Edible and Poisonous Berries of Shrubs in Wyoming

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Edible and Poisonous Berries of Shrubs in Wyoming EDIBLE AND POISONOUS BERRIES OF SHRUBS IN WYOMING Brian Sebade areas in southeastern Wyoming Berries should only be consumed yoming hosts many different and the western half of the state. with expert guidance. Wshrubs. Some have edible de- The berries are not edible and are Whitestem gooseberry, Ribes licious and nutritious berries every poisonous to humans. Plants are inerme. This shrub is found in most fall, and some have berries poison- generally 2 to 5 feet in height. Wyoming mountain ranges except ous to humans. Can you identify Bog blueberry, Vaccinium oc- in the Bighorn Mountains and the which of these not-so-common cidentale. This plant is found at Wyoming Black Hills. The dark Wyoming native berries are safe high-elevation, riparian areas of purple, almost black berries are ex- and edible and those that are not? northwest Wyoming. This shrub cellent when eaten fresh or cooked. Western baneberry, Actaea rarely exceeds 3 feet in height and Plants have spines and alternat- rubra. This shrub is found grow- has an alternating leaf arrangement ing simple palmately lobed leaves. ing in moist soils throughout much on the stem. This plant produces Plants enjoy moist areas of mid- and of Wyoming. Plants are generally dark blue to purple berries similar high elevations and reach heights of 2 to 3 feet high and have bright to commercial blueberry varieties 2 to 4 feet. red- to white-colored berries held in the supermarket. The delicious, Rocky Mountain gooseberry, upright. The berries are poisonous edible berries generally ripen in Ribes montigenum, is a shrub with to humans. This plant is a member August and early September. bright-red berries when ripe. This of the buttercup family. Leaves can Elderberry, Sambucus racemo- plant is found throughout most of be confused with leaves of other sa, this shrub reaches 5 to 6 feet Wyoming, often at high elevations shrubs with edible berries. in height. There are three varieties growing in rocky soils. Flowers are Black twinberry honeysuckle, of this shrub in Wyoming, with the generally pink in color. The stems Lonicera involucrata. This shrub most common recognized by red of this plant have spines, and the has large elliptical leaves arranged berries. This plant enjoys moist simple palmately lobed leaves are opposite from each other on the soils of mountains and forests in alternately arranged on the stem. stem. Berries are dark purple when Wyoming and has beautiful white The berries can be eaten fresh or ripe and hang in groups of two. This flowers in the spring. The berries made into jams or jellies. are poisonous until cooked properly. plant is found in moist mountainous (continued page 27) FALL 2017 25 Western baneberry Bog blueberry Chokecherry Elderberry Grouse wortleberry Rocky Mountain gooseberry Serviceberry Twinberry honeysuckle Whitestem gooseberry 26 BARNYARDS & BACKYARDS Chokecherry, Prunus virgin- on the upper two-thirds. To some, the iana, is a small tree-to-large shrub berries taste similar to blueberries. of Wyoming. Plants are a member Berries start out reddish pink and of the cherry family and produce a turn dark blue to purple when ripe. If small, edible cherry with a large pit. grown at home, shrubs need netted Plants are recognized by bright white or the birds will eat them all. Stems flowers during the spring, bright red and bark are a deep brown to reddish berries during the summer, and a color. This shrub is an important win- dark purple to black-colored berry ter forage for wildlife. in the fall. These plants enjoy moist Grouse wortleberry, Vaccinium soils for at least part of the growing scoparium, is a low-growing shrub season. Leaves are simple and have found growing in mountains and small teeth on the leaf margins. The foothills. Plants produce a dark red to pits can be poisonous if eaten in large pink-colored berry. Berries are small, quantities. yet very delicious eaten raw. Leaves Serviceberry, Amelanchier alni- are quite small, from 0.5 to 1.5 centi- folia, is a medium to large shrub with meters in length. Plants mostly grow simple leaves. The leaves have teeth under forest canopies of moist soils. Questions? Contact