Life Begins Anew

[Ben Ruset]

I was out driving along Calico Rd. yesterday when I came across a scorched patch of ground. I noticed what I thought were orchids popping up in it, but on closer examination it looks like they are baby ferns of some kind:


Life Begins Anew by benruset, on Flickr

Any idea what they may be?

 

[46er]

Fiddlehead Fern. Sauteed with some butter and light onion, served with fresh caught trout; deeeelicious.

 

[Teegate]

Woman were picking them all weekend along the sides of various roads in the pines. Especially on the burned area of the Lee property along 563.

According to oji there is a cancer scare of some sort with them. Maybe he can eleborate.

Guy

 

[manumuskin]

Those are the fiddleheads of Bracken fern.They are poisonous after the leaves unfurl but when in fiddlehead stage are edible.Still i would not eat too many,they will make your stomach ache if you eat too many.Sassafras tea also has carcinogens in it.Moderation in everything and you should be alright.I believe all the cancer occuring nowadays is due to the preservatives in food.When you can make a twinkie stay fresh for over a year something just ain't natural there.

 

[PINEY MIKE]

Woman were picking them all weekend along the sides of various roads in the pines. Especially on the burned area of the Lee property along 563.

Guy

That explains it. I was through that area yesterday as well and saw the pickers in the burnt areas. I thought maybe they were picking mushrooms.

 

[oji]

Al's correct, Bracken fern fiddleheads are said to cause esophageal and stomach cancer if eaten too much. Moderation is the key.

 

[Ben Ruset]

There is nothing about a fiddlehead that looks even remotely appetizing to me.

 

[46er]

There is nothing about a fiddlehead that looks even remotely appetizing to me.

Tastes like chicken Not really, more like asparagus. First had it in Maine during a fishing trip, used to be able to get it canned up there. It's a big New England rite of spring thing.

Some info from UofMaine;

http://umaine.edu/publications/4198e/

 

[manumuskin]

to me it tastes similar to catbriar tendrils.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Those look like cooked insects.

 

[46er]

Those look like cooked insects.

Or green Octupi tentacles, which do taste like chicken.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Thanks for the nightmares, Mother Nature!

 

[this_is_nascar]

I'm ready to lose my breakfast after seeing that.