Edibility

How to be 100% sure before you eat anything you picked.

Certain, or leave it

There is no "probably fine" in foraging. If you can't make a positive identification — not a guess, a match on every feature — you don't eat it.

What to check, every time

1  leaf shape and arrangement
2  stem, and whether it's hairy or hollow
3  flowers or fruit, if present
4  smell (crush a leaf)
5  habitat and season
6  cross-check in a second guide

The old universal edibility test

It exists, but it's a survival last resort, not a dinner plan. If you're relying on it, you've already picked the wrong plant. Learn your plants one at a time instead.