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Are These Plums?
We have just moved into a house with a large garden in Wiltshire and there
seem to be two trees and shrubs bearing ripe plums. However, I don't want to be poisoned due to incorrect identification. Does anybody know of a website that provides identification? Are any plum-like bushes/trees poisonous? The fruits are round and now ripe. One plant is bushy, about 10ft high, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 3cm long. Fruit light-red about size of a cherry. They taste like plums. The other is a tree, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 6cm long. The fruits are bright yellow, twice the size of a cherry. I haven't tried tasting these. cheers Davy |
In article ,
Davy wrote: We have just moved into a house with a large garden in Wiltshire and there seem to be two trees and shrubs bearing ripe plums. However, I don't want to be poisoned due to incorrect identification. Does anybody know of a website that provides identification? Are any plum-like bushes/trees poisonous? Effectively not. If you are really paranoid, wait for spring and use the flowers to check that they are members of the Rosaceae. Provided that those fruits have plum-like stems and stones, I would just go ahead. Don't gorge yourself first time - start with a bite, then a mouthful, then half a dozen mouthfuls and then what the hell? At a day's separation. Some of them give some people indigestion. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
"Davy" wrote in message om... We have just moved into a house with a large garden in Wiltshire and there seem to be two trees and shrubs bearing ripe plums. However, I don't want to be poisoned due to incorrect identification. Does anybody know of a website that provides identification? Are any plum-like bushes/trees poisonous? You're right to be worried. In Wiltshire in the past it was often the habit to plant large trees bearing deadly poisonous fruit, solely for the purpose of killing off any incomers foolish enough to try eating any. Dig them up now, while you still have the chance. Syd |
The message
from "Davy" contains these words: One plant is bushy, about 10ft high, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 3cm long. Fruit light-red about size of a cherry. They taste like plums. Google for 'cherry plum'. The other is a tree, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 6cm long. The fruits are bright yellow, twice the size of a cherry. I haven't tried tasting these. Sounds like another variety of cherry plum. Take out a stone from each, crack them, and try the kernels. If they are bitter and taste a bit of almond, then they are very likely some sort of plum or bullace. They certainly sound like it. Or better, ask a neighbour who knew the previous incumbent. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
Dear Master,
I googled 'cherry plum' and it led me to the excellent web site which has a key for identifying trees and shrubs in summer and winter: http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/trees/index.htm which, as you suggested allowed me to identify the trees as cherry plums. Decorative trees (similar to flowering cherries) with edible but poor fruit. Regarding your suggestion of cracking the kernels and testing for a bitter, almond taste, I am afraid that I have read too many Agatha Christies to be tempted to do that. Besides, the other respondent, Syd Rumpo, who seems to know more than a little about local customs, has already given me a useful warning. thanks Davy - PS your English is very good for a Frenchman. "Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in message k... The message from "Davy" contains these words: One plant is bushy, about 10ft high, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 3cm long. Fruit light-red about size of a cherry. They taste like plums. Google for 'cherry plum'. The other is a tree, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 6cm long. The fruits are bright yellow, twice the size of a cherry. I haven't tried tasting these. Sounds like another variety of cherry plum. Take out a stone from each, crack them, and try the kernels. If they are bitter and taste a bit of almond, then they are very likely some sort of plum or bullace. They certainly sound like it. Or better, ask a neighbour who knew the previous incumbent. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 15:33:20 +0100, "Davy"
wrote: Regarding your suggestion of cracking the kernels and testing for a bitter, almond taste, I am afraid that I have read too many Agatha Christies to be tempted to do that. As a child I used to enjoy cracking the stones from plums etc and eating the nuts. I'm still here! I've never heard of wanything plum-like which is not edible, or certainly not poisonous. If if tastes good I'm sure it will be OK to eat, but follow Nick's advice if you are that cautious. Would the previous owners have grown anything poisonous do you think? I guess you HAVE read too much Agatha Christie!! Pam in Bristol |
Don't eat the kernels!
