File:Black Bryony (Tamus communis) - detail - geograph.org.uk - 1586389.jpg

English: Black Bryony (Tamus communis) - detail For a wider view of this location see > 1586385. Black Bryony is a very common plant in woods and hedges. Its stems twine around anything within reach and ascend or creep among the trees and bushes to a considerable distance. The plant is Great Britain's only member of this family of twining and climbing plants which generally spring from large tubers, some of which are cultivated for food such as the Yam. Black bryony, however, ranks as a dangerous and irritant poison. The juice made of the fresh root, mixed with a little white wine, has been used as a remedy for gravel, being a powerful diuretic. Mixed with honey it has been used as a remedy for asthmatic complaints. The berries act as an emetic. The scraped pulp was applied as a stimulating plaster, and in gout, rheumatism and paralysis it has been found serviceable in many instances. A tincture made from the root is being described as a useful application to unbroken chilblains, as are the fruits (steeped in gin). The freshly scraped root is said to remove discolorations from bruises when applied in form of a poultice. A very painful death is the result of an overdose when taken internally!