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Unique or Interesting Uses of Forest Products

The forests of North America have much to offer for our benefit. While some uses of plants and products from the forest are well-known, such as lumber from trees and berries for food, other items may come as a surprise. With hundreds of raw plant species having a market somewhere in the world, and even more products being manufactured from wildcrafted material, there are bound to be a few surprises.

Artist's Conk
- An unusual mushroom that grows year-round has earned the nickname "artist's conk." This is the Ganoderma applanatum, a mushroom often found growing on the side of trees, decaying logs and stumps. It is hard and woody, a flat shelf-like growth, and non-edible. When taken from its log host, it reveals a smooth off-white surface. When scratched, the darker under layer shows through, leaving a permanent line. Skilled artists can use this feature of the conk to create beautiful works of art. Some artist's conks grow quite large, up to 20 inches wide.
Burls
- Burls are a product from trees, but are unusual in that they result from damage, fungal infection or stress in the tree. The cells of a burl grow much faster than the regular wood, creating swirls and patterns. Burls are found in every species of tree, and while their presence detracts from the lumber value, they are prized by artists and woodworkers. A carved wooden bowl from a burl can be lovely, and even larger furniture items are made of burl slabs.
Ostrich Fern
- Fiddleheads are the new, tightly coiled growth of ferns. The name comes from their resemblance to the handle of a violin. Ferns stay in this state for only about two weeks during the early spring, then they expand into new fern fronds. When the fiddleheads first appear, until they are about six inches high, they are collected and eaten or sold as a gourmet delicacy. Not all species of fern are edible, however, and the ostrich fern, found most abundantly in the eastern half of North America, is the favorite for this use. They have a firm, crunchy texture and taste a bit like asparagus.
Oregon grape root
- While the Oregon grape plant has many uses, including jelly from the berries and floral arrangements from the leaves, one of the most interesting is the medicinal use of the roots and stems. Oregon grape has long been used medicinally, first by the Native Americans. The roots and stems are gathered in the fall when the active compounds are at their strongest. The outer covering is stripped away to expose a dark yellow lining from which tinctures, infusions or tea is made. It is used to treat intestinal disorders, to reduce skin inflammation and as an external antibiotic.

Nature