I've worked on a sodium cyanide plant and know the smell, toxicity limits etc of HCN. The kernels of plums ,apricots etc are used for flavouring jams, but I read once that some health fiends killed themselves by eating about 40 apple pips(smell the HCN when they are cracked) in a muesli. The interesting point about cyanide is that if you have a sub-fatal dose you recover without permanent ill effect. I once had a sub lethal dose, which had the effect of disorientation. We had rushed off to the golf course after work and the effect was to double what was already a poor score for the course. Regards David T "Pam Moore" wrote in message ... On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 15:33:20 +0100, "Davy" wrote: Regarding your suggestion of cracking the kernels and testing for a bitter, almond taste, I am afraid that I have read too many Agatha Christies to be tempted to do that. As a child I used to enjoy cracking the stones from plums etc and eating the nuts. I'm still here! I've never heard of wanything plum-like which is not edible, or certainly not poisonous. If if tastes good I'm sure it will be OK to eat, but follow Nick's advice if you are that cautious. Would the previous owners have grown anything poisonous do you think? I guess you HAVE read too much Agatha Christie!! Pam in Bristol |
On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 16:35:26 +0100, "david taylor"
wrote: Don't eat the kernels! I've worked on a sodium cyanide plant and know the smell, toxicity limits etc of HCN. The kernels of plums ,apricots etc are used for flavouring jams, but I read once that some health fiends killed themselves by eating about 40 apple pips(smell the HCN when they are cracked) in a muesli. The interesting point about cyanide is that if you have a sub-fatal dose you recover without permanent ill effect. I once had a sub lethal dose, which had the effect of disorientation. We had rushed off to the golf course after work and the effect was to double what was already a poor score for the course. Regards David T Quote from http://www.aboutmead.com/resources/m...9/12-01-99.txt "Apple seeds average around 0.6 mg hydrogen cyanide (HCN) per gram of dry seed. Since the lethal dose of HCN is estimated to be about 50 mg, you need around 85 grams (3 ounces) of dry seeds. This is around half a cup" Whether the figures are correct, and whether it takes 40 apple pips to half-fill a cup, I don't know, but it does suggest that eating a particularly large number could be lethal. However, seeds (and leaves) of many prunus species (almonds are the obvious example) and other rosaceae (such as apples, as here) contain cyanide precursors. It's what gives almonds their distinct flavour. But, as with apple pips, you do have to eat rather a lot to be at risk. -- Chris E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net |
"david taylor" wrote in message ... Don't eat the kernels! I've worked on a sodium cyanide plant and know the smell, toxicity limits etc of HCN. The kernels of plums ,apricots etc are used for flavouring jams, but I read once that some health fiends killed themselves by eating about 40 apple pips(smell the HCN when they are cracked) in a muesli. The interesting point about cyanide is that if you have a sub-fatal dose you recover without permanent ill effect. I once had a sub lethal dose, which had the effect of disorientation. We had rushed off to the golf course after work and the effect was to double what was already a poor score for the course. Regards David T Well, I reckon my 4 year old son must eat about 20 apple pips some days, as the only bit of an apple he doesn't eat is the woody stalk. He doesn't seem to suffer any ill effects - I'll be asking him in the morning whether he chews them up. Duncan |
Davy wrote:
We have just moved into a house with a large garden in Wiltshire and there seem to be two trees and shrubs bearing ripe plums. However, I don't want to be poisoned due to incorrect identification. Does anybody know of a website that provides identification? Are any plum-like bushes/trees poisonous? The fruits are round and now ripe. One plant is bushy, about 10ft high, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 3cm long. Fruit light-red about size of a cherry. They taste like plums. The other is a tree, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 6cm long. The fruits are bright yellow, twice the size of a cherry. I haven't tried tasting these. Oh, you lucky thing. You can put these in pies and crumbles. An interesting thing (to me) is that they don't seem to be very susceptible by attacks of creepy-crawlies (notable exception - some black ones I saw with clear "worm casts" of jelly-like colourless transparent stuff on the skins). I suppose you've a crab-apple tree in your garden, which fruit make such lovely winey jelly to go with roast lamb? Don't tell me about the elder bush, I'm off to raid the kitchen *right now*. |
On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 20:12:28 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:
Don't eat the kernels! So what is kirsch made from? I thought it was the cherry kernels. Pam in Bristol |
The message
from Malcolm contains these words: I had a teacher at school, when I was about 10 or 11, who said that apple pips were the commonest cause of appendicitis and that we should either spit them out or chew them up! Old wives' tale. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
Davy wrote:
The other is a tree, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 6cm long. The fruits are bright yellow, twice the size of a cherry. I haven't tried tasting these. Mirabella plums? |
On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 15:18:10 +0100, Michael Calwell fac@fac wrote:
Davy wrote: The other is a tree, has oval pointed fine-toothed leaves about 6cm long. The fruits are bright yellow, twice the size of a cherry. I haven't tried tasting these. Mirabella plums? Sounds like the description of the Miralbelles I have had in France. Delicious. I brought some stones home and have a few small plants on my allotment. In Switzerland recently, the hotel had bowls of tinned fruit at breakfast and I think these were the same. Also delicious! Pam in Bristol |
Chris Hogg wrote: On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 16:35:26 +0100, "david taylor" wrote: Don't eat the kernels! I've worked on a sodium cyanide plant and know the smell, toxicity limits etc of HCN. The kernels of plums ,apricots etc are used for flavouring jams, but I read once that some health fiends killed themselves by eating about 40 apple pips(smell the HCN when they are cracked) in a muesli. The interesting point about cyanide is that if you have a sub-fatal dose you recover without permanent ill effect. I once had a sub lethal dose, which had the effect of disorientation. We had rushed off to the golf course after work and the effect was to double what was already a poor score for the course. Regards David T Quote from http://www.aboutmead.com/resources/m...9/12-01-99.txt "Apple seeds average around 0.6 mg hydrogen cyanide (HCN) per gram of dry seed. Since the lethal dose of HCN is estimated to be about 50 mg, you need around 85 grams (3 ounces) of dry seeds. This is around half a cup" Whether the figures are correct, and whether it takes 40 apple pips to half-fill a cup, I don't know, but it does suggest that eating a particularly large number could be lethal. However, seeds (and leaves) of many prunus species (almonds are the obvious example) and other rosaceae (such as apples, as here) contain cyanide precursors. It's what gives almonds their distinct flavour. But, as with apple pips, you do have to eat rather a lot to be at risk. Gasp! I'm one of those apple fiends who eats around 3 to 4 apples each day pips and all - first of the day chopped up in morning porridge - (only uneaten residue for compost heap being the little stem). Is the effect of the HCN cumulative? Could it explain all sorts of ermm things? Seriously... should I core my apples? Cat(h) The world swirls... |
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