Nevada State Foods

Indian Potato STATUS Unofficial THE FOOD Indian Potato Native Americans ate a wide variety of roots and tubers before the arrival of settlers, and the new European arrivals dubbed many of these "Indian potatoes." In Nevada, the most common potato was probably Claytonia lanceolata, now much better known as a white or pink spring wildflower. It does, however, have round tubers that can be boiled or roasted in a campfire’s ashes and eaten. THE SIGNIFICANCE Nevada Native Americans lived in harsh, mostly desert conditions. There was little above ground for them to eat, and they got much of their food by digging rodents out of their burrows or digging for roots. Indian potatoes only grow in relatively wet parts of the state, where it was a welcome addition to the diet. Arriving settlers had an exceptionally difficult time finding and growing food, and had to learn to sustain themselves on the native diet. Miner's Lettuce STATUS Unofficial THE FOOD Miner's Lettuce Miner’s lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata, is a perennial weed or herb found mostly in the Western U.S. Each slender stem is topped with a broad leaf, with a cluster of tiny white flowers in the middle. The leaves, flowers, and even stems are edible. They’re rarely consumed nowadays, but the thick, bright, mid-green leaves are most commonly added to salads. They have a very mild flavor, and can be combined with bitter greens to provide contrast. They can also be wilted or lightly cooked before eating. THE SIGNIFICANCE Miner’s lettuce, though rarely consumed today, was an important food for Native Americans and later for arriving settlers. Very few fresh foods grow in the area above ground. Miner’s lettuce was among the very few fresh greens available, so it was a welcome addition to the diet. Several subspecies, all with edible leaves, grow in the state, so these greens were widely available when in season. -World Trade Press