Russian forests are extremely rich in a variety of mushrooms and berries. But not all of them are as safe as they are beautiful. Getting out into nature and walking through the forest, it is necessary to carefully pick berries. Before a walk, you should study the information about which berries are poisonous, see their photos and descriptions.
The most dangerous poisonous berries
Poisonous berries that can be found in Russia can not only cause poisoning, but also lead to much more serious consequences, such as death. To protect yourself and your family from danger, consider the names and descriptions of poisonous berries, from which you should stay away.
- Belladonna.
- Nightshade red.
- Marsh calla.
- Raven eye.
- May lily of the valley.
- Honeysuckle forest.
Belladonna
This poisonous berry has many names, the most common of which are the wild berry, the belladonna. It belongs to the nightshade family. Its main habitat is dark forests, clearings or clearings. Most often found in the Caucasus.
It is a plant with a long stalk of a purple hue. The flowers are yellow-purple, bell-shaped. After flowering, single black berries appear. They cannot be eaten.
Belladonna
In case of poisoning, the following symptoms appear: burning in the oral cavity, it becomes difficult to speak and swallow. These symptoms begin to appear quite quickly - after 10-15 minutes. When the poison spreads throughout the body, there is a rapid heartbeat, vision becomes blurred, psycho-emotional arousal appears, as well as hallucinations. If in the body a large number of poison, then skin redness is observed, it becomes difficult to control their actions.
nightshade red
This poisonous berry grows throughout Russia. Most often found in damp areas, in forests, near lakes or rivers. The appearance of the plant is a shrub of small height, its stems curl, and the flowers have purple hue, small scarlet berries.
The plant begins to bloom in June and bears fruit until October. The important thing is that the poison is found not only in poisonous berries, but also in the leaves and stems of the plant.
nightshade red
The first signs of poisoning are lethargy and clouding of consciousness. There are pains in the abdomen, there may be nausea. The danger of poisoning with these poisonous berries lies in the fact that with it there are great effects on the heart, as a result of which suffocation can occur. In case of poisoning with berries, first of all, it is urgent to rinse the stomach, and then go to the hospital.
Marsh calla
The plant lives in swampy areas. It can be recognized by the following features: it is a solitary plant with a thick stem and large leaves resembling the shape of a heart, the flowers are white. Poisonous berries have a red tint, however, the poison content is also present in the stem and root system.
Strong salivation is the first sign of berry poisoning, followed by shortness of breath and convulsions. Significant effect is on the heart and digestive system. First aid in case of poisoning is gastric lavage and an early visit to the hospital.
Marsh calla
raven eye
The plant is located in forests with high humidity. The raven eye is used in pharmaceuticals to make medicines, however, those ignorant in this area should avoid collecting and eating this poisonous berry. The plant has the following appearance: a tall thin stem, which ends with four spreading cruciform leaves, with a berry in the center. When mature, it is black in color.
Eating a poisonous berry is fraught with vomiting, indigestion and, in some cases, cardiac arrest. If signs of poisoning are noticed, then you should immediately leave the victim to a specialist, otherwise it can lead to death.
raven eye
May lily of the valley
so familiar and favorite plant hides a real danger! Today it is actively planted in the garden for decoration. It is a perennial plant with a prominent characteristic two leaves that cannot be confused with other plants. Between these leaves is a stem with beautiful flowers.
May lily of the valley
But lily of the valley berries are poisonous. Poisoning causes symptoms of general malaise, nausea, disruption of the digestive system, and also puts a significant strain on the heart.
Attention! In no case should you self-medicate. After receiving first aid, be sure to go to the hospital. The sooner both first and professional help is provided, the easier the poisoning will pass and cause fewer negative consequences and complications.
Honeysuckle forest
A shrub that is very common in forests. It attracts with its bright red berries, but do not deceive yourself with beauty - these are poisonous berries and they are dangerous. Birds willingly pluck them, but for humans they are unsuitable for consumption, as they can cause poisoning, accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting and general weakness of the body.
Honeysuckle forest
What are the edible wild berries that grow in the forest and in the fields? In this article we will consider the most famous berries.
Berries grow mainly in warm climates and form the family wild plants. Some berries can be eaten raw and some must be cooked or processed before they can be eaten. The advantage of berries is that they are rich in vitamins and minerals.
If you know of edible wild berries that are not mentioned in the article, please write them in the comments!
Types of edible wild berries
There are many types of wild berries, although not all of them are edible. A more extensive list of types of berries in this article.
Cherry plum:
Aronia chokeberry, or chokeberry : It is a highly branched shrub up to 3 meters high. It is not a close relative of the mountain ash. Homeland is the Eastern part of North America, from where it spread to Russia. Edible chokeberry was first grown by I.V. Michurin, he brought her out of numerous experiments. Cultivated rowan berries are slightly larger than wild aronia berries.
: evergreen shrub 1-5 meters high. There are 450-500 species of barberry in the genus. Distributed everywhere except Australia, in the temperate and subtropical zones. In Europe, for many centuries, the berries have been used for culinary purposes as a substitute for citrus peels. After all, barberry berries are rich in vitamin C. Today in Europe they are very rarely used. The country in which they are used most frequently is Iran. In Iran, berries are used as a seasoning for poultry meat. You can also make drinks, jams, sweets and marshmallows from berries.
: Hawthorn is a shrub 1-4 meters high. The plant has about 1250 species, distributed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, mainly in North America. Bred like ornamental plant. Hawthorn can be used to make various drinks, jams, etc.
