Scientific Name
Clintonia borealis
Common Name
Clintonia, bluebead-lily

CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Liliaceae
Plant Description
Perennial herbs with 3-5 strap-like leaves; flowers in a terminal cluster, 6-parted, yellow to greenish yellow; fruit a bright, light blue berry.
Origin
USA, NC.
Distribution
Mountains.
Where Found
High forests or natural area and heath balds.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Berries suspect, caution.
Symptoms
No cases known.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Young leaves are chopped and added to salads, or boiled for 10 minutes and served with butter and seasonings. SOURCE: Elias, T.S. and P.A. Dykeman. 1982. Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants. Outdoor Life Books, New York, 286 pp. Peterson, L. 1978. A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 330 pp.
Toxic Principle
Unknown; suspected since related to toxic plants.
Severity
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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