Identifying useful plants can be a valuable survival skill. While many plants are edible, some are not and in some cases, even a teaspoonful can be enough to kill you. For example, wild onions are edible but the death camas, which grows in the same areas, appears almost identical -- but it doesn't have the onion odor -- lives up to its name and can kill you. No doubt you have seen "Survivorman" Les Stroud find edible plants in most of his episodes. Be aware that he has had the benefit of specialized training by local experts to know what to look for. Memorizing a manual of exotic jungle plants isn't going to do you any good in a North American desert or forest. In addition to being a possible source of emergency food, some plants have other uses. You need to look into what grows where you live and camp and how you can use it.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor, pharmacist, or an herbalogist. The suggestions given here are gleaned and summarized from public documents and personal experience. I have tried to identify plants that are readily available in many places (at least in the Western United States) that might be useful in a survival situation and that don't require sophisticated processing.
I have lived in the Western United States all my life so I'm pretty familiar with some of the indigenous flora. Large parts of the West are covered with sagebrush deserts and juniper trees. At higher elevations you'll find various kinds of pines, firs, cedar, aspen, and maple. Willows grow along many lakes and streams. All of these have potential in a survival situation.
Pine nuts are a safe and flavorful source of nutrition. They can sometimes be difficult to harvest as they are locked in pine cones. They can usually be harvested in September and October and sometimes later in the year. Find a tree with lots of pine cones and shake it or use a long stick to knock down mature cones. If the cones are already at least partially open, you may be able to simply pull out the nuts. If they aren't open, you may need to lay the cone on a bed of coals to make it open up. If the cone has been properly pollinated and the tree has gotten enough water, the nuts should be large and edible. Lacking proper pollination or water they will be dried up, rotten, and inedible. Pine nuts are an excellent source of protein so they can be especially desirable if you are unable to obtain meat or fish in the wilderness. Pine and spruce needles contain significant amounts of Vitamin C and can be used to make a flavorful tea or chewed to freshen your breath.
Sagebrush is common in many of the semi-arid parts of the Western United States. The wood lights easily and burns quickly, even when green. The aromatic smoke from burning sagebrush is an effective anti-bacterial agent so it makes a good fuel for a "smoke shower". Sagebrush leaves can be made into a poultice for disinfecting wounds. When made into a tisane (a kind of herbal tea), it was used by Native Americans to treat internal bleeding, such as battle wounds and childbirth, but note that it is somewhat toxic to the human liver and digestive system and so it should be used sparingly and with caution. Breathing sagebrush smoke is said to help relieve headaches. An infusion (made by seeping leaves in water or alcohol) can be used to disinfect hands, walls and equipment. The leaves were sometimes chewed to relieve stomach gas but may taste somewhat bitter.
Junipers, which also inhabit much of the same territory as sagebrush, have a number of uses. Juniper berries are used to give gin its characteristic flavor, but you'll probably not be making a lot of gin in survival mode. More practically, Juniper is used for digestion problems including upset stomach, intestinal gas (flatulence), heartburn, bloating, and loss of appetite, as well as gastrointestinal (GI) infections and intestinal worms. It is also used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney and bladder stones. Other uses include treating snakebite, diabetes, and cancer. Juniper is also traditionally used to treat a broad range of health conditions, including bronchitis, colds, fungal infections, hemorrhoids, gynecological diseases, and wounds. It is reported to be effective as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent.
