Wild plants have always been around us, and yet they have been put aside with the arrival of industry, they are increasingly coming back into fashion and many people are becoming interested in them again! The daisy known to all has often been used like the daisy, in the game of removing the leaves of the daisy "he loves me a little... a lot..." but the do you really know?
Where to find daisies?
Visible from May to September, daisies are quite easily found in meadows, pastures, fields or even on the edges of roads. If you plan to pick them for culinary purposes, prefer a picking location far from roads and pollution, and if possible in a natural and untreated field.
How to recognize a daisy?
Part of the large flowers, it measures between 30 and 80 cm high , its stem is angular and slightly hairy, its ligulate flower petals are white and its tubular flowers are yellow. On the reverse side we find magnificent overlapping bracts.
The basal leaves (at ground level near the stem) are spatulate and crenate, and the cauline leaves (along the stem) are lanceolate and toothed.
Beware of confusion!
Although it is not difficult to recognize a daisy by its size, it can be confused before flowering with the tansy ragwort (slightly toxic) but the latter has deeply lobed leaves that are larger than the daisy.
The daisy on the plate?
From the roots to the flowers, almost everything can be eaten:
- Harvest its roots in the fall, cook them like vegetables and enjoy its beet flavor.
- To enjoy the tender leaves of the rosettes in vegetables, soup or salad, harvest them between March and April, because before flowering they are still very tender. Afterwards they become hard and bitter.
- Reminiscent of the taste of zucchini, the still-closed flower buds can be eaten in many ways, preserved in vinegar, fried in oil, etc.
- Known for decorating dishes, use white flowers to color your desserts or salads.
Medicinal properties and beneficial effects.
Less used in herbal medicine today than during the Middle Ages, it is known for its antispasmodic, astringent, calming and digestive properties.
Previously highly prized on St. John's Day, it was believed to protect the house against lightning.
The Off the Tracks website disclaims any liability for the misuse of plants, some of which may be bad for your health. If in doubt about a plant, consult a competent person or go to the pharmacy with it. The benefits and advice are in no way a substitute for medical treatment.