How to differentiate 9 pairs of plants that are easily confused with each other

When walking in nature, it can be very tempting to pick a plant and taste some of its fruits. However, before doing so, make sure you are not confusing edible plants with similar ones that are poisonous or that could cause intestinal problems.

That’s why we, from awesome.club, we made a list of edible plants and their toxic counterparts. And don’t miss the bonus at the end of this post.

How can you differentiate: Both plants bear fruit in clusters and are easily confused. So the best way to identify which one is edible is to pick a berry (which, in both cases, looks like a grape) and cut it open. Wild grapes (pictured left) have round seeds and those menispermum Canadian (pictured right) are crescent-shaped.

How can you differentiate: the mushrooms black pudding True ones (pictured left) have hollow stems and well-attached hive-like upper parts. The false ones (pictured right), on the other hand, have solid stems and the upper part is spongy in the shape of a brain and very similar to that of the real mushrooms.

Both the morels both true and false grow in the same areas. So be careful not to be fooled by their very similar appearance.

How can you differentiate: Nightshade berries (left image) grow in clusters and have flowers with white petals, while nightshade berries (right image) grow singly. However, it is very important to be careful when picking nightshade berries as well, because they can be poisonous when they are not yet ripe.

How can you differentiate: Sweet almonds (pictured left) usually come from trees with white flowers, while bitter almonds (pictured right) tend to come from plants with pink flowers. However, sometimes the color of the flower can vary and another way to distinguish is by the fruit. Bitter almonds are a little wider and shorter compared to sweet almonds.

How can you differentiate: The easiest way to tell this pair of plants apart is by their scent. Wild garlic (pictured left) smells like regular garlic and onions. Already the plants of Toxicoscordion Poisonum (pictured right) do not have the same strong smell.

How can you differentiate: Even though these plants are very similar, it is possible to differentiate them by the color of their fruits. The fruits of the wild blueberry (pictured left) are dark blue in color when fully ripe, while those of the tutsan (pictured right) are black.

How can you differentiate: Portuguese chestnuts are edible (photo on the left) and always have a point or some sort of detail at one end. Horse chestnuts (pictured right), on the other hand, have smooth, rounded ends.

How can you differentiate: Analyze your stems. Those on wild carrot (pictured left) will usually be covered in hair, while those on spotted hemlock (pictured right) will be smooth and hairless and will have purple spots.

How can you differentiate: Both plants produce flowers with five pointed petals, but in different colors. Currant tomatoes (similar to cherry tomatoes but smaller, pictured left) produce yellow petals, while belladonna (pictured right) produce deep violet petals.

In some parts, chicory is considered a noxious or nuisance weed, but in others it is considered a treasure among herbs. And while consuming this vegetable is safe for humans, it can be very toxic to horses if eaten in excess.

How can you differentiate:

The flowering stems of the dandelion (pictured left) are unmarked and hollow, its leaves are irregular, hairless and appear smooth. On the other hand, chicory (pictured right) has solid, forked flowering stems that are longer than those of dandelions, as well as hairy leaves.

Have you ever confused any of these plants? Do you know another edible herb that has poisonous ‘doubles’ and is not mentioned in our post?