I saw a bush in our backyard loaded with berries that looked a lot like chokecherries...but when I went to pick them, they didn't look quite right so I decided to check up on them.

Here's what Chokecherries look like:

chokecherry Magnoliopsida > Rosales > Rosaceae Prunus virginiana L. Photographer: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., United States Descriptor: Fruit(s) Image taken in: United States   And here's what I had in my back yard: 5341025 common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica L. Fruit(s) Photo by Jan Samanek   As you can see...very different.  I just thought that the buckthorn were Chokecherries because it had been so long since I last picked them.  As as soon as I saw the pictures of the real thing...I couldn't believe I had mistaken them for chokecherries! Chokecherries make a delicious syrup for pancakes or a wonderful jelly for bread... Common Buckthorn, however, is a medicinal herb that is used to cure constipation, and can cause painful cramping, nausea, vomiting, and red or orange urine.   When in doubt, make sure to double check before you pick wild produce...even if you've been doing it all of your life!