Chapter 1: The Spelling Bee and the Enigma of Blite

The recent Spelling Bee has led to the elimination of at least six plant names, igniting discussions about the legitimacy of "blite."

Photo by Justin Lauria on Unsplash

Today's letters from the New York Times Spelling Bee include:

Art: Iva Reztok

E, H, I, L, T, Y, and a central B (all words must incorporate B)

Merriam-Webster states…

Credit: merriam-webster.com

Oh, the irony! How can the term "blite" be dismissed as a non-word when the New York Times has declared otherwise? For more captivating insights, you might want to explore the Spelling Bee Master.

What was your standout word from today’s challenge? My Choice

Initially, I was inclined to select "bilby" as my word of the day. If you're unfamiliar, a bilby is an Australian marsupial known as the rabbit-eared bandicoot, once thriving until one species fell into extinction around the 1950s.

Animals, particularly those from Australia, often spark curiosity among readers due to their unique traits.

Regrettably, my choice landed on "blite," which refers to numerous plant species. However, if you can overlook my less exciting pick and continue reading, it would greatly benefit my Medium endeavors. My goal is to eventually save enough to purchase an actual coffer.

To add some cheer, I included an image of a ladybug, as everyone seems to love those, right? Perhaps not when viewed in extreme close-up.

The dictionary identifies three plants categorized under "blite," but I've discovered even more that share this nickname.

Strawberry, Hold the Cream

One such plant is Blitum capitatum, a member of the amaranth family that belongs to the genus Blitum. This species is native to much of the U.S. and Canada but has also been spotted in Europe and New Zealand (especially during the filming of the Lord of the Rings).

Wikipedia mentions that the strawberry blite is endangered in Ohio, which seems dubious. Surely Ohio could obtain seeds from neighboring regions, or even Canada! (For the record, Canada is not a U.S. state.) They might even hire this blite from New Zealand post the film’s re-shoots next year.

The strawberry blite goes by various names, including blite goosefoot, strawberry goosefoot, strawberry spinach, Indian paint, and Indian ink—names derived from the red dye Native Americans used to make from its juice. Its fruit resembles small strawberries.

Photo by ©2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man)

The Good King Henry

Blitum bonus-henricus, commonly known as Good-King-Henry, is referred to as poor-man's asparagus, perennial goosefoot, Lincolnshire spinach, Markery, English mercury, or mercury goosefoot. With so many aliases, one must be cautious if an email from them requests money.

This plant thrives in central and southern Europe and has been consumed for centuries, though it’s often labeled a weed nowadays. It's understandable given the myriad of names.

Historically, both this species and the strawberry blite were classified by Carl Linnaeus under the Chenopodium genus, hence their "goosefoot" nickname. Recent genetic research has reclassified them into the Blitum genus, something Linnaeus couldn't have predicted.

Good-King-Henry is known for its edible new shoots, which can be prepared similarly to asparagus, and its leaves, which can be cooked like spinach.

Art by WM?

Atriplex: Not Just a Pretty Name

No, Atriplex isn't a lavish apartment or a multiplex cinema. It's a genus of plants, some of which might be referred to as blite. Notably, Atriplex hortensis is known as orache.

According to Merriam-Webster, "blite" derives from Middle English, Latin blitum orach, and Greek bliton. Perhaps this spinach-like plant sparked the whole blite phenomenon.

A Plant of Curious Names

Curiously, the plant depicted below doesn’t quite resemble a pig.

Despite its appearance, the British named it Guernsey pigweed. Americans opted for the more appealing title, purple amaranth, although the color naming seems a bit off.

Screenshotted by Iva Reztok

Amaranthus blitum, as it is scientifically categorized, is not commonly cultivated but is foraged in the wild for its edible shoots and leaves, often prepared with olive oil and salt.

Blite by the Shore

The red goosefoot, or coastblite goosefoot, is an annual plant found in North America, Europe, and Asia. It holds significance in Native American ethnobotany, with its seeds utilized as food by the Goshute Shoshone of Utah, who have multiple names for it: on’-t?m-pi-wa-ts?p, on’-t?m-pi-wa, on’-t?m-pi-a-wa, and on’-t?m-pai-wa.

This plant is classified as endangered in New Jersey, Maine, New Hampshire, and New York. Why can't these states just share resources? This situation is becoming quite frustrating. If anyone spots this plant, please inform the aforementioned states to help them out.

Photo by Rasbak

Blite by the Sea

Lastly, we explore the genus Suaeda, which encompasses over 100 species, many of which may be referred to as blite. Collectively, these plants are often called seepweeds or sea-blites, thriving in saline soil along the coasts of North America and Europe.

Credit: http://legambientearcipelagotoscano.it

The species shown is Suaeda maritima. According to Wikipedia:

“The name Suaeda stems from an Arabic term for the species Suaeda vera, designated by the 18th-century taxonomist Peter Forsskål during his 1760s expedition to the Red Sea. His publication, Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica, introduced Suæda as a new genus name derived from an Arabic word.”

And that wraps it up for today! Thank you for delving into the fascinating world of these numerous plant names, especially if you took your time scrolling through.

However, the abundance of species referred to as blite does not sway the editors of the Spelling Bee, who deemed "blite" a dord.

You can check out my previous entry discussing another dord here:

Sea Blite Foraging: A Coastal Sea Rosemary - YouTube

Explore the coastal ecosystems where sea blite thrives and its culinary uses in this insightful video.

bLITE Club - A Licensed Grabbag! - YouTube

Join the fun at bLITE Club, where the focus is on creative uses for various plants, including blite.