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Most black or blue berries are edible. Aggregate berries, like raspberry, blackberries, thimbleberries, and salmonberries, are 99% edible. Technically, “aggregate berries” are not berries at all, but a cluster of small fruits. These, unfortunately, on a bad day, could be rules to die by.
In this way, how do I know if a berry is poisonous?
To identify poisonous berries, learn which color berries you should usually stay away from, like white, yellow, and green. Additionally, look out for other specific markings on berries, like spines, spurs, and milky or odd-colored sap, which are often indicators that a berry should not be eaten by humans.
- American Bittersweet. American bittersweet is a woody vine often used in fall wreaths and dried flower arrangements.
- Cotoneaster.
- Holly.
- Juniper.
- Pokeweed.
- Yew.
Subsequently, question is, can I eat this berry?
Aggregated fruits and berries are almost always edible (blackberry, raspberry, salmonberry, and thimbleberry). Single fruits on a stem are usually considered safe to eat. Plants with shiny leaves or a milky sap are considered to be poisonous.
If you're ever unsure whether a wild berry is safe or not, it's best to avoid it. Many wild berries contain toxic compounds, such as holly berries, mistletoe, Jerusalem cherries, bittersweet, pokeweed berries, ivy berries, yew berries, and Virginia creeper berries.