Found this plant growing along a barb wire fence on a walk in Kent recently.
Any ideas what it is ? Will it kill me if I eat it?
J
Any ideas what it is ? Will it kill me if I eat it?
J
What is it, and will it kill me?
- Thread starter Quixoticgeek
- Start date
Looks very much like Dioscorea communis Black Bryony, Lady's Seal, Black Bindweed. All parts are poisonous (saponins) and shouldn't be eaten, though some make poultices for bruises - but not me.
(Supposedly the young shoots are edible - Hmm, I wouldn't risk it as when is a young shoot not young enough?)
(Supposedly the young shoots are edible - Hmm, I wouldn't risk it as when is a young shoot not young enough?)
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It does look like black bryony and will indeed kill you. If not it will make you very very ill.
Most saponins are particularly savage as a poison because they're also delirients. So the best you can hope for is a good few hours of vivid hallucinations and then renal damage
Most saponins are particularly savage as a poison because they're also delirients. So the best you can hope for is a good few hours of vivid hallucinations and then renal damage
Found this plant growing along a barb wire fence on a walk in Kent recently.
Any ideas what it is ? Will it kill me if I eat it?
J
As long as you don't provoke it you should be safe. However if it starts to chase you don't run as that only excelerates its prey drive!
That's a cracker of a photograph of it Julia 
We need to save that one somewhere that it can be found.
Years ago there were all sorts of attempts at plant profiles, month by month, what grew where and when, etc.,
Maybe we could simplify things and just have, Good to Eat, Do Not Eat!! , threads instead ?
M
We need to save that one somewhere that it can be found.
Years ago there were all sorts of attempts at plant profiles, month by month, what grew where and when, etc.,
Maybe we could simplify things and just have, Good to Eat, Do Not Eat!! , threads instead ?
M
That's a cracker of a photograph of it Julia
We need to save that one somewhere that it can be found.
Years ago there were all sorts of attempts at plant profiles, month by month, what grew where and when, etc.,
Maybe we could simplify things and just have, Good to Eat, Do Not Eat!! , threads instead ?
M
Borders Chocolate Gingers - GOOD, Brussels Sprouts - BAD.
Sorry Julia I meant to say earlier that it was a lovely picture, it captured the translucent nature and colour of the berries which is one of it's most defining features for me.
Be good to try it again Toddy, Though maybe a safe to eat not safe to eat might be better as you know we'll never all agree what's nice and what's not.
The photo is available for use under the creative commons CC-BY-SA license. (As are all my photos).
Santaman, I'm glad I wasn't drinking when I read your post, made me laugh loudly.
Cheers
J
Santaman, I'm glad I wasn't drinking when I read your post, made me laugh loudly.
Cheers
J
I believe the roots are the same as lords and ladies and can be processed but wouldn't try it myself !
denny 😊
denny 😊
Its a member of the yam family and as such does produce large rhizomes. I think you right about it having been processed. But I wouldn't touch it in the same way I wouldn't touch lords and ladies. Even if you know what you're doing, one little slip and you're in big trouble. Just not worth the risk.
it really is a beautiful plant though and that is a cracking photo.
it really is a beautiful plant though and that is a cracking photo.
Funnily enough, my wife is on a forest school training course at the moment and sent me a photo of the same plant to identify. Never seen one before but a swift Google had it sorted.
