Pignuts gallore

[Jonny]

I have just got back from a bushcrafting weekend staying in some woods, and in those woods were the most amount of pignuts any of us have ever seen. The ground was litterally covered in them. Have any of you guys ever eaten this little delicacy...............Jon

[Boddie]

I never heard of pig nuts. I almost get the impression that its the sort of word my old queen might have used to substitute another whilst I was on one of my wwwwwhhhhhhhhyyyyyyy? days out. "How long is it mum?" "Which way is it mum?" "Why?" "Ugghh whats that mum?" "Pignuts Andrew, now stop asking so many questions." Like dog do maybe. I would be careful

[Jonny]

Pignut is a member of the carrot family and grows out of a tuber, that ranges in size, from a cobnut to a golf ball and it makes good eating................Jon

[Boddie]

Do they not sell them in the shops? I like carrots. Sounds like you have some good knowledge of what nature has to offer up Jon.

[Jonny]

I bet they sell them in some posh restraunts in london. I was once asked by a guy who sells fungi and edible plants to restraunts to be a "picker", but I do not like the idea of going in and taking out all the plants and fungi of an area (more I pick the more money I get). I do like to pick the fruits of the forest, but I like to leave plenty too, not just for re-germination, but for the wildlife as well.................Jon

[Tinkerbell]

Some friends of mine were telling me about this pignut delicacy recently but to be honest I don't know if I'd identify the plant correctly. Have you a picture? I'll certainly try it if I find some.

Tink

[Gill Catton]

Pignut are sometimes an indicator of ancient grassland or woodland edge that has never been fertilizsed and yes they have a small tubor underground I think.
I've put a couple of not very good pics in the Gallery of it, it's like a tiny feathery leaved cowparsely

[Boddie]

I want some now. I wish to try this delicacy post haste.

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

Some friends of mine were telling me about this pignut delicacy recently but to be honest I don't know if I'd identify the plant correctly. Have you a picture? I'll certainly try it if I find some.

Tink

Here you are http://www.floralimages.co.uk/pconopmajus.htm The sure fire way to be certain is to use a pointed stick and dig it up, but you have to be careful because the stem will part from the tuber quite easily, and also the nut is not directly below the stem, it dives off at an angle, but saying that, they are easy to dig up and are just below the ground.............Jon

[Jonny]

Another link http://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_pag...jus_pignut.htm Note the feathery leaves.............Jon