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Buckthorn - Can I eat this and not Die?

 
Posts: 55
Location: Mallorytown Zone 5a
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chicken cooking homestead
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Hi All, a newbie here...

I came across this blueberry-ish plant near my shed and was wondering if anyone could help to identify it. I'm not too worried about myself but I have a 2 year old and she thinks that everything is delicious.

I popped one of them open and they are loaded with seeds. I got 4 seeds from one pod. They smell like a berry but I've never seen anything eat them which has me wondering, if animals won't eat them, there has to be a reason.
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pollinator
Posts: 114
Location: suburbs of Chicago USDA zone 5b
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It's buckthorn. If you ate it, you probably wouldn't die but it would make you pretty sick.
The latin name is Rhamnus Cathartica. That gives a hint as to why you wouldn't want to eat it.
 
John Gratrick
Posts: 55
Location: Mallorytown Zone 5a
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Thanks Thea

I wiki'd it and you nailed it. Now that I know it's invasive as well as mildly toxic I'll try to get as much of it removed as I can.

I had thought it was a member of the huckleberry family. Good thing I didn't test that.
 
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