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How can i be sure i have a Stachys byzantina in my hands? What are the plants that look alike them, that i should be wary? (lemmy.eco.br)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by Prefeitura@lemmy.eco.br to c/askscience@lemmy.world
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I'm gonna eat that motherfucker, so I need to be sure. Can birds, cats and dogs also eat them?

Edit: my cat sneaked into the room and ate a bit of a leaf, the same size I had tried myself yesterday. We dead, I'm typing from the afterlife. I tried uploading an actual photo of my plant but lemmy won't let me.

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[–] FoxyFerengi@lemm.ee 8 points 5 months ago

When trying to identify a plant, its characteristics are what you go by. This page has some that you can use for this plant, though you'll need a dissecting microscope most likely for some things, like stamens (the things that have pollen).

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/stachys/byzantina/

[–] QuadratureSurfer@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months ago (2 children)

No idea about cats/dogs.

It's not accurate enough to be sure about whether you can eat it or not, but if you want to take a look at visually similar plants in your area:

Use the iNaturalist app.

Take a picture of it (or upload the picture you already have).

Click on "View Suggestions" and it should highlight visually similar plants as well as highlight matches that are most commonly found around you.

You don't need to submit the photo to their database, but if you do make sure to check the "it is cultivated" box if it's something you've grown yourself.

Again, do not depend on this to decide whether it's safe or not, but at the very least it will help you to research visually similar plants in your area.

[–] Prefeitura@lemmy.eco.br 4 points 5 months ago

I'll try the app. It's funny that I bought it from a plant nursery, BUT they also had another plant, really similar but had a striking floral scent when you crushed the leaves (like lavender), and when I went to look up the name she gave me I found a whole set of different plant that had nothing to do with that one.

Anyway. I'm probably gonna dunk in batter then fry out when it grows enough leaves... if it's the right plant (an unconventional edible produce called "peixinho da horta").

I already got myself "flying potatoes" (another PANC, "cará do ar") and I hope I can eat them in the same meal, that would be cool af.

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I mean, that looks like lamb's ear, but I wouldn't suggest eating it - it's only technically edible, lol. It has a nice pineappley smell, though!

[–] Prefeitura@lemmy.eco.br 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Oh this one on the pic isn't mine. It was silly to not post mine, but I didn't had it with me when I decided to post.

Mine doesn't smells pineappley. Also doesn't smell like fish, which some places said it tasted like. Doesn't taste like fish either (I tasted a tiny bit, raw).

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

what a madlad - I see no reason to eat lamb's ear, what has you interested in eating it?

[–] Prefeitura@lemmy.eco.br 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Kinda because I can, kinda for the hell of it, kinda because people used to do that and these plants are resilient and I like the idea to have fresh edible stuff around then the zombie apocalypse breaks loose.

Bonus: Also this kinda feels like dungeon meshi but with real foods lol

https://pt-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Plantas_aliment%C3%ADcias_n%C3%A3o_convencionais?_x_tr_sl=pt&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=pt-BR&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Tap for spoilerFlying potatoes. Yay.

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Hey, that's cool and all (big fan of non-conventional and wild foods) but lamb's ear is the wrong plant to be eating even in a zombie apocalypse - you're going to waste more energy chewing and trying to digest it than it will give you.

You might be more interested in ditch lilies, a common ornamental and invasive that produces starchy edible tubers, and it produces edible and tasty buds and flowers.

Yucca filamentosa is another common landscaping plant that produces edible buds and flowers, and the flowering stem can be cooked like squash. The roots have so much saponins that it can be used as a soap substitute.

Lamb's ear is useful as toilet paper, maybe as a menstrual pad (don't quote me but I heard it might have some antimicrobial activity maybe?), but it's not a useful food.

Realistically in a famine scenario, you should hopefully know how to harvest and make acorns edible because they're a staple food and oaks are so common lots of places. Also being able to identify and harvest nuts like black walnut would be useful. Much more practical, and something you can go ahead and get practice with now.

[–] Prefeitura@lemmy.eco.br 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Username checks out - dandelion is also a PANC lol! Never tried it, thought. But it's on my list, I haven't crossed a dandelion for a while, I'll get some seeds when I have the chance.

That's an useful information you have. It does have a really high fiber content and is low in calories indeed. According to embrapa it have a decent amount of iron, potassium and calcium... as a fatty, may not be the worse idea (gonna have to ditch the batter fry, though. Dammit.)

I'll look up these others you said, if they are as tasty as they are pretty, then it's a deal!

No acorns around here, unfortunately. I'm in Brazil's capital. There are several fruit trees scattered around the town (including an whole avenue of mangoes and another of jackfruit), but fruits are seasonal and don't make proper meals.

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 5 months ago

I've made wine out of dandelions, and I have eaten the greens and used the roots both as a vegetable and roasted to make a tea. The greens are really bitter, but can be harvested early enough in their growth and with a technique of boiling and pitching the water that helps make them more palatable. Overall, dandelions are not the greatest food plant, even if they're common where I am.

I don't know enough about the flora in Brazil to be of much use there, but yeah - don't eat lamb's ear, that's gross lol.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 months ago

!plantid@mander.xyz might be able to help.