37 Comments

Could it possibly be that too?

https://www.habitataid.co.uk/products/privet-ligustrum-vulgare

Well, if that's the case, then perhaps you're lucky that you cooked the berries and also baked them - but caution would still be advisable.... you've tried it, but you still shouldn't really eat it!!!

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Presently I'm leaning towards Ligustrum lucidum the berries of which are apparently edible.

Hells-Bells - I ought just ask my daughter - she graduated Master's Degree in Horticulture at NC State - straight A's for my daughter - hells-bells - she ought know. Now - serious question - why is it the berries might be poison for dogs - "canines" - and not for humans?

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ligustrum-lucidum/

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Congratulations on your daughter!!!

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Oh wow....thanks. I could lavish praise upon her abilities.....and I have.....and holy moly.....my daughters can really make me laugh!

I love them forever and they know that.

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It looks like this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_spinosa

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Check this out P!

https://www.oldeshillelagh.com/

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Cool! I own a Shillelagh walking stick, nicely varnished.

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Sons of bitches I want it to be that -

"The fruits are used to make sloe gin in Britain and patxaran in Basque Country. The wood is used to make walking sticks, including the Irish shillelagh."

But I don't think it is P!

Ken

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Wish you had a positive ID before you are ingesting them. Don't think they are blueberries, birds would have eaten them all already. Did it flower and what color were the flowers? Are the leaves along the stem all single leaves, not compound?

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Yes there were flowers on these bushes but I don't think there was a flower for each berry but I could be incorrect about that - come to think of it - there must of been a flower for each berry?

Bottom line however is if these berries had contents harmful odds are the odor they give off when in boiling water would be a clue in that regards.

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The birds don't seem interested in these berries - I got them cooking on the stove - they seem more like rice to me......like starchy potato sort of consistency......they don't smell bad as the water is boiling - I'm going to cook them up and then I think I will make some bread with it.....I'll let you know and thanks - seriously thanks for your comment.

Ken

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Lovely sunset Ken. And maybe it's a blueberry or some such? https://www.berriesforafrica.co.za/our-berry-plants/blueberries/

Just a thought.

All the best Ken,

Blessings

AP

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OK - I just tasted one. I put it in my mouth. I bit it a bit. It was NOT sweet. It tasted more grainy than anything, but there was no "foulness" about it - and I suspect this is sort of a grain that could be mashed up and probably could be consumed for health benefit.

~

So - what I'm going to do - if not today maybe later but probably today - is I'm going to get enough of those "berries" and I'm going to put them in some boiling water slowly heated up and then I will make a mash out of it - and then depending on my sense of smell I may or may not eat what I make.

~

You know in the "old days" there were individuals whose duty was to try new things - to taste this or that.....if they lived then it could be a benefit for the community - if they perished, then it would be lesson learned - don't eat that fruit!

~

I'll get back to you!

Ken

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Go well - standing by Ken!

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Holy crap P&S - this is the most fun I have had in a long time - all just about the berry on a tree.....but you know what it makes me think - it makes me feel better knowing I have internet friends from afar pal - that makes me feel better!

So - remember - I got a porter here with your name on it.

Ken

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Good news Ken - we are planning a trip to UK in July 2026 and can drop by at yours for that porter on the way eh?

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Consider it "a plan"!

I'll plan accordingly!

Ken

😊

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:-D

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OK - I got some images I'm fixing to send. They will be in the article above. I will note the time of entry - it will be near the end of the article.

edit - the images are on the way - there are four of them I recall and they will be placed at the end of this article.

~

ps - which puzzle do you think had the clue on the other side that my daughter informed me about?

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Please do not eat anything you cannot identify 100% it is not worth it even if it does taste good.

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I like this comment, but I disagree with it.

The reason I disagree, and hear me out - the reason is in "life" nothing is ever 100% known - nothing, never - can't happen. So, logically that means there is always uncertainty - and sometimes tis necessary to take a risk. There is no such thing as 100% safety - I know - I am an ESHA professional old-school learned it in action. So, sometimes in life tis necessary to take risks - cause what is the fun of anything if you always know the outcome?

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Ageed Ken. In our professional systems we have the same mantra - always have a fail-safe and always have two backups - nothing is ever certain.