: Grows in coniferous and deciduous forests. She looks like a bearberry. It is cultivated with success in various countries. So, for example, about 50-6 kilograms of berries are obtained from one hundred square meters. Lingonberries are used to prepare fillings for sweets, fruit drinks, and jams. In medicine, lingonberry leaves are used.
: Shrub or small tree that reaches a height of 3-10 meters. Grows in coniferous and deciduous forests. It begins to bloom in May-June, and the berries ripen only by August-September. The Azores, North Africa, Western and Northern Iran, Turkey, most of Europe, Transcaucasia, in Russia grows in the south of the European part. The black elderberry is medicinal plant, unlike the red elderberry, which is quite poisonous. You can cook jam, jam, jelly from black elderberry berries. In England, they make a traditional drink from it. In Switzerland, juice is made from it. It is also used to make a harmless dye and is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks.
: Domestic cherries are derived from wild cherries. The taste of these cherries can be sour, as well as sweet and juicy. They are commonly found throughout Europe. In wild cherries, the fruits ripen in June. They are very fond of birds, therefore, you can see birds flocking to wild cherries. This can also be used as a sign of the edibility of the berries. Once you have identified these berries, you will also come for them year after year. You can also make cherry liqueur out of these wild cherries.
: Crowberry is a creeping shrub over 1 meter long. There is only 1 polymorphic species. Crowberry is distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and is also present in South America. Berries crowberry taste not very pleasant, sour, but quench thirst well. They eat fresh. Jam, marmalade, drinks, jams are prepared from berries and used as a seasoning.
: Blueberry is a shrub up to 1 meter high. It is found in all regions of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate and cold climate, in the tundra, forest zone, often in swamps, peat bogs. In Eurasia, it is distributed from Iceland and Great Britain to the Russian Far East and Japan (in the south, the range of the species reaches Spain, Italy, the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Turkey, and Mongolia). In North America - from Alaska to Newfoundland and California. Blueberries are very easy to confuse with blueberries. In blueberries, the stem becomes woody almost to the top, unlike blueberries, and they have a number of other differences. Juice, jams, wines are made from blueberries.
: They can be found from July to September, sometimes before frost. They are vines and can climb stronger plants. Their leaves are unique. It is believed that these are very aggressive vines, and, as a rule, form thickets.
When ripe, the fruits are black. Unripe berries are tastier than ripe fruits. These berries are used in cooking various dishes, pies and corks for wine.
: This is the most tender of all types of berries. Therefore, they must be eaten as soon as they are plucked. They are similar in appearance to blackberries, with the only difference being that they look more loose. These berries can be used to make cocktails.
: Honeysuckle is a shrub up to 1 meter high. Most types of honeysuckle are common in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Honeysuckle berries are eaten fresh, but you can also make pies, compotes, juices, jams, wines, preserves and syrups from them. You can read about honeysuckle juice here.
: They grow on hillsides and open lands. They mature when they get the most sunlight. The difference between wild and domestic berries is only in taste. Strawberries have a rich flavor and are also sweeter than their homemade counterparts.
: Irga (cinnamon) is a deciduous shrub or small tree up to 3 meters high. About 25 species of irgi are known. Distributed in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere: Central and Southern Europe, North Africa, the Caucasus, North America, Crimea, Japan. Irgu is used dried or fresh in marshmallows, wines, compotes, juices and jams. Contains vitamin R.
: Viburnum is a shrub or small tree up to 2-3 or 5 meters high. Kalina is common in Europe, America, Asia and North Africa. In total, about 200 species are known. The bark and fruits of viburnum are used in medicine. Kissels, jams, juices, compotes, fruit drinks, sweets, jelly are made from viburnum, pies are baked and porridge is cooked.
: dogwood it small tree or shrub up to 10 meters high. Dogwood grows in Asia Minor, California, Japan, Central and Southern Europe, Central China and the Caucasus. Dogwood is used in medicine. Technical oil is made from the seeds of the fruit. Dogwood fruits are eaten fresh. Kissel, compote, marmalade, jam, jams and various drinks are made from fruits.
: Cranberry is an evergreen creeping shrub, up to 80 centimeters long. Distributed in the tundra, forest-tundra and forest zone of North America, Asia and Europe. There are 4 types in total. Cranberries are consumed fresh. Since 1820, cranberries have been cultivated on an industrial scale in the USA and Canada. There are over 100 types of cranberry drinks. Cranberries are famous for their healing effect, but it is not recommended to use it, for example, for patients with a stomach ulcer. Jelly, juices, jams, fruit drinks, syrups, kissels, wines, candy fillings, wines and food colorings are prepared from berries.
: Kyazhenika is a herbaceous plant up to 35 centimeters high. The fruits are similar to raspberries or blackberries. Blossoms in June, and the fruits ripen in July-August. The fruits have a sweet and sour taste similar to pineapple. Dishes and seasonings made from princess have a strong taste. It grows in the northern part of North America and Eurasia. Princes can be consumed fresh. The prince is used in medicine. Syrup, juice, jam, jelly, liqueurs, ice cream, marmalade and tea are made from the princess.
: Herbaceous plant common in coniferous and deciduous forests. The distribution area is the central part of the European part of Russia, Siberia and the Caucasus. Blossoms in May-June, and the fruits ripen in July-August. The bush reaches a height of no more than 30 centimeters. It is desirable to use the bone marrow fresh. Vinegar, wine, kvass, fruit drink, jelly, compote, jam, jelly, juice, syrup are made from bone berries and dried. Bone is a healthy berry, it is rich in vitamins C and P.
