Weeds of Red Hook

Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) also called Thorn Apple and Jamestown Weed

Toxic but with medicinal uses- a hallucinogenic and a narcotic.

Buckhorn Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) aka Narrowleaf Plantain aka Ribwort Plantain chillin on a mini bottle

Edible/medicinal leaves and seeds.  The whole plant can be used to make gold or brown dye.

For more information: http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Plantago+lanceolata

Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) overtaking a lot where a boat is hanging out

Edible shoots, growing tips, young leaves, and rhizomes.

Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) aka the perhaps equally giggly “Swallowwort” and “Nipplewort”

Cooked leaves edible in small doses.  Medicinal.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Edible leaves, petals, roots.  Petals can be used to make wine.  Roots are used as a coffee substitute and can also be used to make a brown dye.

Lady’s Thumb (Polygonum persicaria)

Part of the reason I started this tumblr is because I wanted to identify the weeds that were popping up in my rooftop garden.  The little urban forager in the first two pictures has been steadily nibbling on the lady’s thumbs that snuck into my daylily planters (in addition to the also-pictured Asiatic dayflower).

Edible leaves and seeds.  Roots can be used to make a yellow dye.

For more information: http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Polygonum+persicaria

Smooth Bedstraw (Galium Mollugo)

Edible leaves.  Roots can be used to make a red dye.

For more information: http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Galium+mollugo

When I saw this little guy, I knew he had to be a brassica of some sort. Wild mustard might not look like much, but this one plant was bred into tons of the most common vegetables we eat today: broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, cabbage, and of course, KALE.  Just like all dogs and wolves share a species, Canis lupus, all these plants share a species, Brassica oleracea, which was bred over the centuries to modify certain traits:

(graphic found here)

Edible leaves, seeds, and flowers.

For more information: http://www.eattheweeds.com/cutting-the-wild-mustard-brassica-sinapis-2/

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia)

I don't usually editorialize, but this might be my favorite weed yet!  To be honest, I'm not entirely sure if this particular plant's origins were intentional or accidental, since it's a widely grown vegetable all over Asia (and in Asian and Southeast Asian neighborhoods in the city- they were planted all over Kensington when I lived there) but a frequent weed in the US (especially in warmer areas).  I've spotted it throughout the summer on the fence of a bus parking lot on Sullivan, which is home to at least one Fung Wah bus.  I haven't seen any formal growing structures through any of the holes I've peaked through, and I've only seen weeds poking through the holes at ground level, but it could also be a wonderful side plant project for someone who works there.  

Edible young, green, unripe fruit, leaves, and shoots.  Red arils (fleshy seed covers) are edible but the seeds are not.  Flowers used as seasoning.  Lots of medicinal uses.

You can see the range in bitter melon varieties here: http://www.evergreenseeds.com/bitgourbitme.html

For general information: http://www.eattheweeds.com/bitter-gourd-balsam-pear-pharmacy-on-a-fence/#respond

Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis)

Donut is astonishingly good at foraging, and took to nibbling on dayflower leaves before I even knew what they were.  Here he is being a plant explorer in some long-untended and grounded window boxes in the backyard of my old Kensington apartment (you'll notice the also-edible pigweed/lamb's quarters makes an appearance here as well):

This was eventually commemorated in a custom painted wine glass gifted to me by my friend Jessi (and crafted by our pal Stephanie) featuring Donut's two favorite foragables- dayflowers and daylilies:

Edible leaves, flowers, shoots, young tips.  Used medicinally.  The blue petals can be used to make a blue dye.

Western side of Coffey Park.

Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Edible unripe seeds, ripe seeds edible when leached (typically ground into flour).  Can be used as a fiber plant, and also apparently makes a reasonable substitute for toilet paper in a pinch!

King between Van Brunt and Richards.

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)

Not edible.

Sullivan St.

Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)

Edible young leaves.  Herbal teas made from leaves and flowering tops.  Seeds and roots used medicinally.  Plant can be used to make rubber.

End of Sullivan St. and Pioneer St. side of Brooklyn Cruise Terminal