Edibility of Dogwood Berries

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3 total messages Started by Keith Robison Mon, 13 Sep 1993 13:29

#4801

Author: Keith Robison
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1993 13:29

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I am looking for information on the human edibility of dogwood berries.
I had always heard they were not, but my father came across a reference
to making jams and jellies from the berries of Cornus maas (sp?). Is
it true that some species have edible berries?  And just how inedible
are the rest?

Thanks for any info -- I would be happy to summarize (with permission,
of course) any E-mail replies.

Keith Robison
Harvard University
Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology
Department of Genetics / HHMI

robison@biosun.harvard.edu

Re: Edibility of Dogwood Berries

#4802

Author: aphrk
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1993 07:44

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In article <robison1.747926970@husc10>, robison1@husc10.harvard.edu (Keith Robison) writes:
>I am looking for information on the human edibility of dogwood berries.
>I had always heard they were not, but my father came across a reference
>to making jams and jellies from the berries of Cornus maas (sp?). Is
>it true that some species have edible berries?  And just how inedible
>are the rest?

Hello Keith:  Cornus stolonifera or Red Willow or Redosier Dogwood is a 
woody shrub here in Montana.  H.D. Harrington says the red berries are used
raw or cooked.  Problem is, the berries are white, not red.  Hmmm.  I remember
the berries tasted bitter (which is a "good" property if you are an herbalist).
The Denai'ina of Alaska do not use the berries of this shrub.  However, they
do consider the berries of another species, Cornus canadensis, a small 
herbaceous plant, to be "hard to chew".  That is, they do not consider them
to be poisonous, just not worth harvesting.  Cornus florida found from ME to
FL, TX to KS, were once soaked in brandy and taken as a bitter digestive tonic.
All in all, I suspect that the berries would make a terrible jelly.

Robyn Klein, Herbalist

Re: Edibility of Dogwood Berries

#4803

Author: falk
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1993 18:21

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In article <robison1.747926970@husc10>, robison1@husc10.harvard.edu
   (Keith Robison) writes:
> I am looking for information on the human edibility of dogwood berries.
> I had always heard they were not, but my father came across a reference
> to making jams and jellies from the berries of Cornus maas (sp?). Is
> it true that some species have edible berries?  And just how inedible
> are the rest?
> 
> Thanks for any info -- I would be happy to summarize (with permission,
> of course) any E-mail replies.
> 
> Keith Robison
> Harvard University
> Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology
> Department of Genetics / HHMI
> 
> robison@biosun.harvard.edu 

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) berries are edible, but very bland - why
bother?

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