Last Updated on June 21, 2024 by Veronica Sparks
Watch Out For These Toxic Look-Alikes When Foraging!
Foraging for wild edibles is a rewarding and practical prepping skill that connects us with nature while providing fresh, natural food sources. However, it also comes with its dangers. There are poisonous plants that look like edible plants, and mistaking one for the other can have serious, even fatal, consequences.
Being aware of these toxic look-alikes is crucial if you’re venturing into the wild to forage!
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Poisonous Plants that Look like Edible Plants
Identifying wild edibles while suburban and urban foraging can be tricky, especially when some toxic plants bear a striking resemblance to their harmless counterparts. Let’s explore common pairs of look-alikes and how to distinguish between them.
1. Wild Carrot vs. Hemlock and Wild Parsnip
Queen Anne’s lace — or wild carrots — are often confused with hemlock and wild parsnip. Hemlock, however, contains potent toxins that can cause severe health issues or death.
Also, while wild parsnip’s root is edible, the leaves, stems, and flowers can cause skin irritations that become severely burned and even scarred when exposed to sunlight. It’s important to wear gloves and long sleeves when handling wild parsnip.
Wild carrot has a hairy stem and a distinct carrot smell when the root is crushed. Hemlock, on the other hand, has a smooth, hairless stem with purple blotches and no carrot scent. The yellow flowers and smooth stems of wild parsnip differentiate it from the edible wild carrot.
2. Purslane vs. Spurge
A succulent, edible plant often labeled a weed, purslane can be mistaken for the toxic look-alike, spurge. The key difference lies in their sap: Purslane has a clear sap, while spurge exudes a milky, white sap.
Additionally, spurge’s stems are sometimes a bit hairy and its leaves are flat and arranged opposite on the stem. Purslane’s leaves are often clustered and they are thick, smooth, and shiny. Also, purslane’s stems are hairless.
3. Wild Grapes vs. Moonseed and Pokeberries
Wild grapes can look similar to moonseed and pokeberries. Moonseed has a single, crescent-shaped seed per fruit, while wild grapes contain multiple seeds. Pokeberries grow in clusters on red stems and can cause severe poisoning if ingested, unlike wild grapes which have woody stems.
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4. Wild Tomato vs. Horse Nettle and Jerusalem Cherry
Horse nettle and Jerusalem cherry are sometimes mistake to be wild tomatoes, but both are toxic. Horse nettle has spiny stems and leaves, while Jerusalem cherry produces toxic, round, cherry-like berries.
Wild tomatoes typically only grow in western South America and are almost never found in the continental U.S. unless it’s a cultivated tomato plant that was abandoned.
However, tomatoes have smooth stems and are safe to eat, unlike their toxic look-alikes.
5. Wild Blueberries vs. Virginia Creeper, Tutsan, and Nightshade
Wild blueberries can easily be confused with Virginia creeper berries, while tutsan berries and nightshade berries can be confused with either wild blueberries or wild grapes.
Virginia creeper berries grow in clusters and are dark blue to black. Tutsan berries turn black when ripe, and nightshade berries are often shiny and black.
Wild blueberries, on the other hand, have a distinctive crown at the blossom end, unlike these poisonous counterparts. They’re also covered in a white film that’s known as “bloom.”
6. Rose Hips vs. Cotoneaster Berries
Edible and packed with vitamin C, rose hips can be mistaken for cotoneaster berries, which are toxic. Rose hips are typically round and red to orange, with a distinct hairy crown, whereas cotoneaster berries are smooth and grow in clusters.
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7. Chestnuts vs. Buckeyes
Edible chestnuts are often confused with toxic buckeyes. Chestnuts have a spiny husk and a flat side on the nut, while buckeyes have a smoother, warty husk and are round. Consuming buckeyes can cause severe illness, so be sure you identify your found chestnuts properly!
8. Wild Beans vs. Wisteria
Wild beans can be mistaken for wisteria pods, which are toxic. Wild beans have smooth, green pods, whereas wisteria pods are velvety and contain seeds that are highly poisonous if ingested.