Willows, poplars, and aspens all contain salicyn which is closely related to aspirin. Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, a synthetic version of salicyn. Salicyn is found in the inner bark of willows, poplars, and aspen trees. Its use is recorded as far back as 400 B.C. and was extensively used among Native American tribes to treat headaches, other body pains, fever and to reduce inflammation. To use it, extract the inner bark from twigs. You can chew the bark or make it into a tea. Anyone that is allergic to aspirin should avoid using salicyn. I have personally tried using willow bark as an aspirin substitute and found it quite effective. The inner bark of aspen can also be eaten, although it is often somewhat bitter. The white powder found on the outer bark of aspen makes an effective sunscreen and also contains a significant amount of a naturally occurring yeast that can be used in making bread, pancakes, etc. Aspen buds can be soaked in olive oil to make a soothing salve for skin irritations and abrasions. Aspen twigs can be chewed into fibers to make a good wilderness toothbrush. It is said to be good for both the spindle and the fire board for the fire-bow or bow-drill method of fire starting. The wood, being soft, even grained, and tasteless, works well for utensils, such as bowls, spoons, cups, and anytime you need a lightweight, moderately strong wood. If you use aspen for making bowls, make sure the piece you select is completely dry and without checks, or it may crack after you have begun carving. A bowl may be burned-out by placing a coal on top of the blank piece of wood, and blowing until the surrounding wood begins to burn. After a time, scrape out this char, and continue burning. When you have attained the shape and depth you desire, sand the bowl down with a piece of sandstone, and finish it with mineral oil. Alternately, a good crooked knife makes short work of the soft, even-grained wood. Many thanks to Paul J. Van Horn, in his Internet article, The Quaking Aspen. As a firewood, it is on the low side in the amount of heat it produces but is easy to cut and burn. It tends to be sparky, so loading your fire up with aspen wood and sleeping near it is NOT advised. Aspen or birch bark from a large, mature trees (preferably dead trees) can also be used as shingles for your emergency shelter. A nice feature if you get rained on in a survival situation.
As you can see, it looks a lot like wild onion. Always check for the onion smell so you don't mistake death camas for wild onions.
Milkweed actually describes a whole family of related plants. It is characterized by a milky, sticky white sap. The fluffy milkweed filaments from the follicles are hollow and coated with wax, and have good insulation qualities. They are sometimes used commercially to create hypoallergenic fill for pillows. This fluff is also a good source of tinder for starting fires too. The sap is somewhat sweet and was used by Native Americans but it also contains small amounts of a toxin which can be harmful if you consume 10% or more of your body weight (good luck collecting and consuming that much!). As light and fluffy as this stuff is, you'd have to eat a HUGE amount of it before you have anything to worry about. BTW, milkweed is also a critical habitat for monarch butterflies.
Birch trees inhabit many temperate climates and are mostly found in northern latitudes of North America. Birch bark was used by Native Americans to make canoes. In certain species the bark lends itself to being made into paper. Birch tar is an effective glue. Tea made from birch leaves is an effective diuretic, which can be helpful in flushing toxins from the body but also speeds dehydration. Birch burns well without popping even when frozen or freshly hewn. Birch bark can be soaked until moist in water, and then formed into a cast for a broken arm. The inner bark can be safely ingested. Pieces of birch bark can be used as shingles to help weatherproof an emergency shelter. Birch leaves can be boiled to make a cleaning solution.
Oleander is described as being poisonous to humans but there were only 3 reported deaths in the United States over 20 years -- all self-administered. Oleander is an evergreen shrub with long narrow green leaves. Flowers may be white or pink. It grows in tropical and subtropical areas. You aren't likely to find it in mountainous regions or deserts, but it is sometimes planted there by people as decorative plants. The State of California uses it a lot as median foliage on freeways. The blossoms may be red, pink, or white. There are some obscure medicinal uses for Oleander covering a wide range of afflictions, but none have been scientifically documented. Skin contact does not appear to be a problem but eating the leaves or drinking tea made from them would make you sick, causing nausea, vomiting, diahrrea and erratic heartbeat. Some more severe results occur when it affects the central nervous system, producing symptoms such as drowsiness, tremors or shaking of the muscles, seizures, collapse, and even coma that can lead to death. Macerated leaves of oleander have been applied topically for treatment of dermatitis, loss of hair, superficial tumors and syphilis. A decoction of oleander leaves has been used for the treatment of gingivitis and as a nose drop for children. Do not use oleander for cooking, either as a fuel or in contact with food such as a stirring stick. Oleander may have flowers ranging from nearly red like those in the photo below to pink to white.
Russian olive trees are not indigenous to the United States although they are now quite widespread and are often considered an invasive species since they have a tendency to take over. Russian olives are often found along streams or near other sources of water in the Western United States. They have a narrow, silvery leaf and dark red bark -- and nasty thorns! The thorns can be used as sewing awls and fish hooks. You might even tie a large thorn onto a stick to make a spear for small game. The fruit is edible when fully ripe but quite astringent if eaten raw when not ripe. It is used mostly to flavor soups. Each fruit contains a single large seed which is also edible but quite fibrous. The fruit is dry, sweet, and mealy. Oil from the fruits has been used with syrup for the treatment of bronchial infections and the juice of the flowers is used to treat malignant fevers. The fruit is a good source of vitamins A, C, and E; also flavanoids. It is high in fatty acids, which is unusual for any fruit.
