No matches for these berries - Ask Extension
Found in Uppsala,Sweden which is a short distance outside of Stockholm. Are they poisonous or edible?
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No matches for these berries #276205
Asked September 07, 2015, 8:38 AM EDT
Found in Uppsala,Sweden which is a short distance outside of Stockholm. Are they poisonous or edible?
County Outside United States
Expert Response
Hi,
The first picture looks like a crabapple, Malus species. The fruits are not poisonous, although they may not be palatable. Crabapples are in the Rose family, and many members of that family do produce seeds that contain cyanide, including crabapples and eating apples. They can be problematic if the seeds are eaten in quantity.
The second picture looks like a chokecherry, Prunus virginiana, which is also a member of the Rose family. The fruit are edible, if somewhat astringent. The seeds also contain cyanide and con be toxic if eaten in quantity.
The third picture looks like European mountain ash, which is also a member of the Rose family. The fruits are used for jellies and wine, but the seeds contain cyanide and are strained out before making those products.
If you have access to the botany department at one of your local universities, they should be able to identify these plants for you. Your pictures are good (thank you!), but nothing beats looking at actual samples of the plant.
The first picture looks like a crabapple, Malus species. The fruits are not poisonous, although they may not be palatable. Crabapples are in the Rose family, and many members of that family do produce seeds that contain cyanide, including crabapples and eating apples. They can be problematic if the seeds are eaten in quantity.
The second picture looks like a chokecherry, Prunus virginiana, which is also a member of the Rose family. The fruit are edible, if somewhat astringent. The seeds also contain cyanide and con be toxic if eaten in quantity.
The third picture looks like European mountain ash, which is also a member of the Rose family. The fruits are used for jellies and wine, but the seeds contain cyanide and are strained out before making those products.
If you have access to the botany department at one of your local universities, they should be able to identify these plants for you. Your pictures are good (thank you!), but nothing beats looking at actual samples of the plant.
