Guided Walk

Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Name and Date: Claire Mann 6/10/17

Program Title: Edible and Medicinal Plants of the SNRA

Program Objectives:

- Participants will be able to identify a few major species of local edible and medicinal plants

Program Length: 45min-1hr

Program Outline:

Introduction:

Name, Organization, task for participants

Path: Walk along parking lot to trail that connects parking lot to trail head, walk up to burned area. Turn
around, if time allows also walk boardwalk trail if not head back up hill to visitors center.

Plants: While walking stop at plants of interest and discuss them with visitors. If time allows also some
them other areas of interestbeaver lodge, kokanee salmon etc.

Highlight the following species.

Lodgepole Pine(Pinus Contorta)

- Pine needle tea is high in vitamin C and A

-Pitch can be chewed to soothe sore throats as well as mouth sores
-Warm sap was applied to sore muscles, arthritic joints and swollen areas.

Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium)

- Leaves can be made into a tea, traditionally used to treat many ailments (menstruation, cold, flus, high
blood pressure)
- Smashed leaves can be used to stop/slow bleeding
- In Sweden yarrow has been used in beer to replace hops

Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale)

-All parts of the dandelion are edible

-Leaves for salad, root for coffee substitute, flowers can be made into wine
- Tea can be used as a mild laxative

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria sp.)

 Guided Walk
Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
- Berries are small and delicious if you can find them before the animals do
-Used leaves to make tea (only harvest green leave, wilted leaves contain toxins)
-High in Vitamin C, tea used to treat kidney problems, eczema, sores and other skin problems

Willow (Salix sp.)

-Bark used to relieve pain, inflammation and fever

- Bark contains salicin (compound similar to asprin)
-Bark can be chewed or made into a tea
- Willow is also used for building and can be made into rope

Cuurent (Ribes sp.)

-Edible berries are tart but good for jams, jellies and can be made into wine
- Flowers are edible
- You can make a tea from the leaves that can be used to treat arthritis and heart disease

Douglas Fir (psuedotsuga menziesii)

- Inner Bark is Edible

- High in Vitamin C
- Needles make a delicious tea
- Sometimes fresh sap crystalizes on end of new growth and used to be eaten as a sweet snack or saved
to use as a sweetener later on

Englemann Spruce ( Picea engelmannii)

- Inner bark edible
- Can make tea from needles
- High in vitamin C

Conclusion:

-Discuss ethical harvest practices...dont take too much of one plant (harvest a max of 1/3 of plant in
area)
- Only eat plants in the wild if you are one hundred percent sure of what it is or are with an expert
- Mention SIHA one last time, encourage visitors to donate/become members. Encourage them to buy
edible and medicinal plants book that you bring on walk.