Wondering about wild grapes

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Wondering what these grape look-a-likes could be?



On my way back from carrying the garbage cans down to the road, I pass by these vines that have pods of dark blue berries on them.  They look like small grapes but they are definitely not.  Here is the first picture that I took:



And I took another picture looking in at a different area:



OK, I have searched for what they are called and have not had any success.  Do any of you have any idea what they are?  If you do let me know.  Better yet, give me a link to their description on the internet.

These berries must not be edible because I have never seen any creature (bird, mammal, or insect) eating any of these and there is no sign of such activity.  Here is a close up view:


I sure am wondering what they are, so help me if you can.  I would appreciate any help I can get.  Now you all have a great day today and if you don't know what they are, don't worry about it, you hear?

Update:  I figured that maybe I should give you a better idea of their size, so I went out and took another picture:

Well, does this help you any?  You can also see the leaves.  They are definitely not grapes.  Can somebody please tell me what they are?

19 comments:

  1. I don't know where you live, but your grape-like plant my be native to just that area. You can take a sample of the fruit, twig (and leaf if there are any) to your County Extension Office and they can ID it for you if you don't get an answer.
    Yes, different kids of spiders weave different kinds of webs... there's the orb weavers, the funnel, tubular, sheet and tangle weavers. My personal favorite is the garden spider that weaves the "conventional" type web, but it has a big zigzag down the center.
    Think I'll look back and see what other things you've been wondering about... sounds like my kind of curiosity.

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    1. is that the black and yellow one that we call the ladder spider?

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    2. Yes... it's a beautiful web... and a beautiful spider.

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  2. Love a mystery DD, gonna look for that plant.

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  3. OK gave up,,only thing I learned was if its a climbing vine with dark blue, purple berries, it's poison.

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  4. The Odd Essay and Trouble, I believe it is poisonous. Nothing seems to eat it. I like the looks and designs of spider webs, but not when I get them all over my face when I walk in the woods.

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  5. DD, google wild mustang grapes, I think that is your grapes. Makes good jelly .

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  6. Papoojack, I also have mustang grapes and these are not grapes. All the wild grapes have either fallen off or have been eaten by now.

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  7. No idea . . . but now you have to find out an let us all know. :)

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  8. I'm now on a quest to figure these things out. They "look" delicious. Canadian Moonseed only grows in the northern part of the US, is poisonous, but has a leaf that looks like a Maple leaf. These don't.

    I'll be back if I can come up with anything that has a leaf like that.

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  9. FOUND IT! PRIVET berries - poisonous

    berries of this shrub are only mildly poisonous to humans (but eating them is still not recommended), has purple to black fruit

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    1. Privet was my first thought... but... in Ohio the berries are very small... the "bush" it grows on has a lot of thorns or sticker... But... since I don't know what habitat this is, it's hard to know. I'd still take a sample to the Extension Agent...

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    2. Not that either,,DDs are vines, not bushes

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  10. Sixbears, lotta joy and The Odd Essay came up with the answers.

    Lotta joy, that is it and since nothing seems to eat it especially this time of year when there are almost no other berries around, they must be poisonous.

    The Odd Essay, these are also small but I haven't noticed any thorns. I will take a closer look tomorrow.

    Thank you all for the information and help.

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  11. I don't think I'd make any jelly out of 'em!

    Have to admit, they do look edible...but if the critters don't eat them, I won't either!

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  12. DD -

    Looks like some wild grapes a cousin used to have on a spread just north of Austin. She asked someone at A&M, and was told they were a native grape, but un-named species. We made jelly and grape juice from them for years, but they were too small, hard, and bitter for just eating.
    Don't know if that's what you have, but you are close to the right area of God's Country, and looks the same. Maybe better not eat them though, after seeing the other posts, until you check with some so-called expert.
    Will be interested to see what you come up with.... Happy hunting!

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  13. It is a form of Ligustrum, which is also called privet. Here in Georgia it is sold in nurseries for use in landscaping. It takes well to pruning. There are many varieties. Do Not Eat the Berries! I enjoy your blog. Leta

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