Hi! My son keeps trying to eat these 'berries?' and I am afraid it may be poisonous. Can you please help me identify this tree. Thx! Dcc
Nandina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - yes, all parts of the plant are considered poisonous, according to the Wikipedia write-up.
Yes, but it is not as bad as that. It is what Wiki says, too: "The plant is placed in Toxicity Category 4, the category "generally considered non-toxic to humans," but the berries are considered toxic to cats and grazing animals."
According to www.paghat.com, the berries are "edible, but not especially tasty....the seeds are mildly toxic, probably not more so than apple seeds, as there has never been a case of people being harmed by eating Nadina berries", and goes on to say that they have been used in jelly, and the dried berries are used in Chinese medicine. So it's likely that the worst would be an upset stomach from the seeds, likely/primarily on account of the presence of hydrocyanic acid, but large quantities might yield greater toxicity. Still wouldn't recommend: probably a good, low-risk 'teachable moment' regarding eating unknown berries.
Thank you very much all. I read the wiki link above and it says the berries are mainly in fall but I have lots right now. Is that normal?
Wiki says that the fruit is ripening in late autumn and often persisting through the winter. So yes, it is normal.