University of Wyoming Extension educator Brian Sebade at (307) 721-2571 or [email protected]. Missed an issue? Back issues of Barnyards & Backyards are now available! See the website www.barnyardsandbackyards.com or call (307) 766-2115 for more information. BARNYARDS & BACKYARDS Rural Living in Wyoming Name ____________________________________________ Name ____________________________________________ Company _________________________________________ Company _________________________________________ orderAddress __________________________________________ Addressform __________________________________________ City ______________________________________________ City ______________________________________________ Bill to State _____________________Zip Code _________________ Ship to State _____________________Zip Code _________________ e-mail ____________________________________________ e-mail ____________________________________________ VISA/MasterCard Check or money order enclosed, payable to ___________________________________________ the University of Wyoming Card Number Mail this form and your check or credit card information to: ___________________________________________ University of Wyoming Expiration Date College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Payment ___________________________________________ Dept 3354, 1000 E. University Ave. Phone (307) 766-2115 Signature Laramie, WY 82071 Fax (307) 766-6345 www.barnyardsandbackyards.com Order online at www.barnyardsandbackyards.com Yearly subscription: Barnyards & Backyards: Rural Living in Wyoming $10.00 How did you hear about Barnyards & Backyards? For other subscription information, e-mail [email protected].
Recommended publications
  • Scientific Name Common Name Plant Type Plant Form References at Bottom
    Diablo Firesafe Council The following list of plants contains those found in the references that were recommended for use in fire prone environments by at least 3 references. All of the plants listed here were given either a high or moderate fire resistance rating in the references where a rating was assigned, or found listed in the references that categorized plants as fire resistant without assigning a degree of resistance. In most cases, the terms used in the ranking were not defined, and if they were, there is no agreed upon standard definition. For this reason, the plants are listed in this chapter without any attempt to rank them. The list is sorted by plant form -- groundcovers, shrubs, trees, etc. Some species may appear twice (e.g. once as a groundcover and then again as a shrub) because they have properties attributed to both forms. For a complete description of the plant, including its mature characteristics, climate zones, and information on erosion control and drought tolerance, please refer to Chapter 4, the landscape vegetation database. It is important to note that a plant's fire performance can be seriously compromised if not maintained. Plants that are not properly irrigated or pruned, or that are planted in climate areas not generally recommended for the plant, will have increased fire risk and will likely make the mature plant undesirable for landscaping in high fire hazard zones. Table 1. Plants with a favorable fire performance rating in 3 or more references. Some plants may have invasive (indicated as ), or other negative characteristics that should be considered before being selected for use in parts of California.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Brown Bear Ursus Arctos As Seed Disperser: a Case Study with the Bilberry Vaccinium Myrtillus
    The role of the brown bear Ursus arctos as seed disperser: a case study with the bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus Rola niedźwiedzia brunatnego Ursus arctos w rozprzestrzenianiu nasion: studium przypadku na przykładzie borówki czarnej Vaccinium myrtillus PhD thesis Alberto García-Rodríguez Kraków, 2021 To the memory of José Ignacio and Javier Rodríguez Val Female brown bear with two cubs of the year feeding on bilberry fruits in Tatra National Park (July 2020) “They thought they were burying you, they did not know they were burying a seed” Ernesto Cardenal, Nicaraguan priest, poet and politician PhD CANDIDATE mgr. ALBERTO GARCÍA-RODRÍGUEZ Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Krakow, Poland SUPERVISOR dr. hab. NURIA SELVA FERNÁNDEZ Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Krakow, Poland CO-SUPERVISOR dr. JÖRG ALBRECHT Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F) Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The PhD thesis was prepared during doctoral studies in the Doctoral Study of Natural Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków. CONTENTS SUMMARY…………..