Prickly pear cactus is often found in arid or semi-arid regions. The fruit or cholla is edible, but you must first thoroughly remove the all hair-like spines or suffer great discomfort. In Mexican folk medicine, its pulp and juice have been used to treat numerous maladies, such as wounds and inflammations of the digestive and urinary tracts. The gel-like sap of prickly pears might be useful as a hair conditioner. The broad, flat, rounded "leaves" can also be eaten if properly prepared. Remove all the spines and cut away the edges, then peel back the skin. The inside can be consumed cooked or raw.
Sego lilies grow about 6 - 18" tall and have beautiful white flowers with a yellow and purple (or magneta) centers. They are native to a number of Western states and are often found in the same ecosystems as junipers and sagebrush. Sego lily bulbs were roasted, boiled or made into a porridge by Native Americans and were also used as a food source by the Mormon pioneers in Utah. It is the state flower in Utah.
Indian paintbrush is commonly found in Western America from Alaska to the Andes. It is characterized by spikey, bright red blossoms which give it its' name. The flowers were eaten by Native Americans as a condiment with other fresh greens. Selenimum is concentrated in the leaves and stems, making them quite toxic so eat the flowers only, save the leaves for your enemies. Indian paintbrush has similar health benefits to consuming garlic if only the flowers are eaten in small amounts and in moderation. Feed the leaves and stems to your deadly enemies only!
Dandelions are usually thought of as a pesky weed, but they can have many beneficial uses and they are plentiful in many places. The leaves have been used to treat liver problems and high blood pressure. Be aware it is a diuretic and will increase urine output. This may help flush out some unwanted substances but may also speed dehydration. Fresh or dried leaves is a mild appetite stimulant and settle an upset stomach. Some, but not all, studies have found dandelion helped normalize blood sugar. Dandelion greens can be added to or eaten as a salad. Martha Stewart was reported to have had inmates collect dandelion greens from the exercise yard to add to her salads in prison. Dandelion roots can be roasted and ground up to make a wilderness substitute for coffee. The dandelion flower has antioxidant properties and may help improve the immune system.
Marigold circling a vegetable garden is said to keep rabbits out. In your medicine kit, it is a particularly good treatment for cuts, scrapes, bruises, insect bites and minor wounds. It is also antifungal. You can apply a poultice made from leaves and blossoms directly to wounds or boil them to make a tea and apply that to wounds. Mash some fresh marigolds and apply them to insect bites to take out the sting. Marigolds may be yellow (as shown below) or orange.
Honey, though not a plant, is a naturally occurring substance that has many wonderful wilderness and emergency survival uses. Besides being a tasty, high energy treat, it can be used to ease sore throats and as an antiseptic on wounds. It is said to prevent infection and speed healing. Collecting honey from wild bee hives can be tricky and you're very likely to get stung, so if you're allergic to bees, don't try it. One technique is to smoke out the bees before opening the hive. Hang onto a couple of packets of honey from a restaurant or fast food place to tuck in your survival kit. Though honey may crystallize, it never spoils. Archeologists have found viable (edible) honey in Egyptian tombs 3000 years old! While honey is safe for adults, doctors advise against giving it to children under 1 year old whose immune systems may not be developed yet. Even though honey has many antibacterial properties, there are indications it can lead to botulism in young children. So don't coat the baby's pacifier with honey!
Spearmint is often used as a stomach soother as well as a flavoring. Chew a few mint leaves to freshen your breath too. Spearmint tea is calming, refreshing and soothing. Could be helpful reducing stress in an emergency situation.
Peppermint contains menthol, a natural analgesic, good for aching joints and muscles. Menthol is the active ingredient in many sports cremes. Peppermint is also claimed to have healing properties. Crush leaves and apply them to aching joints and muscles. Like spearmint, peppermint leaves can be chewed to freshen breath.
Mullein is native to Europe and Asia, but has been transplanted to America too. It is also known as the "velvet plant" and "Desert Charmin" for its soft fuzzy leaves. And yes, the name "Desert Charmin" implies one of its handy uses as toilet paper in a survival situation. However, be aware that many plants with fuzzy leaves are not so friendly and are likely to cause an allergic reaction, so exercise caution. Stinging nettle is fuzzy and you definitely don't want to even touch it, let alone apply it to sensitive body parts!
Forage on!
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