From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on January 29.
An article from the Guardian, here, tells how gorse and broom could potentially be used as a source of protein. Maybe we should be using more invasives as a food source! Thanks to Mandy for sending this. [But note the caution about toxicity below the photos.]
These invasive shrubs (I’m sure you are all well familiar with them) are both in the pea family. Here are a few photos of local examples [click a photo to enlarge it].
- Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius): leaf and seed pod detail (from Piercy Rd. wasteland near the inland highway).
- Gorse (Ulex europaeus): in bloom last December at Woodhus Slough.
Notes on the toxicity of these plants from a follow-up email by Jocie:
Please don’t go out and eat these plants, as they can be toxic to humans and livestock! The article mentioned “isolating the protein to make it safe for consumption” which must involve removing the toxic alkaloids.
Gary S. sent me an email which raises some good points about this:
“I was surprised that the article does not deal with the known toxicity of Scotch broom to humans and livestock. There is a documented history of poisoning in British Columbia beginning with the use of broom for brewing tea by Chinese labourers building the railroad.”
