Doc, anyone, can you eat these berries?

C

coote

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Apr 3, 2006
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I found some of these plants on a walk near my home. I don't think they are native to NZ. I am hoping that somebody might have a clue as to what the plant might be. Any ideas?

UnknownPlant.jpg


Thanks in advance.... best wishes from New Zealand ..... Stephen Coote
 
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Hey Coote,

Good to see you. Doesn't grow in my area, but you might want to check Phytolacca icosandra (Tropical pokeweed). If so, reportedly, the seeds are poisonous.

Doc
 
I know that leaf structure and berry shape. That's a phytolacca species, but I am not sure which- possibly Phytolacca octandra, going by internet pictures.

In general all parts of all members of the genus are toxic to some extent, some severely toxic. Supposedly the fruit (at least on the american version) can be cooked into a juice as long as the seeds are not crushed (lest you get vomiting and other fun symptoms), but I wouldn't trust it.
 
Thanks guys.... as soon as you gave me the Phytolacca name I was able to check out further references and I have to say my plant looks very much like the Phytolacca species that are said to grow in New Zealand.

Apparently it is classed as noxious by some folks down here and, yes, every reference indicates that it can be toxic. I tasted a small drop of the berry juice and it was not pleasant on my tongue... so I spat it out.

It seems that the berry juice has been used as dye or ink, and that the plant is used as a remedy for some things.

I appreciate the quick response.
 
Sure looks like Pokeweed, although a slightly different morphology to the N. American variety.

Don't eat!!

That said, do you know the old Tony Joe White song "Poke Salad Annie"? It can be made edible:

"Young pokeweed leaves can be boiled three times to reduce the toxin, discarding the water after each boiling. The result is known as poke salit, or poke salad, and is occasionally available commercially.[5] Many authorities advise against eating pokeweed even after thrice boiling, as traces of the toxin may still remain. It should never be eaten uncooked. For many decades, poke salad has been a staple of southern U.S. cuisine, despite campaigns by doctors who believed pokeweed remained toxic even after being boiled. The lingering cultural significance of Poke salad can be found in the 1969 hit song "Polk Salad Annie,"
 
I live in the southeast of the U.S., and yes I've heard of poke salid. Although, I've never eaten it myself, the people that tell me they do, act as if there is no danger at all. I hadn't even heard of boiling it. But, they do say it is best at or below 8" in height. They say any more than that and the stalk turns red in color and it is no longer "good eaten."

BTW, when I saw the pic, my first thought was poke. The berries look exactly like poke berries here.
 
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