Why would someone eat this?

[Stash]

Any chance they just saw something on one of those survivor shows and assumed it was okay? Bear did it. I can do it...

 

[Little Rickie]

Any chance they just saw something on one of those survivor shows and assumed it was okay? Bear did it. I can do it...

I could believe that.

 

[Bob Kittredge]

Or perhaps they confused Indian poke (aka false hellebore) with Indian Cucumber Root which is edible.

 

[Andrew]

I can't count the amount of times someone has pointed out False Hellebore to me and said it was Skunk Cabbage.

 

[SAR-EMT40]

Or perhaps they confused Indian poke (aka false hellebore) with Indian Cucumber Root which is edible.

I'm not sure how you confuse Indian Cucumber root with hellebore. They look nothing the same, certainly above ground. And cucumber root has a very mild, pleasant taste even raw unlike Skunk cabbage. I can't imagine how they could make that big a mistake.

Keith

 

[NorthShore]

I can't count the amount of times someone has pointed out False Hellebore to me and said it was Skunk Cabbage.

Skunk cabbage doesn't sound like a culinary bargin either. This wild edibles fellow doesn't think much of it:

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Web Recipes/SkunkCabbageBooty.html

 

[Andrew]

Skunk cabbage doesn't sound like a culinary bargin either. This wild edibles fellow doesn't think much of it:

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Web Recipes/SkunkCabbageBooty.html

I agree. I have never wanted to even try it, but I always snack on the Indian Cucumber Root.

 

[SAR-EMT40]

Skunk cabbage doesn't sound like a culinary bargin either. This wild edibles fellow doesn't think much of it:

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Web Recipes/SkunkCabbageBooty.html

There is considerable difference between edible and tasty. Skunk Cabbage properly treated taste like crap but it does have some nutritional value. It is not anything that anyone but the most desperate would choose to eat. Indian cucumber is actually tasty, even without any preparation.

Keith

 

[NorthShore]

There is considerable difference between edible and tasty. Skunk Cabbage properly treated taste like crap but it does have some nutritional value. It is not anything that anyone but the most desperate would choose to eat. Indian cucumber is actually tasty, even without any preparation.

Keith

In another part of that same website, he describes his experience with carefully prepared skunk cabbage which still sounds rather like a poisoning.

I usually stick with stuff I know for sure (your basic blueberries, raspberries) although I did once shock some people we were doing an outdoor cooking demo for by grabbing a handful of "weeds" and throwing them in the pot (it was invasive garlic mustard).

Indian cucumber sounds good and I definitely need to take some hikes with someone who knows what he is doing with the edibles.

 

[Bob Kittredge]

I'm not sure how you confuse Indian Cucumber root with hellebore. They look nothing the same, certainly above ground. And cucumber root has a very mild, pleasant taste even raw unlike Skunk cabbage. I can't imagine how they could make that big a mistake.

Keith

I was thinking of a verbal confusion rather than a visual confusion. "Oh, so that's Indian poke? I think I read that the root's edible."

 

[el-bagr]

From the Alaska Public Radio Network, an interesting 4-minute audio piece on this incident. It suggests the French-speaking Canadian hikers had been foraging for wild plants, and had eaten a broad variety of plants including the false hellebore. One victim who ate several bulbs reached "crisis" situation, while others who ate only portions of a bulb had more moderate adverse symptoms. The incident is described as a case of "a little bit of knowledge is dangerous".

 

[BoulderBum]

I spy

The hikers may (ahem) have been part of a reality TV show... Did you see that little bird in the window? (BTW They are called Park Wardens in Canada, not Rangers)

 

[Kevin]

Ahhhh my old friend the Chilkoot trail... I am sure Temsco LOVED getting this call, they charged me $1400 for my resuce, they must have salivated!

I love that trail all kidding aside...

 

[BoulderBum]

I should clarify my previous post. I heard from someone who was hiking through the Chilkoot this past week that the "hikers" involved in the incident were actually participating in a reality TV / Historical reenactment of the gold rush. i.e. they were equipped with period gear, rations, etc. Seems the daily supply of dried goods wasn't living up to the standard of their 21st century taste buds and they went looking for variety in the local flora... I just have to throw in a Homer on this one... "Doh!"

 

[timmus]

Confirm : It was a reality show from Quebec (*SHAME* !!). The group of hikers had to do has if they were in the 19th century, and the report -in french only, sorry : Cyberpresse says they were over confident. They've been told by a local guide that plant was ok to eat.

Some of them almost died.