Underground parts of some plants – roots (especially the storage ones), rhizome, tubers or bulbs are rich in vitamins and other nutrients, like starch and can therefore be a valuable source of natural food. Eating raw tubers, The bulbs or roots of many food plants can cause a variety of ailments, therefore it is safer to cook them before eating. Roots should be scraped, and then boil it, then they can be baked. The peel of many roots contains a lot of vitamins. Because, as long as it can be eaten, the root should not be peeled too carefully. There are, however, roots, such as, for example, comfrey, which must be peeled, to remove harmful substances contained in the skin and directly under it.

To be able to state, whether a given root or bulb is eatable, you have to recognize the plant, from which it grows. Plants found in different regions often look similar. Therefore, never judge by the appearance of the root alone, bulbs or tubers about it, are they edible. Suffice it to say, that the bulb of the deadly zygadenus is very similar to the ordinary, the onion we know so well. Most of the bulbs, roots or tubers of edible plants must be boiled for a long time before eating.

EDIBLE ROOT PLANTS

Water lilies, otherwise, water lily (Nymphaea). Various species of water lilies are found in the subtropics and temperate zones almost all over the world. Seeds, the rhizomes and stems of some water lilies are edible. Some of them have healing properties, so if eaten uncontrollably, it may turn out to be poisonous. Water lilies have large flowers of various colors and are floating, disc-shaped leaves.

Salsefia (Tragopogon).
A plant of the genus kozibród, widespread in Eurasia and North Africa. It grows in arid areas in the Mediterranean area. Usually it achieves 60-90 cm in height. Its oblong leaves and storage root are edible.

Caltrop (sunroof)
This plant lives in freshwater bodies all over Europe and Asia. Its hard seeds are also edible – raw or baked.

Water arrow (Sagittaria)
It occurs in shallow inland waters. Reaches a meter in height; triangular sagittal leaves, small flowers, about three petals. Its rhizomes can be eaten even raw, but they taste better when cooked.

Tatar (Acorus)
It can grow tall 1,3 m. It is found in the coastal zone of freshwater waters, usually standing. Calamus rhizome secreting essential oils is suitable for food. Before eating it, you need to cut it into slices and cook it for as long, until it becomes a syrup.

Peanut (Arachis)
Seeds, that is, peanuts are not real nuts at all, but pods ripening underground, attached to the stem. The plant itself is small and bushy, it has feathery leaves and yellow flowers.

OTHER PLANTS
Dandelion, popularly known as a dandelion (Taraxacum), has edible roots. From his roasted roots, just like cyprus (Cyperus) and a few other plants, you can prepare an infusion as a coffee substitute. Rhizomes or roots of other plants, such as marshland (Calla), can be rubbed into a fine powder and used like flour. Raw or cooked, you can eat sunflower rhizomes wild in North America.