Mystery Purple Berry

[Sheryl]

Can anyone identify this berry for me? I have no idea what it is!!!

(photo hosted elsewhere - Alissa's bandwidth is safe)


http://www.raw-pleasure.com.au/raw-food-photos/albums/For%20RP%20Website%20Upload/Single%20Ingredients/beauty-berry_030575.jpg

[rawpriestess]

sheryl, is this in Australia?


or is it just a berry you want to know about?

Dragggon is looking in his books right now.

[Sheryl]

It's from Australia (I think!). We are sorting through photos, and sometimes it's confusing if something is from one of our many trips overseas, or right here in Australia.

We're going to Indonesia next month - I can't wait. We're bringing our bikes and doigna 2 week biking/scuba diving holiday. I'm sure to get loads of photos then too.

This is such a pretty little berry - I love the way it clusters around the stem - very unique.

Thanks to Dragggon for me! I LOVE the sound of your gardens.. WOW! One day maybe I'll visit! We've talked of buying an island too - magic!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[rawpriestess]

Sheryl, couldn't find anything even close, I was looking on google, while Dragggon was in his books, nothing as cool as that.

the clustering around the stem has me baffled, and the two opposing leaves coming out of the berries, again, baffling to me, no pics even close to that, plus such a pretty color,WOW

so, we will keep looking, but if you find it, you gotta let us know what the heck this cute little guys are.

YES, COME FOR A VISIT !!!, that would be so fun, our summer is your winter, come come and visit, June and July and August are great for all of our gardens produce.

[Rawkinlocs]

Whatever it is, it sure is PRETTY! Looks almost too good to eat! :)

[Rawkinlocs]

Okay, did a little googling and this is what I found (I went to Google, clicked on "Images" and typed in "Purple Berries" and saw the beauties! :) ):

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/native/callicarpa_americana.html

Scientific Name
Callicarpa americana

Common Name
American beautyberry

A few more links:
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/caam.html (http://www.duke.edu/%7Ecwcook/trees/caam.html)
http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile.cgi?symbol=CAAM2
http://www.saws.org/conservation/watersaverlane/hillcountry.shtml

[Sheryl]

Rawkinlocs YOU ROCK!!! Thank you! What a gorgeous name too!

You have my eternal gratitude - especially for finding out it had such a beautiful name. I wonder if you can eat it?

You are the Google Queen!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Rawkinlocs]

Heh heh :D Yeah, I used to find links lickity-split back in the day...kinda got away from that though (go figure).

I was glad to do it...when I saw it, I HAD to find out more about it so on the hunt I went! :)

[Sheryl]

I answered my own question:

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Callicarpa+americana

* Juicy, sweet, fleshy, slightly aromatic fruit

Medicinal Uses: Diuretic.

A decoction of the root bark has been used as a diuretic[257].
The leaves are a cure for dropsy[61].
A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of dysentery and stomach aches[222, 257].
A tea made from the roots and berries is used in the treatment of colic[222, 257].
Some native North American Indian tribes used the leaves and roots in sweat baths for the treatment of malaria, rheumatism and fevers[222, 257].

[Rawkinlocs]

Hmmm...I went to one site that said:
http://www.acadianagardening.com/viewarticle.php?colid=210
Q:

Are the berries of American beautyberries, also called French mulberry, edible?

A:

Don’t make a pie! They are not edible for people, but are an important source of food and water for birds and other wildlife, especially during a drought like last summer’s.

[rawpriestess]

Rawkinlocs, you be da man!!

well, the woman, any way.

I looked on google for purple berry Australia, but didn't find it.

I am so glad you did, now when I want something found, I know where to come.

Sheryl is right, YOU RAWK!!!!

[RawTruth]

Hmmmm ... and if I run into anyone nowadays with dropsy, I'll be sure to mention the leaves as a cure!!

[Sheryl]

Isn't dropsy when fish eat too much and swell up? That's what I always thought! My cousin Kateri fed my fish about 20 times once when I was a teenager and they all died. So sad.

Hmmm....
Sheryl

[Sheryl]

"Epidemic dropsy means swelling of the body caused by the consumption of mustard oil adulterated with oil of prickly poppy."

Raw Truth - now you know what to do if you meet someone that eats too many prickly poppies!!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[RawTruth]

Ha!! But I'm pretty sure that regular dropsy simply means edema (water retention, swelling in tissues) -- for which I'd suggest, ready now, no surprise here -- ta da: raw and living food!! Yay!