What IS this???

A friend of mine is trying to figure out what this is...anyone know?? Looks good enuf to eat, but I think not ;-)

 

Sumac? The berries are usually not so shiny though.

 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit?

 

I forget the actual name but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT EAT IT.

Triffids. Yep, that's it. Triffids.

 

Actaea rubra aka Red Baneberry??

If so, it is poisionous:

* Actaea, from the Greek, aktea (aktea), "elder tree" (Sambucus nigra), from the similarity of the leaves to those of the elders.
* rubra, from the Latin, "red, ruddy"
* Common Name, from from a poisonous essential oil or glycoside (protoanemonin) found in all parts of the plant but concentrated in the berries and root. Symptoms of poisoning include gastroenteritis, stomach cramps, headache, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea and circulatory failure.
* Other common names include Cohosh, Red Cohosh, Necklaceweed, Snakeberry, Actée rouge (Qué), poison de couleuvre (Fr), Lännenkonnanmarja (Fin)

But who knows, I am by no means a specialist or botanist.

 

Looks like a couple dead branches from a tree to me. Also some leaves around that flower thing.

 

Have to back up afgm and confirm its definately a branch..... Without actually being there I can only surmise that it fell from a tree....

 

And the winner is......Jack-in-the-Pulpit. Got the answer from a botanist. Yeah, not to be eaten!

 

Definitely jack-in-the-pulpit. The leaves have disappeared leaving the fruiting stalk and fruit cluster. Commonly found in moist to wet woods.

 

Haha, I thought 'Jack in the pulpit' was a joke, but now I see that they really named a plant this crazy name!! Learning something new...look out!