Red Baneberry

Red Baneberry is a member of the Buttercup family. Like the Buttercup, they contain a highly irritating toxin.... even the berries. It is said that the American Indians would coat their arrow heads with a concentration of the toxic juice from the berries. Bane means "slayer" in Old Norse.... today in modern English it is given the meaning "poison". The Red Baneberry can be see growing in the same area as the White Baneberry. In the fall the berries of the Red Baneberry are red, the White Baneberry has white berries with a distinctive black dot at the end of the berry. Thus, the name, Dolls Eyes, given to the White Baneberry. The Red Baneberry can also have white berries but the black dot is not so large and so does not have the appearance of dolls eyes.

Where I found it : in the woods near a river