Chamaenerion angustifolium - Fireweed - Any use?
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What I know as fireweed, tall plant with pink flowers , turning to fluffy seeds, has, as far as I know two uses, there may be more, but the young shoots I think, if memory serves me right can be eaten, but I'm not 100% sure on that. I can't find my book to check, so someone may put me right on that.
The fluffy seeds can be used as tinder in a tinder bundle. They take a spark easily, but, like old man's beard, are a flash tinder with a short burn time. I put them inside my tinder bundle and the charcloth on top of that to help establish a flame. Or use them with a fire steel, in the same way, with other tinder that burns for longer.
The fluffy seeds can be used as tinder in a tinder bundle. They take a spark easily, but, like old man's beard, are a flash tinder with a short burn time. I put them inside my tinder bundle and the charcloth on top of that to help establish a flame. Or use them with a fire steel, in the same way, with other tinder that burns for longer.
You can eat the inner pith, although I found it quite bland.
Paul Kirtley has an article on it
paulkirtley.co.uk
Paul Kirtley has an article on it
Rosebay Willowherb: Taking The Pith
Rosebay willowherb, Chamerion angustifolium, aka Fireweed, is one of the most useful wilderness plants and taking the pith is one of the simplest ways of obtaining food from it.
paulkirtley.co.uk
I found the same. Plus the pith from the more woody section of the stem was rather bitterYou can eat the inner pith, although I found it quite bland.
Paul Kirtley has an article on it
Rosebay Willowherb: Taking The Pith
Rosebay willowherb, Chamerion angustifolium, aka Fireweed, is one of the most useful wilderness plants and taking the pith is one of the simplest ways of obtaining food from it.
I found this at points, I'm not totally sure but I think I found it Improved later in the year. I could be totally wrong because there are so many variables.
The PFAF entry might be worth a read, especially the warning about hazards.
Chamaenerion angustifolium Willow Herb PFAF Plant Database
Chamaenerion angustifolium is a PERENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has...
pfaf.org
The rather excellent Survival Russia YouTube channel has a video where his Russian wife shows how to make Fireweed / Ivan tea and how to process the fresh leaves. The freshly harvested leaves are crushed in the hand then undergo a fermentation process (so actually similar to our tea).
The tea is delicious. We always ferment and dry a load this time of year.
)
The dried stems are 'fire crackle'....break them up and add to kindling. Those wee tubes help draw the fire.
yes. food , cordage, tinder and sugar can be extracted from the root. it is called fireweed because it is one of the first plants to colonize where there has been fire. It is one of the willow herb family. named so because the leaves resenble those of the willow trees. hope that helps. thanks for askin. x