: They are native to Western Europe or North Africa. Grows on rocky slopes, also cultivated in gardens. Often runs wild and begins to grow in the forest. These berries are green, red or yellow. They are used in jams, puddings, jelly, preserves, wines and marmalades.
: They grow in the wild as well as in gardens. They have a rich taste and are usually hidden under the leaves of plants. They tend to bloom in full sun. If you can harvest this wild fruit, it can replace other berries in your recipes and make your meal much better and tastier. Raspberries are also used as an alternative to cloudberries and blackberries.
: Evergreen conifer tree up to 18 meters high. The trunk can reach a width of up to 30 centimeters. Distributed from the Arctic and throughout the temperate zone, to the mountains of the tropical zone. There are about 70 species. It blooms in April-May, and ripen only by the autumn of next year. Juniper fruits are actively used in medicine. A talented culinary specialist is able to cook delicious dishes from juniper.
: Edible berries, fruiting from May to July. These berries tend to grow in semi-shaded areas. The shade of these berries varies from orange to orange-pink. Native to the Americas, these berries signal the start of summer and provide an opportunity to get away from winter food.
: Sea buckthorn is a shrub or small tree, up to 6 or 10 meters high. In Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan there are sea buckthorn groves, up to 15 meters high. Distributed in Europe and temperate zone Asia. Compotes, jelly, juices, marmalade, wines, marmalade are made from sea buckthorn berries, and tea is made from sea buckthorn leaves and leaves are put in soups and dishes to improve palatability. Sea buckthorn oil is made from the fruits.
: Rowan is a tree 4-15 meters high, sometimes up to 20 meters. In total, there are 84 species and a large number of hybrid forms. Mountain ash is distributed in America, Europe and Asia, mainly in the northern hemisphere of the temperate zone. Do not confuse rowan with black rowan because they are different plants. Kvass, liqueurs, jelly, wine, vinegar and tea collections are made from mountain ash.
: This is a berry that can be eaten raw as soon as it ripens. They are usually used to make jams, jellies, puddings, ice cream. Very often, people freeze them for later use.
Turn:
: They got their name because of their color. These berries are colored blue, purple or black. They are found in the wild and also cultivated. The flowers are bell-shaped. Blueberry bushes usually bear fruit in May. Wild blueberries are native to North America. But the largest stocks of blueberries are in Russia. They are usually consumed in the form of jam.
: Bird cherry is a low tree. In nature, it grows in North Africa, Transcaucasia, Europe and Central and East Asia. Today, bird cherry grows in a temperate climate zone. The berries are eaten fresh. Bird cherry is used to prepare liqueurs, tinctures, fillings for pies, jelly.
: The difference between mulberries and other berries is that they can survive in cold climates, while others can only grow and bloom in warmer climates. Mulberries come in a variety of colors, such as black, white, and red.
: Rose hip ( wild Rose) is a shrub up to 2 meters high. The record belongs to a shrub growing in Germany on the territory Hildesheim Cathedral reaching a height of 13 meters. In total, about 400 species are known. Wild rose hips are frost-resistant, drought-resistant and undemanding to the soil. Rosehip is distributed in the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere: North Africa, North America, Europe and Asia. Also brought to Australia and New Zealand. Rose hips are used as medicinal and food raw materials. Juices, tinctures, seasonings, soups, jams, etc. are made from rose hips. In total, more than 100 dishes are known.
With the advent of autumn, many people go for mushrooms, but many berries also ripen in the forest. Before eating them, you need to know for sure if they are poisonous? If it happened that you ate one, you need to know which one and what to do. Let us consider in more detail which berries are dangerous.
Read also:
raven eye
Perhaps the most dangerous poisonous berry in our country is raven eye. Its fruits are common and belong to the melanthaceae family. There are many types of this berry, but the most common is the four-leaf crow's eye.
This shrub found in almost all forests our country. By appearance, you can easily distinguish the crow's eye. The leaves are whorled, a single leaf, after which comes the fruit itself, which is located at the top of the stem.
The whole plant is poisonous, not only the berry, but also the leaves with the rhizome. The berry is similar to a crow's eye, its size is shiny and black. The substance found in the crow's eye can cause convulsions, while disrupting the work of the heart.
In folk medicine The raven eye is used as a remedy for certain diseases. But do not forget that the wrong ratio can lead to urgent medical attention and, in last resort, to death.
Wolfberry
In late spring and until early autumn, wolfberry grows in the forest. When the fruits ripen, it is difficult to resist and not eat the berry, because they seem tasty because of the size and reddish hue. However, it is worth knowing that not only the berries of this bush are poisonous, but the entire shrub. Don't touch him as serious burns may result. If you try the berry, serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract may appear. Wolfberry is also medicine and is used in medicine.
Honeysuckle forest
This shrub is widespread and attractive for its berries and paired arrangement of flowers. Honeysuckle is often used as an ornamental shrub.
In Siberia, honeysuckle forest of blue color, it is edible, and red is dangerous to people, but for birds, the fruits do not do any harm. Thus, the berries received another name, "Edible honeysuckle."
Lily of the valley berries
Lily of the valley is considered no less dangerous, although it seems completely harmless. It is not only a decoration, but also a medicinal plant, which also used in medicine. Preparations made from lily of the valley can treat the cardiovascular system. Lily of the valley leaves and flowers are mainly used for the preparation of medicines.
An overdose of such drugs can lead to serious heart problems, so do not self-medicate.
You can even get poisoned by lily of the valley just out of curiosity, tasting red berries, especially for children. After all, lily of the valley can grow not only in the forest, but also in your yard.
It is worth knowing that lily of the valley bouquets should also not be placed in a room for a pleasant environment, because the plant emits dangerous substances and into the air, which can ultimately be harmful to health.
