North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[mIEKAL aND <QAZINGULAZA@gmail.com>]

I always make sure the berries are off the umbrals before I juice them  
to make wine....


"The leaves, twigs, branches, seeds and roots contain a cyanide  
producing glycoside. Ingesting any of these parts in sufficient  
quantity can cause a toxic build up of cyanide in the body. In  
addition, the unripened berry, flowers and "umbels" contain a toxic  
alkaloid."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus

~mIEKAL


On Jul 13, 2010, at 6:52 PM, Jay Cutts wrote:

> Just a word of caution on elderberries. While the berries are  
> perfectly innocuous, the stems have a toxin in them.  I once ran  
> into an elderberry bush on a very hot, dry hike, and being  
> impatient, stripped the berries off of their umbels with my teeth.  
> Fifteen minutes later I was vomiting very dramatically and I was  
> sick for a couple days.
> Regards,
>
> Jay
>
> Jay Cutts
> Director, Cutts Graduate Reviews
> Lead Author, Barron's Test Prep Publications
> 800-353-4898 day or eve, 7 days
> (In NM, 505-281-0684)
>
>
> On 7/13/2010 5:44 PM, Richard MURPHY wrote:
> > Elderberry branches seem to have zits all over them. The branches  
> > also have a very soft pith. The umbels of berries have a single  
> > small twig on either side, and the umbels snap right off when the  
> > berries are ripe. Umbels hang upside down when ripe, and the  
> > berries are dark purple. You pick the whole umbel. If they are not  
> > upside down, either they aren't ripe, or not elders!
> >
> > York, Nova, Adams and Johns are excellent Sambucus Canadensis. I  
> > have them growing in zone 4. Not sure about 3. Goto St. Lawrence  
> > Nursery website and check. THey're z 3.
> >
> > Murph
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > R A Murphy Jr