Are bird cherries poisonous?
Bird cherries are the original form of all sweet cherries. Only the cherry pit is slightly poisonous. This is no different from other fruit pits.
The cherry is hardly poisonous
The bird cherry (Prunus avium) is the original mother of all sweet cherries, which is widespread in Europe and Asia. The exact origin is unknown.
With the exception of the cherry stone, it is absolutely non-toxic. The wild form of the tree does not differ in this respect from the cultivated forms of the cherry tree.
Leaves, bark, flowers and the wood are not enjoyable for humans, but non-toxic. Rabbits. Guinea pigs and other animals can eat them without any problems. The fruits are smaller and less sweet than the cultivated forms. The taste is slightly bitter.
The nuclei contain a low concentration of amygdalin, a substance that turns into hydrocyanic acid when digested. An undamaged core is usually not digested, but excreted unchanged.
Even a bitten core is not very dangerous. The amount of poison contained in the kernel is small. Poisoning occurs only if there are more than 20 cores per kilogram of body weight. The kernels in jams are harmless because the poison decomposes when heated.
In Europe, three different plants bear the name lantern flower. Two of the types ...
Bird cherries are not deadly nightshades
The German names are often confusing and are sometimes used for different plants. Although the bird cherry is harmless like a Cherry tree is, many people consider you a poisonous plant.
Wild cherry, wild cherry and bird cherry are different names of Prunus avium. Rowan is another name for the mountain ash. Whose Berry have a strong laxative effect when raw. Serious poisoning is not known from these.
The deadly nightshade, on the other hand, is highly poisonous, its fruits contain atropine. You cannot confuse the plant and the fruit with the bird cherry. They are herbaceous Perennials from 30 to 150 centimeters in height. There are four green sepals on the fruits, while the cherry has only one stem.
Wild cherry profile
characteristic |
Note |
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Prunus avium |
Systematics |
Rose family |
growth |
Deciduous tree 15 to 20 m high |
distribution |
Temperate zones of Europe and Asia |
habitat |
Deciduous and mixed forests |
blossom |
Golden inflorescence with 2 to 6 white flowers 2.5 to 3.5 cm in diameter Hermaphrodite |
Heyday |
April to May |
leaves |
3 - 15 cm long 2 - 7 cm wide Elliptical-egg-shaped Serrated edge |
fruit |
6 - 25 mm Core 7 - 9 mm Black red |
Maturity |
June July |
use |
Like cherries Mainly for cherry brandy |
The bird cherry has a completely unjustified reputation for being a poisonous plant. Even the kernels are less toxic than previously thought.
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