A few weeks ago, I was mowing and saw this plant springing up in the underbrush on the property.
 |
| Poisonous Jerusalem Cherry (NOT edible) |
It was actually in several places around the farm. We were hoping for something we could eat that's growing wild. Maybe a wild pepper of some sort? In fact, when you cut one open, it even looked like the inside of a tomato, seeds and all. Of course, we're not going to take a chance without checking so I did some research online.
We found a wonderful website, FORAGING TEXAS, and the owner of the site replied right away when I sent him this picture. We found out this is a poisonous member of the Nightshade family called "Jerusalem Cherry". It makes a pretty plant with these big red fruit all over but as he warned, DO NOT EAT IT AND DON'T LET ANIMALS EAT IT EITHER.
So I went around everywhere I could find it and pulled it all up and safely disposed of the plants.
Side note, it's a great website to visit and even though it's Texas specific, many of the plants listed are across other states as well. It's fascinating how much is edible out there. Oh how we'd love to have him walk around our property for an afternoon. There is no telling what we have growing that we could eat, ha. His tag line is "harvesting the past to feed the present and preserve the future".
We don't get anything for mentioning his website,
FORAGING TEXAS , we just wanted to give him a shout out as a thanks for the quick answer and the warning. It's a resource if you're interested in wild foraging and it also makes for just plain old fascinating reading of the wonderful world of nature that is all around us.
They look like cherry tomatoes .
ReplyDeleteGood thing you had it checked out.
Sometimes the prettiest plants like this are the most dangerous.
Will be keeping their website in my plant folder. Thanks
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/poison/jerusalem-cherry-poisoning/overview.html
DeleteThey do! Or even peppers of some sort. That's why were excited at first but also not going to just eat anything we randomly find, ha. That website is great isn't it? Thanks for finding the link too.
DeleteGeez,...Don't let the midnight marauding cow eat it. Did he send a photo of the bloom?
ReplyDeleteLOL, I sure don't want to have to be disposing of a cow carcass. There is a small flower that become a green berry that gets bigger and redder. It looks so tempting, but no, do not eat.
DeleteGood thing you checked! I'm sure lots of people might think it was a little tomato.
ReplyDeleteIt looks JUST Like a cherry tomato. Yep, dangerous indeed.
DeleteWhat is the diameter of the fruit? He may walk your property for a fee. It would be worth it to find out what to eliminate to save animals and what was edible.
ReplyDeleteHmm, not sure measurement wise but about the size of a large grape, or maybe a large marble. I never thought about a fee to do it. Might be worthwhile someday. Thanks!!!
DeleteLooks like cherry tomatoes to me. I'd probably eat them and regret it very quickly.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Yep, just like them but definitely probably regret it right away.
DeleteI did not see your thumb to give perspective, so they are the size of grape tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteyep, pretty much the same size. They really do "look" they would be delicious.
DeleteYour county extension office will likely have publications that will help identify local plants as well, but your "Foraging Texas" guy sounds like a real gem. I'd love to take some foraging courses specific to Illinois. Especially mushrooms!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, I will have to check that out. And yes, he has some amazing skills for sure, ha. And I'd love to know more about mushrooms but THEY really scare me as wild.
DeletePretty but poisonous - so glad that you checked it out. I googled it and saw that some people grow it as a houseplant - I think I'd pass on that because its prettiness could be dangerously tempting.
ReplyDeleteIt would be so interesting to have the Foraging Texas guy walk your property and point out all the edibles growing there.
Houseplant?? What? No way I'd try that. It is pretty, very much so actually but not worth the risk. I'd love to know what we have that we could eat (or avoid, ha). There are probably different things at different times of the year too.
Delete