Those who live near the forest or have the opportunity to indulge in the fruits that nature gives, it is important to understand well which berries can be eaten and which cannot. What is grown in the country and in the garden usually refers to shrubs specially planted by people, because they are absolutely safe to eat, which cannot be said about wild plantations. Adults and children should be guided in what exactly grows in the forest area and which berries are the most dangerous that you can stumble upon in natural conditions.
What are the most dangerous in the world?
In order not to get poisoned by berries, being in nature in any corner of the world, it is important to know which of them are edible and which are not. There is a list of the most dangerous representatives that are poisonous to humans and animals. In some, all parts of the plant are harmful, but in most it is the fruits, that is, berries. So, the most dangerous fruits around the world are the following berries.
- Wolf bark. The shrub can live in mixed forests. Spring gives you the opportunity to admire the beautiful flowers that grow in inflorescences and are somewhat reminiscent of lilacs. Not only berries are dangerous in this plant. From staying near a bush for a long time, severe headaches can begin, dizziness, and people prone to allergies will show all its symptoms: cough, runny nose, sneezing. Touching the bark of the plant is also dangerous, which can cause blisters. IN autumn period red berries begin to set, having an elongated shape. The danger of these fruits is that not only should they not be eaten, but they should not be touched at all.
- Nightshade black grows in the forest near water bodies and in ravines. The danger is the unripe fruits of the plant. If the nightshade is fully ripe, it is recommended to use it for food due to the large amount of vitamin C.
- Kupena fragrant grows in coniferous and mixed forests, feels good on the edges and in the steppe zone. It grows a little more than half a meter, has almost black or red fruits, long and thin leaves and flowers white color facing the earth. You can’t touch and eat the fruits; from contact with them, symptoms of poisoning immediately appear, accompanied by pain in the abdomen and dizziness.
- Euonymus- This is a tall plant, reaching two meters in height. Often grown as ornamental shrub. The berries are red in color, outwardly they resemble red beads with a black dot, peeking out of pink flowers. The fruits are very fond of birds and are not dangerous for them, but a person should not eat them because of the risk of poisoning.
- Voronets- This is a low plant (about half a meter), which has elongated fruits of different colors: black, red and white. This is very poisonous bush, because it causes a reaction from contact with any part of it. From touching the foliage, there may be inflammation, accompanied by the appearance of blisters.
- Buckthorn- grows mainly near water bodies. Black berries begin to ripen at the end of summer. When consumed raw, they cause a person to have an attack of severe vomiting. Properly used, the bark and fruits are good for constipation and for gastric lavage.
- berry yew often found in hedgerows as well as in nature. Dangerous are the berries, which, behind the outer, almost harmless shell, hide very toxic seeds. It is not worth staying near the plant for too long, as well as touching it, because the wood, needles and shoots are also poisonous. Hood berry yew can lead to the death of a person. Poisoning causes convulsions and paralysis, after which breathing stops.
- Arum spotted is perennial plant having a fleshy stem and tuberous roots. The foliage completely falls off by the first days of autumn, leaving the stems dotted with red berries with a dense skin. If you eat such fruits, a very serious state of intoxication sets in, which, without timely intervention, leads to death.
- Belladonna superficially resembles beautiful flower with bells pale pink. Black berries ripen inside the flowers, which are very dangerous for humans.
- Snowberry grows on rocky and calcareous soil, often hiding in partial shade. Outwardly, it looks like a shrub, generously dotted with large white berries. You can’t eat them, they are poisonous, it’s better to bypass the plant, just admiring it.
This is only a part of the variety of plants whose berries are extremely dangerous for humans. In order not to stumble upon them, and even more so not to try, it is important to know the description and see a photo of a dangerous fruit. When going to the forest, it is important to arm yourself important information and take a first aid kit in case of an emergency.
Description of harmful fruits in Russia
Each specific plant that has poisonous berries grows in a specific area. Having information about where to be afraid of a particular shrub, you can protect yourself from unpleasant consequences. The names, colors of the berries will make it possible to avoid danger, and a list of plants in a particular area will help you get acquainted with the most dangerous representatives that you need to be wary of.
- Elderberry black and red- a shrub that grows black or red berries. When ripe, they pose little to no threat and are used for wine, syrups, and even jams. Until the moment when the berries are fully ripe, they contain a lot of toxic alkaloids, so it is better not to approach them.
- Belladonna usually grows in forests, but can also be found in clearings. Most often it can be found in the Caucasus, but the Krasnodar Territory and the Crimea are also generously rich in this plant. Outwardly, it does not pose a threat, it has a purple stem and bell flowers, which turn into blue berries after flowering. They are the main threat. If you eat such fruits, then after 10 minutes symptoms will begin to appear in the form of a burning sensation in the mouth, difficulty swallowing. Spreading further, the poison affects the heart, speeding up its work, causing hallucinations and problems with coordination of movements.
- calla most often found near swamps, the main distribution area is the Leningrad region. Distinctive features of the plant can be called single growth, the presence of a thick stem and large leaves, large white flowers. The most dangerous are berries that have a red tint, but there is poison in both stems and roots. When strong salivation appears, measures must be taken, because this is the first symptom that a person has been affected by poison, after which convulsions and shortness of breath appear. Plants are especially dangerous for the cardiac and digestive systems. If the calla poison is affected, the gastric lavage procedure and consultation with a doctor will help.
