Wild Plant Identification
As well as being a herbalist practicing in a clinic, I also teach herbal medicine – and there is a lot to learn. The chemical makeup of plants, their medicinal properties, and the physiology and anatomy of the human body and how illnesses change can change them. However, one of my favourite parts of teaching is medicine making - the gentle art and science of creating tinctures, salves, and medicinal teas - and the way we generally start is in the middle of a field gathering herbs. Sometimes my more intrepid students will accompany me as we wade through a swamp, or hike into a forest to collect wild medicinal plants.
Wherever we go, the first lesson is always how to identify the plants we want to pick.
When we intend to ingest a plant or put it on our skin, it is vitally important that we have made what is called a ‘positive identification’. This means that we are absolutely 100% sure that the plant is the one we want, and that we have ruled out any look-alikes, especially any poisonous ones. A ‘probably’ or ‘almost certainly’ isn’t good enough.
This can seem rather daunting to fresh new herbalists, or anyone else wanting to make use of wild plants, but with some method and practice it can be achieved.
Here are a few pointers to set you on your way.
Start small.
Do not expect to be able to positively identify dozens of plants in one go. Pick a handful of plants that grow in your lawn or garden, plants you can look at daily, and spend a season becoming well acquainted with them. Can you tell Dandelion and Yellow Hawkweed apart? How about Yarrow and Queen Anne’s Lace? As you begin to see the differences between plants that look identical at a casual glance, you are training your mind to spot the details, the subtle variations in the shape of the leaves or flowers, the characteristics that set each species apart. Take your time, and be patient with yourself. As you perfect these skills you will begin to find it easier to identify more plan
2. Learn a little botany.
Most reference materials, whether books, websites, or apps, will use botanical terminology to describe plants and their various parts. Do you know the difference between a sepal and a petal? What is a node and where would you find one? Is that leaf palmate or pinnate? These terms are there to help you identify a plant, and while they can seem endless, don’t let them intimidate you. Learn a few at a time.
3. Use several references.
When I am identifying a new plant, I like to use at least three different sources. Years ago, this meant lugging a backpack full of field guides around whenever I was out collecting. Fortunately, modern technology has given us plant identification apps and websites, all handily accessed through a phone.
These apps are great places to start, but not every app will be 100% accurate 100% of the time, so use more than one to confirm your identification. If you are having difficulty deciding between two species, an internet search on “plant A vs plant B” will often give you details to look for to differentiate between similar-looking species. I would also suggest using at least one field guide in your identification. Books tend to be more rigorously edited and checked than websites, so can generally be relied upon to provide accurate information. If at least three sources agree on the species, you can assume a positive identification. If your sources differ, you may need to do some more research before identifying a species.
4. If you’re not sure, don’t pick it.
If it has poisonous lookalikes, don’t even touch it. Take lots of photographs and try to ID it from those. For your own safety learn to identify the common harmful plants in your area. Where I live, those are Poison Parsnip, Poison Ivy, and Giant Hogweed. Stinging Nettle, while a very useful herb, does exactly what its name implies – sting. It’s always a good idea to learn what to do if you should happen to come into contact with any poisonous or otherwise harmful plants that are common where you live – and if you are out hiking, pack accordingly.
5. Use all your senses.
Once you are certain about a species, and know that it is safe to consume, taste, smell, and touch the plant. Become familiar with the feel of the leaves, the flavour, and scent of the plant, and the colour of the flowers. Not only will this deepen your knowledge and ability to identify a plant, but it can prevent any mislabelling of dried or otherwise processed plants in the future.
6. Plants have not read the guidebooks.
Just as we can look very different from one selfie to the next, plants don’t always exactly resemble their pictures in guidebooks or apps. A plant that grows in inhospitable conditions can look very different from a plant of the same species that is content with its environment. Plants can also look different at the various stages of their life cycle. Some have different-shaped leaves at their bases than the ones growing higher up a stem, some live for two years, and only flower in the second year. Take your time to become familiar with plants at every stage of their life. It is often easier to identify a plant while in flower than earlier in the season when it only has leaves. Again, start small, and go slowly.
Identifying wild plants can seem difficult and overwhelming at first glance, but as with most human endeavours, time and practice can make it a safe, rewarding, and useful skill. Lastly, remember to take time to appreciate the beauty of the wildflowers you are gathering - that is a gift for which no study is required.
Rebecca
PS - Check out these articles to find out more about some of the wild herbs I use:
What To Do With Weeds - Summer Edition
If you’d like to join a herb walk (Aug 11, 2024) or a herbal medicine class, click here to read about our upcoming classes! There’s an Introduction to Herbal Medicine Class starting June 23rd, 2024.
