What on earth did my son eat!?

June 29, 2011 7:46 PM

Help me identify this weird thing that my son may have eaten!!

So, my son was out in the backyard with my husband and came in with a handful of little seed pod things. He had one in his mouth, which I successfully got away from him, and grabbed the rest of his stash. Not sure if he actually ate any or not, and that's what worries me!

They are rather small pods, and have three compartments. Overall, the pod almost looks like a very small developing green pepper. Inside the pod are small black seeds that look somewhat like whole pepper kernels. They came on a stalk that is weedlike, and there are about 20-25 on a stem.

I'll try to post a picture here as soon as I can get it uploaded, if that helps. Any ideas you might have would be great! Thanks!

posted by I_love_the_rain to Science & Nature (18 answers total)

Be safe. Call your local poison control center:
http://www.ohsu.edu/poison/
1-800-222-1222
posted by MrVisible at 7:53 PM on June 29, 2011 [2 favorites]

A picture would help people ID it.
posted by dfriedman at 8:01 PM on June 29, 2011

Your husband or son might also be able to point out what plant it came from, which would help with identification as well.
posted by Lady Li at 8:04 PM on June 29, 2011

Was it twisted stalk? The pods look like peppers. They're edible but can cause diarrhea.
posted by janerica at 8:06 PM on June 29, 2011

Husband here. Three pics of the plant. It was in stalks of about maybe 20 stalks in a grouping, about the size of a very large dandelion plant.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3
posted by Happydaz at 8:17 PM on June 29, 2011

Pictures of leaves would also be very helpful. And general location on the globe.
posted by jferg at 8:23 PM on June 29, 2011

There were no leaves on the plant. Roseburg, Oregon.
posted by Happydaz at 8:26 PM on June 29, 2011

Daylily seed pods. This forum thread, among others, suggests they are not toxic to humans, but… I'd still want to be careful.
posted by Nomyte at 8:29 PM on June 29, 2011 [1 favorite]

How high are the stalks?
posted by IanMorr at 8:31 PM on June 29, 2011

About 15 inches tall. Yup, they're daylily. Called back poison control with the name, and they said it's fine (although we won't put them in a salad anytime soon).

Thanks so much for all the help! Phew!
posted by Happydaz at 8:35 PM on June 29, 2011

Yep, I think Nomyte has it.
posted by jferg at 8:36 PM on June 29, 2011

Best answer: Looks like Bluebells to me.
posted by humboldt32 at 8:37 PM on June 29, 2011

You can, however, wait until next year and put the actual flowers in a salad, if you'd like. They're considered to be an edible flower.
posted by jferg at 8:38 PM on June 29, 2011 [1 favorite]

Daylilies would be larger and have fewer pods per stalk.
posted by humboldt32 at 8:39 PM on June 29, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks guys! Your answers really helped us, as Poison Control could not ID the plant for us, and wanted us to figure out what it was before proceeding. We did get a positive ID on it, and all is well (although he may have a few gross diapers, they say). You saved us driving around town trying to find an open garden supply center (which is what they suggested).
posted by I_love_the_rain at 8:44 PM on June 29, 2011

Sorry, those are not daylily seed stalks. Daylilies only branch on the upper third of the scape, and the ovary does not have a persistent style like the ones in your photos. I think the people who are saying bluebell are correct.
posted by oneirodynia at 10:01 PM on June 29, 2011

Response by poster: Everyone who voted bluebells is right! They are bluebells, for sure. Thanks for catching that, folks! Luckily, bluebells don't appear to be dangerous, and our son is fine (and now we have pretty flowers to look forward to!).
posted by I_love_the_rain at 11:39 PM on June 29, 2011

(and now we have pretty flowers to look forward to!).(although he may have a few gross diapers, they say).

Do these sentences go together in any way?
posted by Gungho at 8:07 AM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]