| Re: Berries poisonous to birds?
Quote:
Originally Posted by thunder  Yes, the fleshy bits of Cherry Laurel berries are fine - but the seeds do contain cyanide.
Almonds are fine, but if you get a bitter one, spit it out! Probably anything eaten to excess is bad for you - if you really eat handsful all the time, a quick word at your GP surgery should get you information on safe amounts.
henrya | Hi thunder,
I looked up the toxicity of almonds (and their history) and it seems that the cultivated variety has a " genetic mutation (that) causes an absence of glycoside amygdalin". They have a fascinating history. For example, they are believed to have been cultivated since the Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BC) in the Near East. They do not lend themselves to propagation from cuttings, but grow from seed, so "advanced" horticultural techniques were not necessary to ensure their success as a crop.
Bitter almonds are another story altogether 
Ash
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