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Re: information on plants (fwd)

Miles,

Don't have any specific reference for you, but I can assure you that
only the fruits of the tomato, eggplant and pepper are edible.  All the
other parts of these plants are toxic to some degree or other. 
Likewise, only the tuber of the potato is edible.  The rest of the plant
is toxic to some degree.  (Not "knock you down dead after one bite"
toxic, but "eat some and you'll be really sick" toxic -- if you ate
enough it could probably kill you, but it tastes bad and makes you sick
so you'd probably never get there.) 

OTOH, any part of any of the brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels
sprouts, radishes, etc) that you can chew you can eat.  Obviously, the
main stem of the broccoli plant is too tough and woody to eat, and even
the leaves are rough, but the stems of the side shoots are one of my
favorite delicacies.  I peel them and steam them.  I like them better
than the flower.

Carrot and parsnip tops can be eaten, but I don't recommend it --they
don't taste very good.  Turnip and beet tops are very good, however. 
Pick a leaf from each of several plants.  Tender ones can be eaten raw
in salads and tough ones can be steamed and eaten with butter and
vinegar.  (Or fatback, if you really want to be authentic.)

Parsley and celery roots are edible, too.  Pea and bean vines are
edible, but only if you're a cow.  Too much cellulose!

Steve  (Maritime...)


Duncan McAlpine wrote:
> 
> --
> Duncan McAlpine
> Federal Way  WA  USA
> http://www.eskimo.com/~mcalpin/
> mcalpin@eskimo.com
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 98 08:44:24 Pacific Daylight Time
> From: miles reid <miles.reid@gte.net>
> To: mcalpin <mcalpin@eskimo.com>
> Subject: information on plants
> 
> Duncan McALpine:
> 
> Hello, I am trying to find out what other parts of vegetable plants are edible (ie. from the tomato or
> zuchini plants if the leaves, stems or roots are edible as well. I would be very grateful if you have any
> information on sources for this.
>  Sincerely,
>                                         Miles Reid
> 
> milesreid@gte.com
> ph:(310)840-5594
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