Miners Lettuce

This small, bright green plant is best known from shady, often moist areas in a large variety of vegetation types. The plant is easily recognized by the leaves that are fused into a circle, completely surrounding the stem. As the name implies, the leaves are edible, often used either raw in salads or boiled like spinach. Because the plants are high in vitamin C, gold rush miners ate them to prevent scurvy, giving the species its common name.

Caution

A few sources warn that plants may accumulate oxalates, which are toxic when eaten in high amounts or by sensitive individuals. Native Americans harvested the stems, leaves, and blossoms and ate them fresh or boiled. Indians from Placer County are said to have placed the leaves of miner’s lettuce near the nests of red ants where they picked up formic acid from the traversing ants. This gave the leaves a vinegary taste – a homemade salad dressing.