- Nightshade bittersweet has the appearance of a semi-shrub, which has a lignified trunk and curly lashes. Most often it grows in the Far East, the habitat is also Western Siberia and nearby territories. Red berries are sweet in taste, but with a bitter aftertaste. The ripening period begins in June and ends in October. In this plant, not only berries are dangerous, but also all other parts, the fruits are inedible both in ripe and unripe form. The main symptoms that occur with nightshade poisoning are dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, problems with motor and psychological activity, shortness of breath, and heart problems.
The first thing to do after poisoning is to wash the stomach.
- raven eye- This is a perennial that can be easily distinguished from other plants. A small stem is surrounded by four or five leaves spread in different directions. Crow's eye blooms small green flower, which then turns into a berry that turns black when ripe. The main habitat is middle lane Russia, the Moscow region and the territory including Europe and the Far East, the Urals, the Tundra.
The plant may be harvested for medicinal purposes, but only knowledgeable people, since all parts contain saponins and glycosides, which adversely affect the heart. If poisoning with this plant is observed, a person has a violation of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased heart rate, malfunctions of the ventricles up to cardiac arrest.
- Honeysuckle forest common in wooded areas. A special feature is the red berries, which do not pose a threat to birds, but are completely unsuitable for humans. In case of honeysuckle poisoning, indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea can occur, a person will feel unwell.
Knowledge of the local flora makes it possible to easily navigate in the forest and other areas, collecting only healthy berries and bypassing dangerous ones, while maintaining your health and well-being.
How to distinguish inedible?
There are a number of poisonous plants that can be confused with edible ones, which will lead to extremely disappointing consequences. This happens because they look almost identical, and without knowledge, it can be difficult to determine the exact type of green space. Forest plants and shrubs that pose a threat can be located both in the forest itself and in the swamp, which expands the radius of danger. To find out which plants and berries are classified as those that cannot be eaten, it is important to understand how to distinguish inedible fruits from edible ones.
Entering the forest, you can see an abundance of shrubs and other plants, the berries of which are not only not dangerous, but also bring tangible benefits to a person. Among them are blackberries, blueberries, stone fruits, wild strawberries, blueberries, cloudberries, junipers and many others.
However, there are plants that are very reminiscent of the above and external features bush, and according to the fruits, therefore, you need to prepare well before going to harvest in the forest.
To make sure that the fruits are safe, you can pay attention to such a nuance as eating them by birds. If there are pecked berries or bird droppings nearby, then most likely the plant is harmless, although there may be exceptions. If there are no such signs, it is worth continuing monitoring. Often dangerous berries are disguised as useful ones. So, the raven eye can be easily confused with blueberries or blueberries. In this case, you should pay attention to the smell, which in poisonous plants is often unpleasant, sharp, caustic. You can also confuse belladonna with a simple cherry, since its fruits also have a spherical shape and a dark red color.
While in the forest, you can stumble upon a spike-shaped raven, which is very similar to ordinary blackcurrant, but hallmark there will be a sharp and not too pleasant smell, which should alert a person. There is also a red-fruited crow, which is similar to red currant, but differs in the same way - the presence bad smell. A very dangerous black nightshade can be confused with bird cherry, because the fruits of both plants are on tassels, which can disorient an inexperienced person in the forest.
A distinctive feature will be the location of the fruits, which in bird cherry are elongated on a tassel and are arranged sequentially, while in nightshade almost all come out of one stem and diverge in different directions.
Bittersweet nightshade is very reminiscent of wild red currant, a bit like viburnum and mountain ash. In this case, you should pay attention to the stalks. Nightshade has a star-shaped structure and a small amount of berries, which is different from similar forest plants, which are usually rich in fruits. In addition, purple flowers can be seen on the bush, which you will not see either on currants or on mountain ash with viburnum.
You can find similarities and differences between dangerous and useful cultures in almost every case, therefore it is especially important to go into the forest consciously, understanding all the danger that excessive interest and carelessness can conceal.
To protect the children who have gathered in the forest, it is worth sending with them at least one adult who is well versed in the plantings of a particular area. The main rule that must be observed by both adults and children is it is not to touch and not eat those fruits where there is even the slightest doubt that they are edible and useful. The presence of poisonous crops in the forest can not only cause significant harm to health, but also lead to death even from touching or inhaling the pollen of their flowers.
The ability to avoid danger and understand what is useful and what is not will allow you to travel through the forest without much risk and with great pleasure.
See the next video for the most poisonous berries in Russia.
Hello dear reader!
July, and especially August, is the season for a wide variety of wild berries. Strawberries and blueberries, currants, bird cherry, raspberries, and closer to autumn - lingonberries. Yes, and others ... You just need to remember that there are poisonous berries in our forest! Although there are not many of them, you need to know the poisonous berries. And it is especially important that children know them well!
All sorts of ratings and TOPs are now in vogue. Well, I will also present a kind of TOP of poisonous berries. The criteria are simple - the poisonousness of the plant and its prevalence and accessibility for those who can, most often accidentally, out of ignorance, poison them. Well, let's get started...
It is a common inhabitant of deciduous and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. Occurs very often. The appearance of the plant is peculiar, it is almost impossible to confuse it with another. A whorled arrangement of leaves, a single flower, and then a fruit, which is alone at the top of the stem.
The whole plant is poisonous - both leaves and rhizome. But the berries of the crow's eye are especially poisonous. Large, black, shiny, it really resembles the eye of a crow. And very attractive, especially for children. But the crow's eye berry is deadly! Substance paristifin from the group of saponins causes convulsions, disrupts the work of the heart. Which can stop!
In folk medicine, there are a number of recipes using the crow's eye for the treatment of certain diseases. However, you need to know:
Due to its extreme danger, the use of the crow's eye for any medical purposes forbidden!
