Caprifoliaceae FAMILY

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

No report of toxicity has been seen for this species but the fruit of many if not all members of this genus 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 orbiculatus is a deciduous shrub with a densely bushy, spreading habit; it can grow 90 - 200cm tall. Spreading at the roots, the plant can form a thicket of growth[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. , 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, valued especially for its fruiting display, and can be used as a hedge.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern N. America - New Jersey and New York to Georgia and Texas.

HabitatOpen woods, thickets and dry banks[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ]. Dry sandy soil in woodlands, along river banks, and often in open woodland pastures[ 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. ].