Symphoricarpos albus
Symphoricarpos albus
Safety & Hazards
The fruit contains saponins. Although poisonous, saponins also have a range of medicinal applications and many saponin-rich plants are used in herbalism (particularly as emetics, expectorants and febrifuges) or as sources of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins are also found in a number of common foods, such as many beans. Saponins have a quite bitter flavour and are in general poorly absorbed by the human body, so most pass through without harm. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to many cold-blooded creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish and make them easy to catch[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].
Botanical Description
Symphoricarpos albus is a densely-branched, deciduous shrub that can grow 90 - 180cm tall, occasionally to 300cm. The plant grows from a rhizomatous rootstock and often spreads to form dense thickets[ 703 Title Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 21 Publication Author Rehder A. (Editor) Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Harvard University; Boston. Year 1940 ISBN Description A botanical journal containing several interesting articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet. , 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is used in soil stabilization and restoration projects and is often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a hedge.