Out of curiosity, "berries" can be enjoyed by children. In case of poisoning, urgent health care! Children with early age you need to introduce this plant and explain that you should never touch it.
Wolf's bast (wolfberry)
About this interesting forest shrub. Very beautiful in spring, wolf's bast is very attractive in August, when its large red berries ripen. However, the whole plant - and leaves, and bark, and fruits - is poisonous!
It should not even be picked up in order to avoid skin burns. Especially - to taste the berries. The result will be severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract.
Wolfberry, or wolf's bast
Wolfberry is a medicinal plant. It is widely used in folk medicine. Yes, and the modern pharmacopoeia is interested in this plant! But this does not mean at all that nature lovers should be “interested” in them (only through the camera!). And even more so, children should be warned about the danger of a wolf's bark!
May lily of the valley
Dangerous and such a very beloved plant, like lily of the valley!
May lily of the valley ( convallaria majalis) is the only representative of the lily of the valley genus of the lily family (however, here, too, taxonomy issues are quite controversial and are constantly being refined).
Lily of the valley is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere, but especially in Europe. True, due to immoderate fees, the natural habitats of this beautiful plant are constantly shrinking. However, lily of the valley has long been a garden plant.
It is a perennial with a thin creeping rhizome. There are several leaves in the rosette, but the lower ones are very small and inconspicuous, similar to scales. But two large broadly lanceolate leaves with arcuate venation are hard to miss (and confuse with the leaves of another plant). A flower-bearing stem grows between the leaves, bearing a brush of graceful fragrant flowers.
Many years ago, the author came across a small clearing (ten by fifteen meters) in the forest, the grass cover of which consisted almost entirely of lily of the valley leaves! True, it was already the second half of July, and flowering had long ended. it is not for nothing that it is called May, it blooms in May - early June.
Lily of the valley is not only an excellent decorative, but also a recognized medicinal plant. Recognized not only by folk, but also by official medicine. Preparations from lily of the valley treat the cardiovascular system. The main active ingredients are glycosides convalatoxin, convallotoxol, convalloside. They are obtained from the leaves and flowers of the plant.
But an overdose of the drug can lead to disruption of the heart! Therefore, you should never self-medicate - it is very dangerous!
You can get poisoned just out of curiosity - by tasting beautiful red berries! Especially often this happens again with children! But for the fruits of the lily of the valley it is not necessary to go to the forest. And yes, it's rare! They are common in our flower beds!
Lily of the valley berries (photo from the Internet)
By the way, it’s also not worth collecting large bouquets of lily of the valley in the spring, putting them in a vase in a room is also not worth it - a large amount of substances released into the air is by no means safe for health.
Voronets spiked. Voronet krasnoplodny
Voronets spiky - perennial herbaceous plant from the buttercup family. As you can see in the photo, it has large compound leaves with leaflets serrated along the edges. It grows in shady forests - broad-leaved, mixed, coniferous-small-leaved. In such a secondary spruce-birch-aspen forest with an undergrowth of currants and raspberries. With a developed grass cover, I discovered it. The range of the black crow is almost all of Europe, the south of the forest zone of Western Siberia and Altai.
The whole plant is poisonous! After all, his organs contain a whole set of alkaloids and transaconitic acid. Even juice that gets on the skin can cause burning and blisters. Berries are no exception. Adults can use them out of curiosity and out of ignorance. But above all, children suffer again! But even two or three berries for a child is a significant dose!
True, the plant itself warns of its danger. Its smell is very unpleasant!
Like many poisonous plants, it is used folk medicine. Official medicine does not recognize him!
From the berries of the crow, black dye was obtained for dyeing wool.
A close relative of the spiked crow is the red-fruited crow. But if he is an inhabitant of Europe, and in Siberia it is already becoming rare, then the red-fruited raven widely populates the forest zone in the Far East, in Eastern and Western Siberia. It is also found in the north of the European part.
Voronets krasnoplodny (photo from the Internet)
In appearance, it is similar to a relative, differing primarily in the color of the fruits - they are red.
Also a highly poisonous plant! The high amount of alkaloids found in all organs of the plant make it potentially dangerous for the curious berry lover!
Although this crow "nobly" warns about itself with a smell so characteristic that it was named "skunk".
The plant is widely used in folk medicine. However, remember:
You need to be treated by specialists! Self-treatment is dangerous, because it can very easily turn into its direct opposite. And such a “treatment” is especially dangerous. poisonous plants!
The fruits of the black crow were also used to obtain black paint. Hence, by the way, the name. After all, “crow” just means “black”.
The whole plant is highly poisonous. Its constituent alkaloids of the atropine group can cause very severe poisoning. The result can even be fatal due to paralysis of the respiratory system and cardiac arrest.
Belladonna (photo from the Internet)
Its range is beech and hornbeam forests of Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Crimea, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, North Africa. In the Krasnodar Territory, it is grown on plantations (for medical purposes). Although the plant is very poisonous, it is unlikely that most Russians will have to meet it in natural conditions. Although, of course, you need to know it! Therefore, in my rating of poisonous berries, its place is by no means the highest.
By the way, "belladonna" in translation from Italian - " beautiful woman". Yes and Russian name consonant. And this is due to the fact that the juice of the plant was instilled into the eyes to dilate the pupils and rubbed their cheeks to enhance the blush. Beauty truly requires sacrifice!
In thickets of shrubs, along the banks of water bodies, along wastelands in the European part of Russia, Western and Eastern Siberia, in Ukraine and Belarus, bittersweet nightshade is often found.
