Fairburn, GA on Jun 17, 2012

An Unknown Plant

Anyone have any idea what this plat is. The flowers are initially small, white, and profuse. As they get pollinated they turn yellow/orange. The fruit resembles a small green foot ball and has the flavor of an orange and a lemon combined. Yes they are apparently edible as I ate many this year and some last year as well. I have never seen these before but there are several in the woods around my house and I saw one up in Rome Georgia last year, but it didn't have any flowers or fruit on it. The birds just decimate this fruit when it is ripe. I got some pictures of it when it was winding down its flowering and hopefully someone can clue me in.

Thanks for any input.

40 Comments Displaying 25 of 40 comments | See Previous

Chris T Baton Rouge, LA

I am positive that it is a kumquat and the fruit can be made into jelly as well as eaten. We have them here in Louisiana.

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 0
Barbara W Braselton, GA

OT - Do bergamot grow in the US?

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 0
Debora L Arab, AL

Do you have an herbalist in your area or a agriculture department in your county? Some of them should be able to tell you what it is or find out for you.

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 1
Jan M Toledo, OR

OMG, I can't believe you ate it before you knew what it was. I did that along with my youngest daughter when we were hiking behind our house in Mendocino. What she gave me looked like a small ear of corn and was sweet like corn. My daughter, a friend and myself all ate some of it and just let it go till about a half hour later. OMG, our throats were on fire and nothing we did could stop it except the lemonade I had in the fridge, It was the only thing that took the burning away. Our friend ...»
came running up to our house to make sure we were okay. We all drank about a gallon of lemonade with no other side effects. I learned my lesson the hard way. I still to this day don't know what we ate as we went back to try and find the plant again but couldn't. We poisoned our selves. How stupid could I have been.
Find out what it is before you eat it again, please

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 2
Linda R Virginia Beach, VA

Contact your local extension agent office, native plant society or closest botanical garden. Even a really good nursery might have someone knowledgeable to help you.

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 1
Vivian S Harper Woods, MI

Aren't kumquats usually just like mini oranges in appearance with a sweet skin and a tangy/sour interior? When Paul mentions that it looks like a green football that doesn't sound like a kumquat to me. Don't eat any more until you find out what it is. Some toxins may build up in the body.

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 1
Vivian S Harper Woods, MI

but would the fruit have an orange and lemon flavor? I only know about using the leaves and they aren't citrus flavored. yikes.

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 0
Mariana Irvine, CA

I have not idea what is but I think that as long as the birds are eating it and they are still alive....you will be to.

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 0
Vivian S Harper Woods, MI

Paul, you better check with a nursery or extension service or other knowledgeable group. Take a clipping in with you. In my area there are plants that produce berries that birds eat but that can do some digestive damage to people. Better to check it out and know it is safe. Even a farmer's market might have people who could help.

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 1
Exit Stage Left Batavia, OH

Kumquat - the fruit does not resemble the Bay Laurel's or the Bergamot's - Goolge all and serach images...

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 0
Paul M Fairburn, GA

I guess I should have told you all that I followed the rules for unknown plants before eating anything. First of all you note that the animals eat them with no ill effects. Then you take one and merely sample the juice to check the taste and for any ill effects, wait an hour. If you have not had any issues then eat one and wait another hour. So on and so on until you can eat a hand full. I did that last year and ate about a teaspoon full at the end, that is all the birds left behind. This ...»
year I got there before the birds and have eaten a handful with no ill effects, that was last week. The seeds are the same shape as the fruit and have hard little striations on them. One site I looked at has a plant called a wild olive that looks like this one to some degree but the fruit is a bit different and the flowers aren't exactly the same. These plants have been around for a long time and since they are edible I know that people have been using these for something in the past. Strange how that knowledge isn't passed down and it just fades away as the generations go by then no one remembers what it is or how it was used. Thanks for all your replies but I know someone here knows what this plant is.

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 1
Erica Glasener Atlanta, GA

Paul, your photo looks like Eleagnus (very invasive in many areas). Check out this link with photos and you will see http://www.missouriplants.com/Whitealt/Elaea...

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 3
The Blooming Gardener San Jose, CA

Crystal Steele, Amy C and Erica Glasener say it's Eleagnus and I'm with that ID...don't know this species but the leaves are like many of the Eleagnus that I do know, and those flowers are an exact look alike to Erica's link though the fruit doesn't seem like what Paul describes, but maybe the critters get it all before they get that red and round? Hope you post the answer for us!

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 0
Karen H

Bay Laurel fruit is black and shiny, so it's not a bay laurel. Still researching.

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 0
Vivian S Harper Woods, MI

Check this out, Paul. Does it look like this fruit?
http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Synsepal...

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 1
Vivian S Harper Woods, MI

I am also totally enjoying this site with all it's unusual fruits:
http://www.fruitlovers.com/fruittreedescript...

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 0
Karen H

I believe, from the pic I found in Wikipedia that it's a persimmon.
on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 0
Gabriela B Santa Cruz, CA

That's amazing information. Thank you Vivian.

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 0
Eulalia South Boston, VA

I agree with Erica. I believe this is also know as Autumn Olive. Many great jam recipes online and also fruit leather. Considered very invasive in some parts.

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 1
Paul M Fairburn, GA

Erica got the right one. I found a photo match this morning that called it an eleganus but all the ones I have ever seen, like the ones the DOT plants for ground cover, don't make fruit, or I've never seen any. The site that matched my photo was in Japan and all the words were in Japanese so I didn't find out much about them. I don't recall seeing these before anywhere but I can tell you that the plant looks very nice to me, I like the blooms, and the fruit is quite good. I don't quite ...»
know why it is called a weed but I guess they are to some folks. Thanks Erica for knowing what this is.

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 0
Erica Glasener Atlanta, GA

Happy to help Paul. Glad the fruit tastes good.

on Jun 18, 2012 · Like 0
Anna Maria D Apopka, FL

I think it iis a Medlar tree, I have one in my yard, and the fruit is very tasty,

on Jun 23, 2012 · Like 0
Rainy Odessy

looks like a euonymous to me

on Jul 17, 2012 · Like 0
Katrina Wylie Florence, AL

It is an Elaeagnus.(ea-lee-ag-nus) They are wonderful shrubs! We have one on either side of a large arbor. It has almost taken it over but is just beautiful. The tiny flowers are almost "non-noticable" but they lend fragrance to the entire garden with their gardenia like scent. My plants have grown to at least 15 feet but we just continue to weave them in and out of the arbor and I cut them often for huge flower arrangements. Caution:large thorn like growths on some limbs!

on Jul 17, 2012 · Like 0
Katrina Wylie Florence, AL

It is an Elaeagnus.(ea-lee-ag-nus) They are wonderful shrubs! We have one on either side of a large arbor. It has almost taken it over but is just beautiful. The tiny flowers are almost "non-noticable" but they lend fragrance to the entire garden with their gardenia like scent. My plants have grown to at least 15 feet but we just continue to weave them in and out of the arbor and I cut them often for huge flower arrangements. Caution:large thorn like growths on some limbs!
on Jul 17, 2012 · Like 0

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An Unknown Plant

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