Can
you identify what's in this photo?
Each Wednesday morning
on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page
the Lutherlyn Environmental
Education Program posts a photo.
Readers
have all morning and afternoon
to
make their best guess about what the photo is.
Around
6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.
Each
week's What is it Wednesday post
will
also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog,
after it is posted on Facebook,
sometimes
with additional bonus information.
In
addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday
on the
Nature of Lutherlyn blog,
we
will be reposting old editions,
creating
a What is it Wednesday archive.
This
photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on
June 5, 2019.
And
the answer is....
The large leaves in the center of this photo are common plantain, also called broad-leaved plantain.
This plantain is different than the
banana-like plantains found in the grocery store – it is a common plant found
in yards and other open areas. It is one of the many plants we feature on “Edible
Hikes,” which is one of the most popular nature activities of summer camp!
Plantain leaves are edible (they have a pleasant nutty flavor) and also
medicinal – the leaves have anti-biotic properties and are soothing when rubbed
on scrapes, scratches, and itchy insect bites. Lurking is the background of
this photo is another edible “yard salad” plant – dandelion leaves!
Remember
to only eat wild plants when you know for certain what they are, what part to
eat, and when they can be eaten! As with any plant whose leaves you will eat, the young fresh-looking leaves of plantain are the best to eat. The ones in this picture look delicious!
To find out how you can join an edible hike through summer
camp, LEEP field trips, and other events, check out www.lutherlyn.com.
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