Comments on: Ipecac?

Question: Ipecac?

spork — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:03:34 -0800

Are these berries edible?

The bush/tree has bark and is about 10 or 15 feet tall. The berries are blue with purple juice, have no pit and are sweet. Yeah, I tasted them. Will I die?

My photo is an homage to High Times' reader submission pics.

By: Rabulah

Rabulah — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:07:47 -0800

It looks very much like a Mahonia. I've no idea on the edibility though.

By: 6:1

6:1 — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:11:09 -0800

Do you have a local county extension office you can call? That may be your best bet . . .

By: kalessin

kalessin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:48:30 -0800

It looks very much like Mahonia lomariifolia, which I matched due to leaves and berries, and becuase of Rablah.

PLANTS Profile: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MALO8
University of Connecticut: http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/199900568.html
Horticopia: http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc3526.htm
Plantfiles: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/186447/

Apparently the berries, if it is Mahonia Lomariifolia, are good in muesli.

By: stefanie

stefanie — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:58:11 -0800

I suspect it's Mahonia lomariifolia, and apparently the seedless fruits of this plant do not have a bitter flavour

By: spork

spork — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:10:30 -0800

Thanks kalessin and Rabulah. This looks exactly like my neighbor's plant.

By: sciurus

sciurus — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:32:20 -0800

You might consider adding the plant's name to the tags for later searching ease. It looks like its common name is Chinese Holly Grape.

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:39:13 -0800

Yes, Mahonia/Berberis fruit are edible. High in vitamin C, as well.