I just went for a walk, and I saw these berries hanging on a tree/shrub (it was reasonably tall, like 9 feet.) I ate one, and it was pretty sweet, so I thought I should come back to pick some...however then I realized that I didn't know what they were and they could be poisonous. I live in Iowa, and these berries look like blackberries, only they were red. They were quite small, maybe 1-1.5 cm in length. Are berries like that (aggregate) usually safe to eat?
2007-06-14 09:42:53 · 7 answers · asked by mols04 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Since you said it was sweet, I doubt it was an unripe blackberry because those are very bitter and don't grow to 9 feet. If the plant is growing to 9-feet your probably dealing with a small tree.
There is a small tree with a aggregate fruit that when ripe is red and has a sweet taste, Mulberry (Morus rubra)!
If thats what it is, then yes its fine to eat and extremely tasty!
Here are some pictures of its fruit and leaves:
Leaves (yes one tree will have all three)
http://sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/RedMulberry/RedMulberryLeafWeb.jpg
Fruit
http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/images/Mulberry_012.jpg
2007-06-14 11:55:13 · answer #1 · answered by Sean B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of berries is to grow new plants that those berries come from. Didnt you take biology. And if the berries will sprout new plants, then God's plan is working. Geez, I hope that isnt too complicated for you.
2016-05-20 04:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Sean, that it sounds like a mulberry, but I'll suggest a different species that is much more common in Illinois, called white mulberry, Morus alba. They are edible, but I'd check the identity of the tree just to be on the safe side. Mulberries usually have all sorts of differently shaped leaves, with different lobes.
And thanks for mentioning that it grows in Iowa--that helps narrow the possiblilties. Many questioners don't say where their plant is growing (hint, hint).
2007-06-14 22:53:57 · answer #3 · answered by prairiedog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They probably were blackberries, just unripe, although raspberries are a possibility. I'm not aware of any berries like that in your area that are poisonous, so you can probably relax. Be careful in the future, though. Lots of yummy-looking berries will kill you.
2007-06-14 09:48:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd encourage you to identify the plant before you just eat a lot of the berries. I don't know of poisonous fruits like that, but...
2007-06-14 09:49:05 · answer #5 · answered by hcbiochem 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a person that eats thigns he finds on the ground all the time, I'm sure you're fine. Hey, I'm going mushroom picking next week. Wanna come?!
2007-06-14 09:50:31 · answer #6 · answered by apostate03 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
without a photo of the berry it would be unwise to make a decision here is a photo of blackberries
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/50556731/Frozen_Blackberries.jpg
http://www.oregonberry.com/images/BLACKBERRIES/Blackberry_Cluster.jpg
here is a photo of raspberries
http://www.oldfrogpondfarm.com/master/images/raspberries/raspberries_main.jpg
2007-06-15 01:45:26 · answer #7 · answered by Samantha 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