on table cuz of flat back of seed. And I saw no tendrils. What is it?

[@jedediahbc]

I was watching a video you posted on plantain and you said it was good for stings also, well I was painting the gable of my house and a red hornet stung me on the outside of my ear and had immense pain and swelling so I picked some plantain and mashed it up and applied it to ear and within 10 minutes it had quit hurting the swelling started to subsist. Thank you for your videos.

[@JolicoeurJay]

@EatTheWeeds What time is the class and how much is it? I really don't think we'll be able to make the Gainesville class, though. I'm really interested in what we have here on our property (and nearby) that is good to eat or for medicinal puropses. I'm a little too paranoid to only use a book to I.D. plants that we'll be injesting/applying to our skin and would love to have an expert show me exactly what is good vs. what is bad in our own familiar environment.

[@ABADYHWH]

@EatTheWeeds Thank you very much do you know of any books on edible wild plants. I want to educate myself.

[@greendeane1]

I plan to do more videos .... just life is getting in the way of living...

[@JolicoeurJay]

Our family (myself, husband and 5 kids) are working hard on our small 10 acre farm to be as self sufficient as possible. Would you consider coming to our place and teaching us about what we have growing here naturally that is edible/medicinal? If so, what would the cost be? We live about an hour NW of Gainesville. Thank you for your consideration!

[@CHARACTERK19]

@EatTheWeeds are blackseed plantains edible?

[@Omnignosis]

The older leaves give me cottonmouth. It sucks all the moisture out of your mouth, lol.

[@EatTheWeeds]

I would suspect juicing might work with the older plants, which get stringy. Just be careful. Don't take my word for it, prove it to yourself.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Great information. I never noticed. I went out and pulled a dwarf plantago apart and there they were. I presume this is good for all plantagos.

[@firebrandsgirl]

@EatTheWeeds I don't have a camara but i will try

[@Beepinsqueekin]

Well, since we live where these things grow like weeds (sorry, little joke there) my daughter & I harvested a huge bowl of the smaller newer leaves for our evening salad tonight. They were delish, not too bitter since we added it to regular salad greens (dandelion etc) I heard you can food process 3 C. plantain, drain out the juice, add 1 C. of this green juice to 1 c. of wild honey. Heat to combine & store in an opaque jar. Use this mixture as a tonic. Would be nice to stir it into tea! :)

[@EatTheWeeds]

First make sure you have a plantago. That's very important. Second, as for Achiote (Bixa orellana) it is planted here in Florida as an ornamental. I am compiling a list of about 300 edible plants found from Central Florida south as ornamentals. Third, thanks for writing... BE CAREFUL!

[@ABADYHWH]

Where can this platain herb be founded in the wild?

[@zbyrdman]

... thats wild lettuce right ?

[@firebrandsgirl]

If it is taller and darker, is that a plantago.

[@ginny0015]

Where are you?

[@EatTheWeeds]

I've never read or heard of any plantago root as being edible.

[@punk3rb0b]

really cool didnt know about the seeds

[@kathinspain]

When I saw "plantains" in the title I thought you were going to talk about bananas. Ha.

[@chad7148]

i see millions of these didnt know i could eat them thanks

[@sethzky77]

Hey Dean, you should reshoot some of your earlier vid's with higher quality for dvd. either way, thanks. Saw these growing wild in the Wichita Mountains of Oklahoma yesterday on our hiking trip, along with many others. We debated their use. now we know. thanks.

[@FoxyLobo]

Thank you so much.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Yes, to my knowledge, all plantains (the green not the banana) are edible

[@EatTheWeeds]

@TheGazoo31 NO! Psyllium not silica. Psyllium is a bulking agent, a laxative and other plantago seeds should act the same way. DO NOT EAT SILICA or plants containing anyone it (such as a Bidens grown where they mine opals.) Silica can cause throat cancer.

[@ilovemkakeup173]

The plantago major looks extremely similar to plants that I have in my yard

[@2boddah]

I just cant believe your noot married...you so sweet! My mom is single...(hint hint)

[@Rain-Peters]

hello I enjoy your videos. I appreciate the way you identify plants so clearly. I need a clear description of a plant called " Gotu Kola" I think ive got it in my yard but need to be sure. Can you help? thank you

[@greendeane1]

I have an article on Gotu Kola on EatTheWeeds.com. It's spade shaped with the stem on one side, has vestiges of teeth and the stem is slightly hairy.

[@Rain-Peters]

thank you.. ill check it out

[@Rain-Peters]

I still don't know if it is. I cannot find a video clear enough

[@Rain-Peters]

yes, and looked but they were not a good close up look,,

[@Rain-Peters]

ok, ill explain better. I don't like going to a doctor. I use plants, always have. but I live on Vancouver island in Canada. this is a rain forest. we are not as cold as the rest of Canada. that being said, a lot of the herbs are smaller here, so I need close-ups of the flowers and leaves. size is almost always a bit smaller here in plants. I would so very appreciate your help.. thank you.

[@EatTheWeeds]

All plantagos are edible. All plantago seeds are edible.

[@MakinLifeEasier]

I recently started watching these videos but I am still wondering about this plant that some people call a plantain and some call a banana. I have one and in the early stage of growing the yellow banana things, they are like potatoes but after they turn black they are sweet. I would just like to know what to call them. Any help would be appreciated.

[@YouADamnWitch]

They are Plantain Bananas (literally). Not related to the yard plant, they just share a name. Like the many hogweeds.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Plantago seeds are edible.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Mom? How about you?