Skip to main content
Close

Wildlife Spotting

Photo by DaniKautz
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

39.425, -76.5955

Field Notes

Description:

Small red berries, soft and breakable. Growing on a bush or shrub with small tendrils wrapped around the branches. Could not tell if these were from the same plant

Habitat:

Growing beside the trail in the sun before entering the woods

Notes:

Loch raven reservoir

Species ID Suggestions

Common Spice bush

Lindera Benzoin

Comments (3)

I don't think it's a spicebush.... the leaves seem a bit too "long" , and the berries do seem too round and translucent. I remember spicebush berries as being deep blood-red, and slightly oval. Only a bit "squishy". I think they prefer being in shady areas too, although I have seen them in patchy sun along trails like this one is. But RiverValleyRunner is right - the one sure way to tell is by the smell. The leaves, if you tear it, will have a delicious, almost citrus-y smell, and the berries have a wonderful strong citrus smell, with a firm, almost meaty texture. (They are edible when dried, and are absolutely essential for a good fresh venison stew... The Susquehannock and Conestoga Indians would use them. Sorta like allspice. )
The berries don't look right for spice bush. I feel like they were too spherical and squishy
The berries make me think it could be a spice bush, scrape off a little of the stem and sniff it, if it has a really distinct, aromatic smell than that's probably it!
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 28, 2012

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon