How to Identify Types of Berries
While most people think of berries as tiny and tasty food items, the fact is nature has been crafting berries of all types for thousands of years. Some of the most common edible berries, including strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries, are common ingredients to traditional dessert dishes. However, a significant number of naturally-occurring berries are poisonous to humans and should not be eaten. There are number of qualities that help make each type of berry unique. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Note the color of the berry. Color is often the most easily recognizable feature of berries, with the blueberry and blackberry both named for their color.
-
2
Examine the size and weight of the berry. Some berries are very small, while some are quite large. Size can be a good indicator of what sort of berry you're dealing with.
-
-
3
Feel the surface of the berry for bumps. Blueberries are smooth and round, while raspberries have a rough, bumpy surface.
-
4
Consider the plant on which you have found the berries. Qualities of the plant, such as leaf texture or whether the berries are growing on a tree or vine can help to identify the kind of berry you're dealing with.
-
5
Combine all the qualities that you have noted about the berry to make an educated guess about what kind of berry it could be. When you consider color, texture, size, and the type of plant they were growing on, you should be able to identify most common berries.
-
6
Gather some of the berries you find and bring them home with you for further identification and verification. Unless you have a strong knowledge of wild berries, you should never eat anything you find in the wild until you have cross-referenced its qualities with those of common poisonous berries (see Resources).
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit berries image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