……………..…………………………...………………………………………………...5 STRESZCZENIE……...………….……………………………………………………………………………….8 INTRODUCTION……………………...………………………………………………….……………………...11 PAPER I The role of the brown bear Ursus arctos as a legitimate megafaunal seed disperser………………..…30 PAPER II The bear-berry connection: ecological and management implications of
    [Show full text]
  • Shrub Swamp State Rank: S5 - Secure
    Shrub Swamp State Rank: S5 - Secure cover of tall shrubs with Shrub Swamp Communities are a well decomposed organic common and variable type of wetlands soils. If highbush occurring on seasonally or temporarily blueberries are dominant flooded soils; They are often found in the transition zone between emergent the community is likely to marshes and swamp forests; be a Highbush Blueberry Thicket, often occurring on stunted trees. The herbaceous layer of peat. Acidic Shrub Fens are shrub swamps is often sparse and species- peatlands, dominated by poor. A mixture of species might typically low growing shrubs, along include cinnamon, sensitive, royal, or with sphagnum moss and marsh fern, common arrowhead, skunk herbaceous species of Shrub Swamp along shoreline. Photo: Patricia cabbage, sedges, bluejoint grass, bur-reed, varying abundance. Deep Serrentino, Consulting Wildlife Ecologist. swamp candles, clearweed, and Emergent Marshes and Description: Wetland shrubs dominate turtlehead. Invasive species include reed Shallow Emergent Marshes Cottontail, have easy access to the shrubs Shrub Swamps. Shrub height may be from canary grass, glossy alder-buckthorn, are graminoid dominated wetlands with and protection in the dense thickets. The <1m to 5 meters, of uniform height or common buckthorn, and purple <25% cover of tall shrubs. Acidic larvae of many rare and common moth mixed. Shrub density can be variable, loosestrife. Pondshore/Lakeshore Communities are species feed on a variety of shrubs and from dense (>75% cover) to fairly open broadly defined, variable shorelines associated herbaceous plants in shrub (25-75% cover) with graminoid, around open water. Shorelines often swamps throughout Massachusetts. herbaceous, or open water areas between merge into swamps or marshes.
    [Show full text]
  • Fruits: Kinds and Terms
    FRUITS: KINDS AND TERMS THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE LIFE CYCLE OFTEN IGNORED Technically, fruits are the mature ovaries of plants that contain ripe seeds ready for dispersal • Of the many kinds of fruits, there are three basic categories: • Dehiscent fruits that split open to shed their seeds, • Indehiscent dry fruits that retain their seeds and are often dispersed as though they were the seed, and • Indehiscent fleshy fruits that turn color and entice animals to eat them, meanwhile allowing the undigested seeds to pass from the animal’s gut We’ll start with dehiscent fruits. The most basic kind, the follicle, contains a single chamber and opens by one lengthwise slit. The columbine seed pods, three per flower, are follicles A mature columbine follicle Milkweed seed pods are also large follicles. Here the follicle hasn’t yet opened. Here is the milkweed follicle opened The legume is a similar seed pod except it opens by two longitudinal slits, one on either side of the fruit. Here you see seeds displayed from a typical legume. Legumes are only found in the pea family Fabaceae. On this fairy duster legume, you can see the two borders that will later split open. Redbud legumes are colorful before they dry and open Lupine legumes twist as they open, projecting the seeds away from the parent The bur clover modifies its legumes by coiling them and providing them with hooked barbs, only opening later as they dry out. The rattlepods or astragaluses modify their legumes by inflating them for wind dispersal, later opening to shed their seeds.
