Berries and Plants at Camp Edward

Camp Edward was filled with all sorts of berries.  Many are edible and some are poisonous. 

There are several species of plants worth checking out:

• Berries (edible)

  • Red Huckleberry

  • Thimble Berry

  • Salmonberry

  • Trailing Blackberry

  • Cut-leaf Blackberry

  • Himalayan Blackberry

  • Oval Leaf Blueberry (also called Oval Leaf Huckleberry)

  • Serviceberry

• Berries (Poisonous or inedible)

  • Red Elderberry

    • Consuming Berries or nay part of plant risks cyanide poisoning

  • Devil's Club

  • Western Lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum dilatatum) 

    • Aka Snakeberries and False Lily-of-the-Valley

    • Sources state is has been used as a food source by native peoples

    • Not enough sources available to risk eating these

  • Wild Cherry (Poisonous when unripe)

• Ferns

  • Bracken Fern

    • Contains ptaquiloside - can lead to cancer

  • Sword Fern

  • Lady Fern

  • Deer Fern

• Trees

  • Cedars

  • Western Hemlock

  • Maples 

• Plants that Sting

  • One Scout developed blisters on her exposed ankle.  We went on a hunt for plants that can irritate your skin and found:

  • Water Parsley

  • Skunk Cabbage

  • Buttercup

  • Plants with Thorns

    • Bull Thistle

    • Devil's Club

    • Blackberries

    • Salmonberries

  • Foxglove (white and purple)

    • Generally doesn't irritate skin if touched

    • Extremely toxic if eaten

    • Can be toxic if you have an open wound and touch it

  • NOT FOUND: Poison Oak of Ivy

  • NOT FOUND: Hogweed