10/03/2025
So a neighbor this morning asked me "you know herbs and plants, right? I've been curious, what is that one?" And to be honest, my eye had also been drawn to it, but I always have my dog with me and that means that I have to keep my eye on the dog ... Anyway, today I said "gee I don't know, let me get out my plant ID app!"
I snapped a photo and the app allows ID based on leaves, flowers, and berries, and this one had all three, so I ID's based on all three. All three said, a phytolacca species. Then I outlined the order of usefulness to toxicity (I start with "food source"):
Food source ... blurrs into culinary herb ... blurs into possible medicinal ... blurs into toxic. The lines are blurry, even between medicinal and toxic (there are some toxic herbs that can be used in very low doses for a positive effect - not often, but they can occur).
I pointed out that this one was likely to be more toxic except in skilled hands.
"so, don't make a tea out of it"
Me: definitely not
(in fact, I would not consume anything unless that I was 100% certain that it was not toxic at all, and my husband will attest that I can and do graze while hiking. I'm not afraid ... but I don't eat it unless I'm certain)
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