Author Topic: Poisonous berry question...  (Read 4901 times)

Rhubarb Thrasher

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,713
  • Dark Side Of The Rhubarb
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #20 on: November 28, 2007, 11:33:26 »
I had a summer job once in Torquay, working as a gardener in Cockilngton Country Park. I caught two old dears stuffing themselves with laurel berries because they thought they were cherries. I had to spent the rest of the day chopping down any laurel branches that were within reach  ??? They've got the same organic cyanide in them. I don't know what effect it had, but the women weren't exactly with it when I stopped them. Don't entymologists use cruched laurel leaves in their Killing Jars?

norfolklass

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,036
  • Norwich - a fine city
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #21 on: November 28, 2007, 11:40:56 »
looks like a skimmia to me, with its wonderful winter berries  :-\

I'm with calendula – I don't think it's a Cotoneaster

star

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,070
  • Northampton, sm greenhouse, heated propagator
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #22 on: November 28, 2007, 11:55:09 »
Its a Cotoneaster frigidus......see pic. I think it looks spectacularly like yours.

http://www.plant-encyclopedia.net/cotoneaster-frigidus-vicary-picture.aspx
I was born with nothing and have most of it left.

Paulines7

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,499
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #23 on: November 28, 2007, 12:35:48 »
You are a star for getting that, Star    ;)    What a beautiful plant.   :D

calendula

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,125
  • learn to love your weeds (saddleworth)
    • homeopathy
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #24 on: November 28, 2007, 12:49:24 »
yes, the leaf 'lines' are much more prominent in the cotoneaster - the black birds will be loving these berries  :)

Cuke

  • Half Acre
  • ***
  • Posts: 236
  • Abbeymead, Gloucester
    • Growing Our Own
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #25 on: November 28, 2007, 13:04:02 »
I think we have a winner folks!

Thanks Star! :)
Our little corner of the blogging world http://www.growingourown.co.uk

star

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,070
  • Northampton, sm greenhouse, heated propagator
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #26 on: November 28, 2007, 14:23:05 »
.....blush.....your welcome......
I was born with nothing and have most of it left.

jjt

  • Half Acre
  • ***
  • Posts: 173
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #27 on: November 28, 2007, 23:37:12 »
Rhubarb Thrasher, I've eaten those berries with no trouble. As long as they're not bitter. I think you can make jam also. You're right about the leaves, if you shred them you really smell the prussic acid. If the garage door's shut I doubt you'd die but it's headache time.
  Disclaimer [for panic police]: don't listen to me, do your own research take your own risks.

Robert_Brenchley

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 15,593
    • My blog
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #28 on: November 29, 2007, 22:44:45 »
You're quite right about the crushed laurel, but what kills an insect won't necessarily harm you, unless you concentrate it considerably.

telboy

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 3,239
  • I love Allotments4All
Re: Poisonous berry question...
« Reply #29 on: December 01, 2007, 21:39:56 »
I'm with calendular,
the blackbirds strip mine every year - lovely to watch!
Eskimo Nel was a great Inuit.

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal