Selfsufficientish.com

Sorry, still can't make a photo load on here for some reason, but I've stuck it temporarily as the most recent post on my blog (address in signature). Any ideas welcome! I've been paranoid about the baby getting hold of it until I found time to photograph it in case it's completely lethal...

I'd say its a pheasant berry

which is ornamental only. dunno if its poisonous.. but its not for eating

Have searched for the image and I think you're completely right. Although searching under its other name (himalayan honeysuckle) seems to suggest it might be a nice berry. Opinion seems to be that it's not poisonous, so maybe I'll try one next time I'm passing. Anyone tried one?

I'd never heard of that, so I've been Googling for a while. The really interesting thing is that no-one at all seems to have the foggiest idea whether its toxic or not. Seems strange, but there you go.

Mike

'ere y'are

Wot I did woz
Right clicked on your photo then clicked on 'copy image URL' in the menu that popped up
Then in the message I put [ img ] but without the spaces, right clicked and then clicked on 'paste' in the menu, then typed [ /img ], again without the spaces.
Hope that helps.

Or just highlight the link then click on Img which will put the img tags on each end, just the same as you'd do bold or italics or underline.

Yes looks like a pheasant bush flower/berry to me, which I just think of as ornamental. If you can't find any info as to whether it is edible or not then I would advise that you don't try it. If it was OK for eating you'd find the info on the internet, I'm sure!

Thanks for the picture instructions! I will attempt it again next time, hopefully with a bit more success.

Hmm... Might leave the pheasant berries be. There's only a small bush, so it's not like I'll be missing out on a massive bounty.

Leycesteria formosa. I have this in the garden and it can be quite in vasive (or possibly rampant!) if left to its own devices so keep an eye on it. There are reports that the berries are edible (see pfaf for example : http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php ... ia+formosa ) but you're right to be wary just in case as there doesn't seem to be general agreement about it. Probably it's just 'edible' in the sense that it will not harm but isn't exactly tasty so not worthwhile. I can't find any recipes using it for instance which I find is a good indicator of just how useful an 'edible' plant might be.