    [Show full text]
  • Nannyberry (Viburnum Lentago)
    BWSR Featured Plant Name: Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) Plant Family: Caprifoliaceae Statewide Wetland Indicator Status: Great Plains – FACU Nannyberry is a shrub that is both beautiful and Midwest – FAC versatile. This shade-tolerant, woody plant has flat N. Cent. N. East – FAC topped white flowers, fruit that is used by a wide variety of birds and wildlife, and vibrant fall color. Frequently used as a landscaping plant, it is successful as a tall barrier and wind break. Its ability to function as both a small tree and multi-stemmed shrub and ability to adapt to many environmental conditions makes it well suited to buffer planting and other soil stabilization projects. Flat-topped flower clusters and finely serrated leaves Identification This native shrub can be identified by its pointed buds, unique flowers, and fruit. Growing to around twelve feet tall in open habitats, the species commonly produces suckers and multiple stems. The newest branches are light green in color and glabrous and buds narrow to a point. With age, the branches become grey, scaly and rough. The egg-shaped leaves are simple and opposite with tips abruptly tapering to a sharp point. Leaf surfaces are shiny, dark green and hairless with reddish finely serrated margins. Fall color is a vibrant dark red. Numerous dense, flat-topped flower heads appear and bloom from May to June. Flowers are creamy white and bell to saucer-shaped. The flowers develop into elliptical berry-like drupes that turn a blue-black color from July to August. The Multi-stemmed growth form sweet and edible fruit is used by a variety of wildlife species but has a wet wool odor when decomposing, thus its alternate name – Sheepberry.
    [Show full text]
  • Plant Collecting Expedition for Berry Crop Species Through Southeastern
    Plant Collecting Expedition for Berry Crop Species through Southeastern and Midwestern United States June and July 2007 Glassy Mountain, South Carolina Participants: Kim E. Hummer, Research Leader, Curator, USDA ARS NCGR 33447 Peoria Road, Corvallis, Oregon 97333-2521 phone 541.738.4201 [email protected] Chad E. Finn, Research Geneticist, USDA ARS HCRL, 3420 NW Orchard Ave., Corvallis, Oregon 97330 phone 541.738.4037 [email protected] Michael Dossett Graduate Student, Oregon State University, Department of Horticulture, Corvallis, OR 97330 phone 541.738.4038 [email protected] Plant Collecting Expedition for Berry Crops through the Southeastern and Midwestern United States, June and July 2007 Table of Contents Table of Contents.................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements:................................................................................................................ 3 Executive Summary................................................................................................................ 4 Part I – Southeastern United States ...................................................................................... 5 Summary.............................................................................................................................. 5 Travelog May-June 2007.................................................................................................... 6 Conclusions for part 1 .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Berries and Health: a Review of the Evidence
    Berries and Health: A review of the evidence Gordon J. McDougall and Derek Stewart Environmental and Biochemical Sciences Group, Enhancing Crop Productivity and Utilisation Theme, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK 1 Introduction Berries already benefit from a “health halo” which is partly associated with a general recognition that fruit is good for us and that they are popular and palatable way to increase intake. In addition soft fruit and health have long established associations steeped in traditions with strong linkages to Scottish1 and world folklore (see http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry/production/pdfs/berryfolklore.pdf). Indeed, many traditional or folk medicines have used berries in remedies for a range of health issues2. For example, North American indigenous peoples have used berries from the Rubus species as treatments against diarrhoea and for pain relief. However, evidence has accrued over the last twenty years highlighting that components from berries have measurable beneficial effects on health3. This report provides a short overview of the current evidence. In botanical terms, “berries” are defined as a fleshy fruit that arises from the entire plant ovary that surrounds the seeds and therefore true berries include bananas, grapes, blueberries, black currants and coffee beans. In this review, we use the common usage of “berries” and this includes soft fruits with multiple seeds including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, black currants, blackberries etc. Strawberries are the most popular berries in the UK market but there have been consistent increases in sales of other berries (http://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/news/4680) and indeed in a range of “berry-plus” products.
