Can succulents be eaten?
Answering netizens' questions about whether succulents are edible and which ones can be eaten, and introducing poisonous green plants and flowers. Let's follow the editor to find out!
My advice to everyone on this issue is that it's best not to try eating succulents as food; just enjoy them as ornamental plants. At first sight, succulents are attracted by their delicate and plump appearance, and it always seems that such lovely plants must be delicious. However, as understanding of succulents deepens, it is gradually realized that some succulents are indeed eaten in their native habitats, but many varieties are not only tasteless but even poisonous. Here's a brief introduction:
Dragon Fruit ↓↓↓
Surprised? Yes, this is the fruit of a succulent, belonging to the cactus family, and it tastes good, so there's no problem eating it.
Aloe Vera ↓↓↓
Aloe vera is also common in folk, and it tastes average when stir-fried. It is said to have high nutritional value. Compared to eating, it is sticky and more suitable for making aloe vera gel.
Moonlight ↓↓↓
Eating moonlight is quite popular in Taiwan, mainly used for juicing. The leaves are ground in a juicer, and then mixed with ice cubes, honey (fructose), and other flavorings to make a delicious and healthy drink.
Roof Stonecrop ↓↓↓
Although the taste of roof stonecrop is not as good as fruit, it is still sweet and sour, and has a rich texture. Additionally, roof stonecrop itself is a traditional Chinese medicine, described in "Compendium of Materia Medica" as: "For bleeding from the large intestine, burn to ash and take one qian with water. Also, apply to unhealed ulcers."
Let's talk about poisonous succulents
Sedum genus of the Crassulaceae family and species of the Euphorbiaceae family are poisonous. Euphorbia milii (poisonous) ↓↓↓ Euphorbia milii belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, and when its stems and leaves are injured, they will secrete white sap, which can cause skin redness, swelling, and itching. Jade Tree (poisonous) ↓↓↓ Jade Tree belongs to the Crassulaceae family, and its branches and leaves contain a large amount of euphorbium, which can cause redness, swelling, pain, and blisters when the sap contacts the skin. If it splashes into the eyes, it can cause blindness. Euphorbia lathyris (poisonous) ↓↓↓ It also belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family and, similar to the previous species, secretes white sap when injured, which can irritate the skin. Eating this can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Therefore, it can be roughly concluded that those that secrete white sap are generally poisonous, so wash your hands immediately if you encounter this situation, and keep it away from children. Finally, a reminder to everyone: it's best to enjoy succulents as ornamental plants and not to try eating them.
The above is all about whether succulents can be eaten and which ones can or are poisonous. Have green plant enthusiasts understood this?