Wild Wednesday - What’s in a name?

By Andy Ames

Strawberry blite, Strawberry spinach, Strawberry goosefoot, Blite goosefoot, Indian paint, Indian ink, and Beetberry. All these are common names are for a single plant and many are descriptive and indicative of its many uses. Goosefoot refers to its family. Blite refers to its genus. One look at its deep red fruit and you can see where Strawberry or Beetberry comes from. Like strawberries, the fruit and seeds are edible. Like spinach, the leaves can be eaten, too. In addition to consumption, Native Americans used its pigments to paint skin, wood, or leather. The plant has various medicinal qualities as well. As an early successional plant it thrives in disturbed areas with ample moisture and sunlight. Some consider it an annual but is actually a monocarpic perennial, meaning it dies after its seeds are produced. I’ve found that it is already crowded out of some of the burned areas from the East Troublesome fires. It can still be found along edges, however, so enjoy them while they last — by whichever name you like.

As an early successional plant, Strawberry blite may be one of the first to colonize in a disturbed area. It may not persist for long, however, as it may be outcompeted for light. Berries, seeds, and leaves are edible, either raw or cooked, but should be consumed in very small quantities.

Lacking petals, flowers are inconspicuous. The flowers appear in tiny clumps. Each flower has 3 stamens around a green ovary. Once pollinated, each flower forms a deep red fruit containing an individual seed.

Leaves are arrowhead shaped with jagged edges.