Calla palustris

Maturing fruit of Calla palustris (Bog Arum, Marsh Calla) growing in a shallow channel made by beavers through a shrub carr/sedge meadow.

comments (21)

Christine Young

Lion

I think this is the plant that was used to make missen bread. Posted 5 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  It was but what a process to get rid of the oxalic acid to make it edible. Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Seriously. It would definitely be a last resort. Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      I think cattails would be a safer and better tasting choice. Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Oh definitely! Cattails are awesome. We jokingly call them "swamp hotdogs". I particularly like the pollen. Posted 5 years ago
      2. Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        I've only eaten the starch from the roots and that was a long time ago. One of these days I've got to get the immature flower spikes and roast them. They're supposed to sweet like sweet corn. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        I've never pulled up the rhizomes, but have had the young shoots that emerge in the spring. I soaked them in vinegar before eating though in case of parasites - not sure if that helps, but it made me feel a bit better about eating them ;P. I haven't tried the cattail-on-the-cob flower spikes yet, but heard that the upper, male portion tastes the best. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        Its a lot of work getting the starch from the cattail roots but it is much safer than Calla. Also, you can use the pollen as an addition to flour to boost its nutrient content. I think we ate the new leaves (I was about 14 so its been a long time) but took the ones that were still deeply enclosed in the emerging shoots. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        The emerging shoots are good. And as you said, the pollen has some awesome nutritional benefits. It's a perfect addition to muffins and pancakes :). Posted 5 years ago
        
        Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        I'm going to have to make an effort this coming spring/summer to collect pollen. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Definitely! Posted 5 years ago
        
        Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        Did you know bog buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) rhizomes were also eaten as a last resort for their starch? I read the flavor was pretty bad. Posted 5 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Starting a new thread because the last one was full...I did not know that about buckbean! Interesting! It amazes me how many plants were once used as edibles. For example, my grandmother grew up eating pokeweed, among other things! One thing on my list to try this coming summer is autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata). I want to collect the berries to make ketchup. Posted 5 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  My grandmother also ate boiled pokeweed greens in the spring. A southern thing I guess. I've eaten marsh marigold leaves but they had to be cooked in two changes of water to remove the toxic compounds. Isn't one species of Eleaganus some sort of superfood?
  
  Bog buckbean was a last resort food from the descriptions I've read. Where you live (and where I once did when I was very young) you should be able to find a really delicious tuber from Apios americana. I've eaten them and they are good (well, I think so). Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Neat! I've never had marsh marigold, but have heard that the flower buds are really good when pickled. And, yes - I think Elaeagnus is said to have amazing nutritional benefits.
    
    We do have Apios americana! In fact, I just found some last summer:
    
    Have you ever tried black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) flowers? They are delicious and so versatile, but not very easy to collect. Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      Not yet. It does grow in some places where it was planted. Posted 5 years ago
3. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  I think a list of wild edibles should be started. Posted 5 years ago
4. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Yes!! Go for it :) Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      Okay! Posted 5 years ago
    2. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      Apios is the first one. Posted 5 years ago
    3. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Great! Posted 5 years ago

The Calla

Calla (Bog Arum, Marsh Calla) is a genus of flowering plant in the family Araceae, containing the single species Calla palustris. It is native to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, in central, eastern and northern Europe (France and Norway eastward), northern Asia and northern North America (Alaska, Canada, northeastern contiguous United States).

Info 5 0

Similar species: Water-plantains, Seagrass

Species identified by Gary B