While picking some blue berries on the portage from Vern to Juno, I noticed these berries growing in amongst the blue berries.

Anyone know what they are. It would be nice to know if they are toxic so when the little ones are picking I can make sure they do not eat them.

Bluebead

Also known as bluebead lily. The berries are mildly toxic.

Perfect. Thank you.

HayRiverDrifter: "Perfect. Thank you."

The berries are toxic, but the leaves are not and can be eaten. They have a mild cucumber taste. Leaves are better picked earlier in the season, though.

egknuti: "

HayRiverDrifter: "Perfect. Thank you."

The berries are toxic, but the leaves are not and can be eaten. They have a mild cucumber taste. Leaves are better picked earlier in the season, though. "

Good to know, thanks!

Also, thank you OP for asking a question I had as well. I always figured they were toxic, they looked too tasty/perfect to be safe haha

I appreciate this being asked. I don't believe I've ever seen the Bluebeads but I had always wondered in the back of my head if there was anything out there looking the same and toxic. I'm now completely sure of the difference. Good to learn new stuff.

brulu: "Bluebead


Also known as bluebead lily. The berries are mildly toxic."

Funny - saw these this summer and wondered what they were. Before my daughter went out with her friend for their first trip alone in late July, I told them to be on the lookout for blueberries, hearing they were to be found. We went out one day later, I saw these, and had a moment of panic hoping they hadn't consumed them. I sent a warning via Zoleo - and her response was (summarized) - I saw them and wondered what they were, because they looked too big to be blueberries. I picked one, scratched the surface and it didn't smell right. Broke it open and didn't look right. Washed my hands. Blueberries don't grow on stems like that and I was suspicious.

I was very proud.

I will have to remember to try the leaves next season.

I love learning the plants of the area, the knowledge snowballs over the years. It's fun to keep learning new things, and it's also satisfying to know what you're looking at. I still have lots to learn.

A good next one to learn, as long as one is looking at bluebeads, is bunchberry (they often grow together, and the red bunchberries are also prominent right now).

I saw these berries occasionally growing among the blueberries in Manitoba recently. On one point where the trees had been eliminated we found very abundant blueberries, more than I have ever seen anywhere else. I picked a full Nalgene bottle of them in about 30 minutes.

deerfoot: "I saw these berries occasionally growing among the blueberries in Manitoba recently. On one point where the trees had been eliminated we found very abundant blueberries, more than I have ever seen anywhere else. I picked a full Nalgene bottle of them in about 30 minutes. "

https://wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-wildflowers-clintonia-clintonia-borealis.html

Clintonia borealis


Common name: Blue bead lily

As noted leaves in the spring early summer can be tender and yummy. More fibrous later.

Fruits--do not ingest. Mildly toxic.

Good information… we always called em snake berries… I guess cause we had to call em something. Haha. I’ll be another trying the leaves next year…

I also have always wondered… never knew until now!

Also thanks for the “bunchberries” always wondered about that as well.

Now what about the white ones??

We called them snake berries too!

Blueberries and huckleberries have a "crown". Opposite the stem. Tnhat's an easy way to tell the difference

Grizzlyman: "Now what about the white ones??"

The white ones are doll's eyes

Grizzlyman: "I also have always wondered… never knew until now!

Also thanks for the “bunchberries” always wondered about that as well.


Now what about the white ones??"

Any berries that are white are most likely poisonous.
Bunch berries are edible but don’t have much flavor. I enjoy wintergreen berries along with the leaves which I make tea with. In the fall I harvest rose hips which are also quite good-just don’t eat the seeds.

we always called them dog berries because dogs eat them and vomit lol

Rather than starting a new thread, I’ll add to this one with another berry ID.
Anyone have the answer as to what these are? Smooth berry, grows on slender trees in fairly large bunches, ground squirrels & grouse munch them after soldier berries are gone (I’ve often found them growing near each other). Second picture is of the tree in case branching/bark properties are needed for ID (which I doubt though better to have & not need). Thanks!!

Those look like chokecherries.

egknuti: "Those look like chokecherries."

Perfect - thank you!

I was not sure as the initial images of chokecherries which I reviewed showed a ‘dimpled backside’ while the specimens I viewed were fully smooth, looking at pictures of Black Chokecherry turned up photos of smooth berries & everything seems to check out. As I kind of expected, the berry flesh is edible though seeds should not be eaten.