Wild food identification resources

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The Pacific Northwest is amazing. In the qathet Region and beyond, the forests, fields, coastline, intertidal zones, and even the disturbed areas offer an exceptional diversity of edible organisms, including plants, fungi, and marine life. At the same time, misidentification remains one of the most common and serious risks associated with foraging, alongside legal, ethical, and environmental considerations.

This article curates some high-quality identification resources for plants, mushrooms, seaweeds, and other wild foods, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest, but also branching out to broader regions when applicable. Please note that these are not substitutes for hands-on learning or expert confirmation, but they are among the best publicly available tools for building knowledge awareness.

A reliable identification workflow should always rely on multiple authoritative sources, regional specificity, and a conservative decision-making mindset.

Never consume a wild organism based on photos alone. Structural features, spore prints, smell, texture, habitat, and seasonality all matter. When uncertainty exists, the correct action is always to not consume. Local regulations also apply. Some parks and coastal areas prohibit foraging entirely, while others restrict quantities or species. Ethical harvesting and legal compliance are part of safe practice.

Wild Plant Identification

Regional Field Guides and Databases

• Plants of the Pacific Northwest (University of Washington Herbarium)
  A rigorous, region-specific botanical database with herbarium-grade images and taxonomy.
• E-Flora BC (British Columbia)
  One of the most authoritative plant identification resources for coastal and interior British Columbia. Link to queries here.
• Washington Native Plant Society
  Useful for native plant context, habitat information, and conservation considerations.

Broader Plant Identification Tools and Other Resources

• USDA PLANTS Database
  Excellent for range verification and scientific names across the United States.
• iNaturalist
  A community science platform that can assist with tentative identification, best used as a starting point rather than confirmation.
• Wildflower Search
• KPU Plant Database
• What Tree Is That?
• ISCMV Plant Apps
• Plant Books, such as…
  • Trees, Shrubs and Flowers to Know in British Columbia and Washington by Lyons and Merilees, 1995 (Plants arranged by flower colour)
  • Plants of Coastal British Columbia by Pojar and MacKinnon, Revised 2016 – Lone Pine Publishing (Plants arranged by family).
• Identify plant by image (good starting point, but do not rely on this!)
  • PlantNet Identify
• Plant uses and phytochemical constituents
  • Plants For A Future (PFAF)
  • Native American Ethnobotany Database
  • Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical databases

Mushroom and Fungi Identification

Pacific Northwest–Specific Resources

• Pacific Northwest Mushroom Identification Forum
  Community-based but regionally knowledgeable; useful for narrowing possibilities, not final decisions.
• MykoWeb
  One of the most respected online resources for West Coast fungi, with detailed descriptions and microscopy notes.
• Mushroom Expert
  Technically rigorous and conservative in tone, emphasizing diagnostic features and toxic look-alikes.
• North American Mycological Association (NAMA)
  Strong educational focus and links to local mycological societies.
• Various field guides (keep an eye out for an upcoming article)

Mushrooms deserve special caution. Many serious poisonings occur after partial or rushed identification, and some toxins cause delayed organ damage. If you are not capable of independently keying a mushroom using multiple features, and obtaining confirmation from an expert in the field, do not consume it.

Seaweed and Marine Foraging Resources

Pacific Northwest and Coastal Resources

• Seaweed of the Pacific Northwest (University of British Columbia)
  Academic, regionally relevant, and highly reliable for identification.
• Washington Sea Grant – Seaweed and Intertidal Guides
  Practical coastal guidance that integrates ecology, safety, and sustainability.
• Oregon Sea Grant
  Particularly strong on intertidal safety and environmental conditions.

• California Seaweed Identification
  Useful for species ranges extending into the southern Pacific coast.

Marine foraging adds additional hazards beyond misidentification, including tides, surf conditions, water quality, and biotoxins such as paralytic shellfish poisoning. Identification must be paired with up-to-date local safety advisories.

Ocean Foods Beyond Seaweed

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – Recreational Harvesting
  Official advisories, closures, and species-specific regulations for Canadian waters.
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Shellfish Safety
  Critical for understanding seasonal risks and legal requirements.

Never assume that an edible species is safe at all times. Toxic blooms and contamination can render otherwise edible marine organisms dangerous.

Indigenous Land, Forest Administration, etc.

• Native Land Digital
• Tla’Amin Nation (for areas of qathet)
• iMapBC
• More to come…

Learning Safely and Building Competence

Digital resources are best used as part of a layered approach. Books authored by regional experts, local workshops, and mentorship through native plant societies or mycological clubs significantly reduce risk. Many poisonings and illnesses occur not because guides are unavailable, but because confidence exceeds competence.

For Applied Awareness, the goal is not to encourage reckless self-reliance, but informed caution. Wild foods can be valuable, nutritious, and culturally meaningful, but only when approached with humility, verification, and respect for both biology and limits.

When in doubt, leave it in the ground or in the water. Awareness includes knowing when not to act.