    [Show full text]
  • Pruning Shrubs in the Low and Mid-Elevation Deserts in Arizona Ursula K
    az1499 Revised 01/16 Pruning Shrubs in the Low and Mid-Elevation Deserts in Arizona Ursula K. Schuch Pruning is the intentional removal of parts of a plant. visibility and safety concerns is sometimes necessary. These Pruning needs of shrubs commonly planted in the low and can be minimized by allowing sufficient space for the plant mid-elevation deserts in Arizona vary from no pruning to reach its mature size in the landscape. Renovating or to regular seasonal pruning. Requirements vary by plant rejuvenating old or overgrown shrubs through pruning species, design intent, and placement in a landscape. Fast generally improves the structure and quality of the plant, growing shrubs generally need frequent pruning from the and results in improved displays for flowering shrubs. Some time of establishment until maturity, while slow growing shrubs are grown as formal hedges and require continuous shrubs require little to none. Pruning should only be done pruning to maintain their size and shape. when necessary and at the right time of year. Using the natural growth form of a shrub is a good guide for pruning. Shearing shrubs should be avoided except for maintenance of formal How to prune? hedges or plant sculptures. All pruning should be done with Selective thinning refers to removing branches back to the sharp hand pruners or, for thicker stems, loppers. point of attachment to another branch, or to the ground. This type of pruning opens the plant canopy, increasing light and air movement (Figure 1). Thinning cuts do not stimulate Why prune? excessive new growth. They serve to maintain the natural Reasons for pruning shrubs include maintenance of plant growth habit of the shrub.
    [Show full text]
  • Porcelain Berry
    FACT SHEET: PORCELAIN-BERRY Porcelain-berry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (Maxim.) Trautv. Grape family (Vitaceae) NATIVE RANGE Northeast Asia - China, Korea, Japan, and Russian Far East DESCRIPTION Porcelain-berry is a deciduous, woody, perennial vine. It twines with the help of non-adhesive tendrils that occur opposite the leaves and closely resembles native grapes in the genus Vitis. The stem pith of porcelain-berry is white (grape is brown) and continuous across the nodes (grape is not), the bark has lenticels (grape does not), and the bark does not peel (grape bark peels or shreds). The Ieaves are alternate, broadly ovate with a heart-shaped base, palmately 3-5 lobed or more deeply dissected, and have coarsely toothed margins. The inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers with "free" petals occur in cymes opposite the leaves from June through August (in contrast to grape species that have flowers with petals that touch at tips and occur in panicles. The fruits appear in September-October and are colorful, changing from pale lilac, to green, to a bright blue. Porcelain-berry is often confused with species of grape (Vitis) and may be confused with several native species of Ampelopsis -- Ampelopsis arborea and Ampelopsis cordata. ECOLOGICAL THREAT Porcelain-berry is a vigorous invader of open and wooded habitats. It grows and spreads quickly in areas with high to moderate light. As it spreads, it climbs over shrubs and other vegetation, shading out native plants and consuming habitat. DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES Porcelain-berry is found from New England to North Carolina and west to Michigan (USDA Plants) and is reported to be invasive in twelve states in the Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 1 Definitions and Classifications for Fruit and Vegetables
