English name:
Local name:
Description:
Bryony is a twining and climbing plant whose shoots reach up to 2 and 4 m. The shoot tops are bent and the shoots are leafy. The leaves are heart-shaped, the roots are bulb-like and 20 to 30 cm long. The fruit ripens during summer months; it is red, berry-like and very poisonous. It contains 3-5 seeds and 4 to 6 berries make a raceme.
Uses:
Usable part:
Shoots
Usage:
Bryony shoots are harvested in early spring. Only the tops and juicy parts of the stem are used in nutrition, and the parts that do not crack when folded are thrown away. It can be prepared in several ways and one of the most common ones is to boil them and use in a salad with hard boiled eggs. They can also be served raw or in an omelette. The edible bryony shoots have a mild diuretic effect and the fruits are poisonous. the bryony root can be used in treating rheumatism but it is necessary to be extremely careful because it can "burn" the skin.