Its flowers are similar to those of other nightshades, especially potatoes. Oblong red berries are very reminiscent of small tomatoes.
Medicinal plant, very widely used in folk medicine and homeopathy. However, nightshade leaves and berries are poisonous! They should be treated by a specialist!
You should not eat berries (for the sake of curiosity). The glycoside dulcamarine contained in them acts like atropine, causing disturbances in the central nervous system, respiration and heart function.
In addition to very poisonous berries, carrying great danger even if they are accidentally consumed, there are berries in our forests ... not that poisonous, but simply inedible. There will be no severe poisoning when using them. But trouble is almost certainly guaranteed! In my TOP of poisonous berries, these plants, of course, will take the last places.
The fruits ripen in August. These are black drupes, sitting on cuttings in the axils of the leaves. Buckthorn fruits and bark are medicinal raw materials. They are used in traditional medicine as an emetic and laxative ( official medicine recognizes only the bark).
The fruits are readily eaten by birds. In humans, their use can cause backfire caused just by their medical properties - that is, vomiting and diarrhea (diarrhea).
A widespread forest shrub with very attractive-looking red berries, sitting mostly in pairs (that's how - in pairs - its flowers sit on the plant). Forest honeysuckle is widely used in landscaping as an ornamental shrub.
Berries are eagerly pecked by birds. For humans, they are inedible, and the consequences can be similar to the consequences of eating buckthorn.
In Eastern Siberia, in the Far East, forest honeysuckle is replaced in nature by a similar species, but already with oblong blue berries covered with a wax coating. These fruits are edible. And the shrub was called edible honeysuckle. It is widely cultivated, often planted in gardens and parks. Sometimes it can get wild. bird-dispersed seeds edible honeysuckle they can also make an “escape to nature”!
In general, you need to remember a simple rule. In nature, you should never "taste" anything you're not familiar with! This applies to plants almost more than anything else. After all, they contain many substances, the presence of which in your body, and even in significant concentrations, can be very undesirable! So poisonous berries may well get caught.
You should also not self-medicate. Especially would not advise using recipes from the Internet! If you want to turn to traditional medicine, then it's better to find a grandmother who "knows".
That's about all I have for today. And without that, I am writing a short post ... the third day. Not in a blogging way...
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Category: Tags: ,59 comments on “ Poisonous berries. TOP dangerous berries of our forest”
- Alexander Ivanovich
Hello, Alexander!
I read the article with interest. I know almost all these plants by sight. Yes, and I do not neglect the rule
But I will definitely show these dangerous inhabitants of the forests to my grandchildren. They often go to forest areas with their parents.
Thanks for the great article!Reply ↓
- blacksmiths
Alexander, I once foolishly ate bearberry in the Kich-Gorodets region. It even seemed delicious to me. Then he vomited all evening.
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- Alexander
@ : Alexander Ivanovich, hello! Glad to see you on my blog! Absolutely right, it must be shown.
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- Alexander
@ : Alexander, hello! You are, of course, absolutely right. Bearberry is a berry, although not poisonous, but not edible. So she will find a place in my TOP ...
Unfortunately, it doesn't work for me. There is a lot of it in the Ostashevsk forests. But you won’t turn back there quickly ... Bearberry is a very good medicinal plant. Yes, and its features are very interesting. I just don’t really want to write an article with “borrowed” photographs. Maybe we'll meet again in the woods.Reply ↓
- Olga Bogach
A much needed article! Children who grew up in the city do not know what can and cannot be eaten in the forest. Yes, and in cities there are bushes with pretty berries, from which there are poisonings. As a child, my daughter tried berries from a bush, it’s good that she didn’t get poisoned much, she didn’t have to go to the doctor.
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- Natabul
I did not even know that so many poisonous berries exist. But I know one rule: There is nothing in the forest!
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- Igor
Alexander, thank you very much for the article. As an avid mushroom picker and berry picker, such an article will be very useful to me. In nature, we often met the raven eye, honeysuckle. Lily of the valley in the south.
So we have one poisonous berry in the forest, which everyone bypasses. Honestly, I did not find it in your TOP. We call her "wolf's bast"
Here is the image
or here
What is this berry?
We have one friend she was very poisoned. Went to the forest. Well, there is nothing, he says: no lingonberries, no blueberries ... nothing. She take and eat these berries. In general, it was great food poisoning. Fell into a coma. But then somehow she got out.
Now I don't go to the forest at all. Honestly, I don’t understand why, it’s so cool there!Reply ↓
- Alexander
@ : Hello Olga! That's right, in childhood, adults explained such things to us in passing - you can’t eat this, this ...
As for the various berries in the city, nothing should be eaten there. Even obviously edible. Plants take in a lot of air from the air. harmful substances. And even they accumulate. The main goal of landscaping is to purify the air. And plants select those that can withstand this polluted air.Reply ↓
- Alexander
@ : Well, there aren't many poisonous berries in the forest... But they are. And why not eat in the forest, say, strawberries, blueberries or raspberries? Yes to health! You can not taste unfamiliar berries!
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- Alexander
@ : Hello, Igor! I had to tinker a little with the publication of your comment, and still only one link passed, and that was changed (closed from indexing). The second, even closed, turns out to be a bat. Therefore, removed. Although both were opened from the admin panel.
Essentially. Not quite, however, I understood how your friend could be poisoned at the same time by two completely different plants? In the first picture, undoubtedly, arctous is a plant of the heather family, close to the bearberry, common in the tundra. Judging by the information that I found - inedible or inedible, but not poisonous. Like our forest bearberry.