    Chapter 1 Definitions and classifications for fruit and vegetables In the broadest sense, the botani- Botanical and culinary cal term vegetable refers to any plant, definitions edible or not, including trees, bushes, vines and vascular plants, and Botanical definitions distinguishes plant material from ani- Broadly, the botanical term fruit refers mal material and from inorganic to the mature ovary of a plant, matter. There are two slightly different including its seeds, covering and botanical definitions for the term any closely connected tissue, without vegetable as it relates to food. any consideration of whether these According to one, a vegetable is a are edible. As related to food, the plant cultivated for its edible part(s); IT botanical term fruit refers to the edible M according to the other, a vegetable is part of a plant that consists of the the edible part(s) of a plant, such as seeds and surrounding tissues. This the stems and stalk (celery), root includes fleshy fruits (such as blue- (carrot), tuber (potato), bulb (onion), berries, cantaloupe, poach, pumpkin, leaves (spinach, lettuce), flower (globe tomato) and dry fruits, where the artichoke), fruit (apple, cucumber, ripened ovary wall becomes papery, pumpkin, strawberries, tomato) or leathery, or woody as with cereal seeds (beans, peas). The latter grains, pulses (mature beans and definition includes fruits as a subset of peas) and nuts. vegetables. Definition of fruit and vegetables applicable in epidemiological studies, Fruit and vegetables Edible plant foods excluding
    [Show full text]
  • City of Vancouver Native Trees and Shrubs Last Revision: 2010 Plant Characteristics (A - M)
    City of Vancouver Native Trees and Shrubs Last Revision: 2010 Plant Characteristics (A - M) *This list is representative, but not exhaustive, of the native trees and shrubs historically found in the natural terrestrial habitats of Vancouver, Washington. Botanical Name Common NameGrowth Mature Mature Growth Light / Shade Tolerance Moisture Tolerance Leaf Type Form Height Spread Rate Full Part Full Seasonally Perennially Dry Moist (feet) (feet) Sun Sun Shade Wet Wet Abies grandies grand fir tree 150 40 medium evergreen, 99 999 conifer Acer circinatum vine maple arborescent 25 20 medium deciduous, shrub 99 99 broadleaf Acer macrophyllum bigleaf maple tree 75 60 fast deciduous, 99 999 broadleaf Alnus rubra red alder tree 80 35 very fast deciduous, 99 999 broadleaf Amalanchier alnifolia serviceberry / saskatoon arborescent 15 8 medium deciduous, shrub 99 99 broadleaf Arbutus menziesii Pacific madrone tree 50 50 very slow evergreen, 99 9 broadleaf Arctostaphylos uva-ursi kinnikinnick low creeping 0.5 mat- fast evergreen, shrub forming 999 broadleaf Berberis aquifolium tall Oregon-grape shrub 8 3 medium evergreen, (Mahonia aquilfolium) 99 99 broadleaf Berberis nervosa low Oregon-grape low shrub 2 3 medium evergreen, (Mahonia aquifolium) 99 9 99 broadleaf Cornus nuttalli Pacific flowering dogwood tree 40 20 medium deciduous, 99 99 broadleaf Cornus sericea red-osier dogwood shrub 15 thicket- very fast deciduous, forming 99 9 9 9 broadleaf Corylus cornuta var. californica California hazel / beaked shrub 20 15 fast deciduous, hazelnut 99 9 9 broadleaf
    [Show full text]
  • What Is a Shrub?
    What is a shrub? The man behind the beverage counter at the festival asked me if I ever had a great shrub. With questioning eyes, I imagined that beautiful green evergreen that grows outside our house. I guess he knew that I had no idea why he was asking me that question since he started to laugh as he explained that it is fruit syrup preserved with vinegar and mixed with water or alcohol to create a very refreshing drink. It seems that this is an old fashioned idea that was used to preserve seasonal fruit, creating fresh flavored syrup that can be used for beverages, salad dressings, or meat glazes. Adding vinegar to water helped make it safe to drink for Babylonians and even Romans made a beverage like this called posca. Early colonial sailors carried those vitamin C enhanced shrubs to prevent scurvy. Many older cookbooks or well as some recent ones have recipes for shrubs. As I researched shrub recipes, I found several different methods. Most of them involved creating fruit-flavored vinegar and adding sugar to it. The vinegar acts as the preserving agent, allowing fresh fruits to turn into flavorful syrups. The ingredients are simple: Fresh fruit, vinegar, and sugar Fruits - Think berries, peaches, plums, pears, cherries and many other fruits, just make sure they are wonderfully ripe and sweet. The fruits need to be washed, peeled, chopped, or lightly crushed. Some additions can be ginger, citrus peels, or even peppercorns. Vinegar – you can use distilled white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even wine vinegars.
    [Show full text]