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So should I try to taste it? If it is blueberry, then I consider that a gift from the gods......I think it is another berry - and it may not be edible, but guess what - I'll taste one a bit and report back.

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Please do not eat anything you cannot identify 100% it is not worth it even if it does taste good.

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I tasted a bit of it....not too much.....just a bit....and it is true - fortune favors the brave!

I mean really - when can anything be identified 100%? That is just not possible, so sometimes it is necessary to take risks!

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Great Ken - fortune favours the brave! :-)

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I apologize in advance - please ignore this text - I decided not to post it elsewhere but then felt like I needed to post it somewhere, so I'm posting it here......sorry.....just ignore it....

~

If they choose to bring harm upon my place of residence, my home, then let them be aware - defenses are in place - spirits strong beckoned here and willingly chose to take up residence shared. So really - cause no harm is simple motto.

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I know this - my "team" doesn't always win the game.....if they did, what would be the fun in that?

What matters is how the game is played and then lesson learned after that.

Two lessons I learned today is one - I need to figure out what is growing in my own yard and two - not super wise to take risks with uncertain food......but I did taste a bit - I'm still typing this - and there will always be another game.

I know when to defer.

Ken

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Are you okay?

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I'm fine and I posted a comment at your place - in reciprocity!

I'm pretty sure I could have eaten more of the "cake" I made......and the reality is the pancake mix used in it probably wasn't going to be used for anything anyhow and the sugar I added wasn't much....and the butter - just a bit - and the honey - oh honey I love honey!

So yes......I'm fine. I just truly want to know what is growing in my yard.....and these bushes are nice but I have to work to keep them trimmed, but I think for the time being that is fair. I wasn't kidding when I said I intend on setting it up so that the chickens can basically hang out safely protected by the branches of this bush with the berries that I think are edible and the other birds appreciate the bushes so much as they take turns getting the bugs in my garden!

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OK - I've received a few "off-line" suggestions including "low bush blueberry" (not sure what that is...) and possible "olive". Now at first reading - an "olive" seems a bit unlikely, but upon further consideration perhaps this "berry" is sort of like an olive in a way.....it wasn't sweet - so doesn't seem to be a blue-berry in that way......I'm gonna keep digging on this - I want to know if I just threw away a perfectly good cake!

~

ha, ha!

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That does not look like a blueberry or a low bush at all. Blueberry is squat and round not elongated.

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If I am hearing correctly that you threw it out. I believe that you made the right decision.

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Yeah - I basically ended up "trashing" it......I'm still not sure what those bushes are.....they do provide cover for the birds and bees/wasps/hornets seem to appreciate them. Plus, when I get chickens I'm thinking of letting them "hide out" in the bushy areas (which will be fenced in).

So, too bad there is uncertainty on whether the berries are edible, and I do think smell and taste can be an indicator of this, but not always......but, because of their other benefits, I think I'll keep those bushes, but will be trimming them annually because they do grow very aggressively.

Thanks for your feedback Lee.

Ken

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I already know how I'm going to have it. It is going to be ready in 30 minutes. I will put some butter on it and have some honey on the side as need be.....and then since I'm out of milk I will drink it with water.

And then tomorrow if I am still alive, and it tasted good and went down easy, then I will know - I have some bushes here on the property offer up berries of value......and little did I know till I tried to cook the berries up I reckon.

So - in 30 minutes or so, I'll take a few more pictures and then I'll eat this cake I've made - that so far seems to be edible.

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That appears to be the following which may be poisonous to humans.

I held my button on phone on image and selected to search with Google Lens.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligustrum_vulgare

Please do not eat anything that you cannot identify 100% it's not worth it.

Watch Into the Wild

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Lee,

I think I have seen that movie - it's the one he goes into Alaska by himself.....

~~~~~~

Regardless, an associate sent me an email suggesting either:

Ligustrum lucidum;

Ligustrum sinense; or

Ligustrum japonicum

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I suspect those are similar (or in the same family) as what you suggested.

They all seem to be "ornamental type" plants with origin in Asia (China/Japan) with the berry potentially being edible but not necessarily.

~~~

Its kind of amazing the variability of species - as much as possible I like to know what is growing on the property.

Thanks to all for their feedback,

Ken

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