bracken

the young, tightly coiled tender tips of plant are called 'fiddleheads'.
the spring fiddleheads of all varieties of north temperate ferns are edible.
remove hair/wool from fiddleheads, soak in salt water to remove bitterness.
fiddleheads are best when boiled for half an hour in two changes of water.
fiddleheads can be dried for storage.
rhizomes can be roasted/pit-steamed, peeled, and pounded to remove whitish edible part from fibers, or chewed to suck out starch.
dried rhizomes can be ground into flour.
grows in wide range of areas, including foothills and montane region.
warning: avoid long term use, has carcinogenic properties.
warning: avoid mature bracken, which destroys vitamin B and can cause a deadly blood condition.