Comandra umbellata subsp. pallida — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit, Seeds

The fruit and seeds are edible.

Known Hazards

A decoction of the plant parts was made by the Navajo people for narcotic and other medicinal usage. In times of food shortage, the berries were used by Native Americans as a food source, and though small, they have a sweet taste. The fruit may contain toxic selenium if grown in soil rich in the element.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It grows in dry sandy places. It grows attached to the roots of other plants.

Canada, North America, USA,

Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, St Vincent

How to Identify

A small herb. It grows 15-40 cm high. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are small, pale green and narrow. They are 1.3-2.5 cm long. The flowers are whitish-green. They are small and 5 mm long. They occur in small clusters at the ends of the leafy stems. The fruit are dry, olive green berries.

References (5)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Cormack, R. G. H., 1967, Wild Flowers of Alberta. Commercial Printers Edmonton, Canada. p 70
Illustrated Flora of Central Texas p 979
Prodr. 14(2):636. 1857
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

What to Eat

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

How to Identify

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