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Show TRAIL TALK "RiveJjack" Identity of common plant life should be a must for every out-doorsman. out-doorsman. Not only are many hundreds of them a source of food, but several of them are poisonous if eaten or taken internally. in-ternally. The group in which cases of mistaken identity appears ap-pears is the fungus group. Unless Un-less one is well versed in identifying identi-fying mushrooms and "toad-stools' "toad-stools' the rule should be to leave them all alone. Swollen stems appearing like a sac at the base usually indicate a variety to be left alone, as does milky juice or generally a ruff on the upper end of the stem where the cap edges have broken away. The Jimson Weed, Caster Bean, Butter Cup, Water Hemlock, Death Camas, Pokeweed and several sev-eral other plants, are poisonous. Once again, the best insurance against poisoning is learning to identify poisonous plants in your area and in any area in which you intend to travel on the trail. |