9. Bay Leaves vs. Rhododendron
Often used in cooking, bay leaves can be confused with the toxic rhododendron leaves in the wild. Bay leaves come from the bay laurel tree or shrub. They are smooth and have a distinct aroma when crushed. Rhododendron leaves, on the other hand, are leathery and can cause serious health issues if consumed.
10. Wild Onion vs. Death Camas
Death camas and wild onions look similar but have distinct differences. Wild onions have a strong onion or garlic smell, while death camas lack this scent. Death camas also have smooth, V-shaped leaves and white flowers, unlike wild onions.
11. Caesar Mushroom vs. Death Cap
Caesar mushrooms are edible but can be mistaken for the deadly death cap. The Caesar mushroom has an orange cap and white gills, while the death cap has a greenish to yellow cap and white gills. Death caps are extremely toxic and can cause fatal poisoning.
12. Morels vs. False Morels
Morels are a prized edible mushroom often confused with the toxic false morel. True morels have a honeycomb appearance and are hollow inside, while false morels have irregular caps and are chambered or solid inside.
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13. Sumac vs. Poison Sumac
Sumac berries are edible and often used in spice blends, but poison sumac berries are toxic. The leaves and flowers of these two plants look remarkably similar, but their fruits and habitats are wildly different.
Edible sumac has red, fuzzy berries that grow in clusters, while poison sumac has smooth, waxy, white or grey berries that hang loosely like grapes. True sumac plants that are edible grow in sunny and often dry spaces like fields, prairies, and sand dunes, while poison sumac often grows in swampy, moist wetlands.
Other Harmful Plants to Watch Out For While Foraging
In addition to look-alike plants, several other harmful plants can pose a danger while foraging. Knowing these can help you avoid accidental contact and potential health risks.
Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is notorious for causing itchy, blistering rashes. It has three-leaf clusters and can grow as a vine or shrub. Recognizing its characteristic leaves can help prevent painful skin reactions.
Poison Oak
Similar to poison ivy, poison oak has three-leaf clusters but with more rounded lobes. It also causes severe skin irritation upon contact, so it’s crucial to identify and avoid this plant.
Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane, or monkshood, contains potent toxins that can cause heart issues and even death. It has distinctive purple or blue flowers and deeply lobed leaves. Avoiding any contact with this plant is essential for safety.
Wild Cherry Leaves and Stems
Wild cherry leaves and stems contain cyanogenic compounds that can release cyanide when consumed. While the fruit is safe to eat, the other parts of the plant are highly toxic.
Toxic Berries
Some berries consumed by wildlife are harmful to humans. Dogwood berries, Canada moonseed, and holly berries are examples. Birds and animals might eat these without issue, but they can cause severe illness or death in humans.
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Tips for Identifying Toxic Berries When Foraging
When foraging for berries, several tips can help ensure you pick only safe, edible ones:
- Test on Skin: Rub the berry on your skin and wait 15 minutes. If there’s no reaction, it’s likely safe to handle.
- Avoid White, Green, and Yellow Berries: These colors often indicate toxicity.
- Milky Sap: Berries with milky sap are generally poisonous and should be avoided.
Tips for Identifying Edible Mushrooms When Foraging
Identifying edible mushrooms requires careful attention to detail:
- Look for Hollow Stems: Many edible mushrooms, like morels, have hollow stems.
- Check Spore Prints: Spore prints can help distinguish between species. Edible mushrooms often have white or light-colored spore prints.
- Consult Guides: Use a reliable foraging guide to cross-reference mushrooms.
Other Safety Tips When Foraging
Foraging safely involves several precautions:
- Wear Gloves and Clothes with Full Coverage: Protect your skin from irritants and harmful plants.
- Be Absolutely Sure: Only consume plants you are 100% certain are safe. When in doubt, leave it out.
- Forage with an Expert: If you’re new to foraging, go with someone experienced who can help identify safe plants.
Forage Safely: Avoid Poisonous Plants That Look Like Edible Plants!
Foraging can be a delightful and practical skill, but it comes with risks. Poisonous plants that look like edible plants are a significant danger. By learning to identify these toxic look-alikes and other harmful plants, and by following safety tips, you can enjoy the benefits of foraging while minimizing risks. Always err on the side of caution, and happy foraging!