Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Poisons: Chokecherry

CHOKECHERRY

The Chokecherry also known as the Prunus Virginiana comes around usually in August.  The one thing you want to pay attention in the word chokecherry is "choke" because the name comes from the symptoms you get when you eat.  When you eat this plant it affects your respiratory system which makes you have rapid breathing and it feels like you are choking.  That's where the name chokecherry comes from.  This plant is from North America and not eaten it these cherries are very small and contain hydrocyanic acid.

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Chokecherry very small and known for its tiny white flowers

Chokecherries are very dangerous but they can also be made into food too such as jelly.  You must be very careful with these although they are very delicious.  Once you pick the cherries you must squeeze out all the juice and get all the acid out of it.  After you follow the instructions for the delicious recipe you will get your now edible, delicious jelly.
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Chokecherry Jelly


Chokecherries are not only bad for humans but they are also very bad for animals such as livestock.  When there is a drought in the ranges of the livestock they start to feed off of twigs and other plants and usually there are chokecherries.  Livestock can be harmed by the cherries when they eat large quantities of it in a short amount of time.  The death by these cherries is common in sheep and cattle.  Sheep love to eat the cherries after they drink some water and the cattle are just attracted to the leaves which have the most poison on them.  The symptoms for livestock after they eat the cherries is respiratory failure and the symptoms hit fast and death may come a few minutes after eating.





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