The leaves are thin, flattened and grass like. Pink or white flowers appear in clusters on this plant. Prickly pear grows in dry soil, sandy grasslands and among rocks. This plant looks like a cactus with clumps of flattened sprawling stems that are studded with red brown bumps of tiny barbed hairs. The flowers are yellow with red centers and the edible fruits are reddish brown.
Thistles are another edible food source in the wild.
Easily identified by their spiny tipped leaves these plants are usually found in fields and pastures throughout the United States. They produce a bristly red purple flower. Removing the spines from young leaves makes a delightful salad and the young roots can be cooked and eaten, too. When looking for food in the wild always be sure to remember nuts and seeds. Seeds are rich in carbohydrates, oils and proteins.