Also called Canada Serviceberry, June berry or Shadbush in New England.
The Haida name means ""sweet berry".
The Saskatoon is the berry most commonly used to make North American Style Pemmican.
Cautionary Note: I recently read a post on another website that claimed "while Saskatoons are highly edible and perfectly safe; Serviceberries should always be cooked to neutralize the poisonous cyanide compounds found in their seeds. Under ripe berries can cause digestive upset or even be poisonous and should be consumed only in very small quantities".Saskatoons and Serviceberries are the exact same berry. Yes, They do contain CYANIDE. If you are not sure of your facts, if you can not definitely positively, identify, a berry, fruit or plant beyond a reasonable doubt, you would undoubtedly be best not to use it; but if you must and there might be times when you have little choice, be sure to follow the rules I have laid out in my posting PLANT EDIBILITY TESTS.
Although I never saw it done, it is claimed that some early Canadian Pioneers boiled or steamed Saskatoons in pits and, or, in bark, gut, or hide, vats.
The cooked fruit was mashed, formed into cakes, then dried over a slow fire (like hard tack). It is claimed that these cakes could weigh as much as 15 pounds each.
In the past, many Canadians would add saskatoons to soups and stews. Today, they are popular in pies, pancakes, puddings, muffins, jams, jellies, sauces, syrups and wine, much like wild blueberries.
Somewhat surprisingly; but historically documented, Saskatoon juice was taken to relieve stomach upset.
Warning: As is true of Choke Cherries and many other "safe" wild berries, the leaves and seeds contain poisonous cyanide like compounds; which can be deadly, especially to horses.
(c) 2005 Steven J. Baskauf - Terms of use
Berries when ripe are purplish-black, sweet, and juicy; they are eaten raw or cooked. They were and still are, in many parts of Canada, an extremely important commodity. There is a well documented history of extensive management through techniques such as fire, weeding and pruning to encourage the healthy growth of this very important berry.
The berries, flowers and leaves are also eaten by bears, deer elk, wapiti, mountain goats rabbits, squirrels, other rodents, and birds. During the winter and like rose hips the buds and dried berries are stapled food for the ruffed grouse. Due to this wide appeal to all animal, not just man, this is one of the first shrubs to be eliminated or drastically retarded on ranges mismanaged or over used by MAN-- OTHER ANIMALS DO NOT ABUSE.
OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF (c) 2005 Steven J. Baskauf - Terms of use
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/amal2.htm
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/amal2.htm
Berries when ripe are purplish-black, sweet, and juicy; they are eaten raw or cooked. They were and still are, in many parts of Canada, an extremely important commodity. There is a well documented history of extensive management through techniques such as fire, weeding and pruning to encourage the healthy growth of this very important berry.
The berries, flowers and leaves are also eaten by bears, deer elk, wapiti, mountain goats rabbits, squirrels, other rodents, and birds. During the winter and like rose hips the buds and dried berries are stapled food for the ruffed grouse. Due to this wide appeal to all animal, not just man, this is one of the first shrubs to be eliminated or drastically retarded on ranges mismanaged or over used by MAN-- OTHER ANIMALS DO NOT ABUSE.
The bushes grow 3-15 feet high, in along river banks, in ravines, in sandy, rocky, wooded areas, and open country. The flowers are white
©Al (Ale-Alexander) D Girvan. All rights reserved.
©Al (Ale-Alexander) D Girvan. All rights reserved.
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