I haven't been able to pinpoint the plant in the second picture yet. This photo roams the Internet from site to site, one and the same, apparently. With signatures like "wolf's bast", "wolfberry". But this is not a wolf's bast (it is also a wolfberry)! The only thing these plants have in common is the color of the berries! Agree, this is not enough! Thus, it turns out that in the language of the military is called "disinformation" (that is, disinformation). In the case of poisonous plants - and the wolf's bark is very poisonous! — such disinformation is not safe, alas. That's why I wanted to post that picture.
Perhaps I will do this when I can still accurately identify the plant.
It is difficult to judge from a photograph what the life form of a plant is - what it is: a herbaceous plant, a lingonberry-type shrub or a shrub. If you have seen him in nature, please write.
But most of all it looks like some kind of honeysuckle. And by the leaves, by their location. And by fruit.Reply ↓
- Alexander
By the way, it is possible to fall into a coma after eating berries. Provided that a person is allergic to them. Unfortunately, sometimes he may not be aware of it! There are people who have an allergic reaction to raspberries, strawberries, etc. But, alas, it can take place not only in the form of red spots on the skin ... Maybe even anaphylactic shock, but this is fraught with the most serious consequences. So your friend, Igor, should probably consult an allergist.
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- Svetlana
Why do some people eat nightshade? I know those. We have a lot of it. Maybe it can be of several types?
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- Alexander
@ : Hello Svetlana! There is another nightshade - black. Here you can eat its berries, they are also used as a filling for pies. But only ripe berries, black, are suitable for food. The unripe, as well as the leaves, stems of the plant contain the poisonous alkaloid soladinin. Black nightshade has white flowers, not the purple ones of bittersweet.
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- Igor
@ :
I don’t know, but this berry grows everywhere with us. People call it that. Unfortunately, I'm not a biologist, so I can't argue with you.
Low growing shrub. Grows in the forest everywhere. It grows on the hills 50 meters from my house. Often comes across with lingonberries. But it is easy to distinguish - the berries are soft. Not like a strong lingonberry. You press these - they will immediately crush. They will come out with white pulp. The size of a lingonberry. The shape is imperfectly spherical.
What else…
And as for the coma... You may be right - an allergy. It was a long time ago, it is difficult to verify this fact.Reply ↓
- Alexander
@ : Igor, thanks for the description. I'll try to find something in the literature. But I say that it looks like some kind of honeysuckle. And of our honeysuckles, only one is edible - with blue oblong berries, it is from the Far East, but very widely settled by humans. The rest are inedible.
And the plants in the photographs are really different ... I am writing about the second picture, the link to which I had to delete (it opens from the admin panel, after publication - “not found”). But this is definitely not a wolf's bast! Eat whole line plants that have a local name " wolf berries"(By the way, the forest honeysuckle - too!). And since the country is large, it is still difficult to deal with all the wolfberries. Yes, it's not the name. Just don't take a berry you don't know for sure is edible! There are many perfectly edible mushrooms that we call grebes and never pick. And nothing bad happens to us. As they say, in this case it is better to overdo it ...Reply ↓
- Alexander
@ : If you mean the first picture (the link from your first comment opens) - this is arctous. Creeping shrub, common throughout the Arctic. Close to bearberry. And apparently, like her, inedible. However, I read that the Eskimos eat ... But it was still not an Eskimo who wrote it. Yes, and many plants that we will never eat now were often eaten by our grandparents (and my parents, too), for example, during the hungry war years
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- Igor
Alexander, and you can make tree-like comments. Probably not only I get confused in the comments. Where is the answer, and where is the question, I understand only by meaning. It's very difficult to have a discussion.
Thank you.Reply ↓
- Alexandra Polina
I haven’t seen many of the listed berries - but you need to take note, you never know? In general, we try to follow the rule with the children - in the forest, don’t collect or eat anything you don’t know - for one edible berry - five dangerous ones come across.
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- Alla
And we ate nightshade in childhood, only black. And alive, thank God. But belladonna... now I will know what it is, otherwise I only heard and read it.
In the forest, in general, I try not to take anything unfamiliar.Reply ↓
- Alexei
Interesting article! As a child, my father often showed me which berries were poisonous and which were not. Most often in the forests of the Tyumen region there is a crow's eye, less often - a wolfberry.
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- Vadar
Nothing, there are so many poisonous berries in the forest! Thank you for introducing us to them!
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- Anatoly
My parents took me with my brother of sizmalism to the forest. So in practice we have mastered the basic rule - If there is even a slight doubt, then it is better not to touch the plant. Be it berries, mushrooms, or flowers.
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- Galina
Good night =)
Interesting article, yes. I planned to open a similar topic at my place, and tell there that in our forests it’s not worth pulling into your mouth (and indeed, once again touch), but so far I don’t have time, and here the summer is running out, now, if I meet that it’s dangerous in the forests, then I’ll write =) if, of course, I recognize plants =) after all, I’m still that botanist =)) yes and attentiveness is lame sometimesReply ↓
- Alexei
The information is very instructive and the photos are a good visual accompaniment. Many have become very detached from nature. Therefore, poisoning occurs, because some poisonous berries look so appetizing.
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- Dmitriy
Familiar berries. From childhood, taught to pass by.
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- Alexander
As a child, my friend and I ate some wolfberries, 10-15 pieces each, and nothing happened to us.
It was we who then thought that these were wolf berries, but now from the article with pictures I realized that it was “forest honeysuckle”))
We have a lot of crow's eye in the Urals, but as far as I remember, nightshade was dark in color. Toli blue or black. I also tried it))Reply ↓
- Alexander
