416 EDIBLE WILD PLANTS OF NOVA SCOTIA. — PREST. 



beverage is extracted by boiling. They grow close set in 

 bunches, resembling at a distance rough tapering pods, each 

 Sin. to 5 in. long and 1 in. to I2 in. thick. Each bush carries 

 from 2 to 20 seed clusters. These clusters in the fall become 

 much infested by worms. 



Generally distributed, but much rarer in the eastern than in 

 the western counties. Particularly abundant in the interior of 

 Yarmouth county. 



77. Geum rivale L. Purple or Water Avens, "Wild Chocolate." 



A single erect stem, 6 in. to 12 in. high, with drooping 

 peculiar purple flower h in. in diameter. Full of stiff hairy 

 bristles projecting beyond the short round petals. One 

 or two leaflets on flower-stalk. Leaves, 3 or 4, spring from 

 root around flower-stalk, resemble geranium leaves, but are 

 thinner, though they perhaps are more like the leaves of the 

 Bake-apple. See No. 22. Roots from 2 in. to 6 in. long, and 

 I in. thick, dark purplish-brown inside, with many rootlets. 

 Taste somewhat like chocolate, but astringent with a very 

 slight addition of acid. Was once used as a substitute for 

 chocolate. Boil well, and add sugar. 



Common in open mossy bogs in eastern Nova Scotia, more 

 rare in the western counties. 



