So it actually does occur here in Rio de Janeiro and I've eaten it. It is quite popular among middle class eco-gastronomers simply cooked as a vegetable to compliment rice and beans. It's maybe not as widely used traditionally as food as might be expected. it has various common names but I think the most used in these parts is picão-preto.
So referring to Kinupp & Lorenzi (2014) they list as wild edibles for Brazil from this genus:
B. pilosa / Bidens alausensis / B. leucanthema / B. pilosa var. minor (all the same species, just taxonomers can't make their minds up).
Also there is: B. bipinnata var. cynapiifolia (known as picão-preto-amazônico / carrapicho) / B. cynapafolia & B. fusca (known as jambu, this is well known as a seasoning as it makes your mouth go numb!!! They used to use it as an anesthetic for dentistry).
For B. pilosa they (Kinupp & Lorenzi 2014) give recipes for ice tea, risoto and also simply sautéeing. The nutritional qualities they list seem quite impressive, as is normal for such wild food gems!
I was thinking if it occurs in the States it's surprising that I haven't seen it in Ireland. It's one thing for a plant to occur in the tropics and subtropics and not make the temperate zone, but it seems it does quite nicely in reality in colder climes.
looking forward to your next article as well...:)
Melissa
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Wow...makes your mouth go numb!!! They used to use it as an anesthetic for dentistry).
That is a neat variety...genus? is that what I should say?
Yeah...maybe the island thing ...I have heard ..but do not know much about it that many unique plants and animals grow on islands found no where else. Next time we are down that way want to head to Galapagos, have heard it is a wonderland of unique species!
I so enjoy our conversation..you have taught me much,
Blessings for your day,
Melissa
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Glad you enjoyed! Ireland does have some of it's own biodiversity gems (look up the burren for example), but due to the ice age grating our vegetation layer off and then being isolated by water which impeded recolonisation by plants there's a paucity of species compared to the continent.
Enjoy your day!
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