DON'T EAT THE BERRIES!
By Merry Bogert
Among the many joys of some flowering plantings in our
yards are the colorful fruits that follow and provide food for wildlife. But
many are toxic if consumed by humans or pets, so it pays to be aware of them in
order avoid accidental poisoning.
Decorative ivies such as Boston Ivy, English Ivy, and
Poison Ivy all produce colorful berries that are lovely to look at but may cause
stomach upset, and even be fatal if consumed. In particular, Boston Ivy berries contain calcium oxalates, needle-like crystals
that cause pain and swelling in the lips, face, tongue, and skin. Ripe
Virginia Creeper berries look like grapes but are extremely poisonous; they
have been implicated in fatalities. American Bittersweet berries can cause
stomach upset and diarrhea; invasive Asian Bittersweet’s toxicity level is not
well-documented in the literature. It’s best to avoid both.
Shrubs and trees with poisonous berries include: Yew
(the black seed inside the fleshy red aril causes nausea, vomiting diarrhea,
abdominal pain, circulatory failure and difficulty breathing), Holly (vomiting,
diarrhea, dehydration and drowsiness), Privet (abdominal pain, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness, low blood pressure), Cotoneaster (cyanogenic glycosides
convert to cyanide during digestion and may cause trouble breathing, weakness and seizures), and Elderberry
(unripe berries and seeds contain hydrocyanic acid and cause nausea, vomiting,
and diarrhea; ripe berries must be cooked to be safe). Juniper “berry”
(actually a modified cone) toxicity varies widely by species; abdominal
cramping and diarrhea have been reported.
Nightshade and
Pokeweed are two poisonous “weeds” that can be found in gardens. Of the two, Nightshade
is the more dangerous. Its toxins (atropine and solanine) cause delirium,
hallucinations, slowed breathing, paralysis, and death – just two berries can
kill a child. Pokeweed toxicity is highest from the leaves and stems, however
eating the berries may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and
severe diarrhea.
Mistletoe grows as a semi-parasitic plant high in the
branches of Black Gum/Tupelo and Red Maple trees in moist areas in southern New
Jersey. Ingestion of its waxy white berries causes vomiting, diarrhea,
convulsions and coma. European Mistletoe (Viscum album) is toxic but
our native American Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) is apparently
less so, according to the National Poison Control Center’s website (www.poison.org).
Since both species can be found (or purchased for Christmas decor), it’s
probably best to avoid it.
Lantana is a popular summer container plant whose
unripe, green berries can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and
agitation. Jack-in-the Pulpit berries contain calcium oxalate, which forms tiny
crystalline structures that result in throat and tongue swelling, blisters, and
choking.
The take-home message is “When in doubt, DON’T EAT THE
BERRIES!”
