Garget (Noun)
Meaning
Tall coarse perennial American herb having small white flowers followed by blackish-red berries on long drooping racemes; young fleshy stems are edible; berries and root are poisonous.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The tall, coarse perennial American herb is commonly known as garget or hoary alyssum, but is also referred to by its scientific name, Phacelia tanacetifolia, though the former is less frequently used in scientific contexts.
- Garget has edible young stems that are used by some people in salads.
- A common mistake made by amateur foragers is consuming garget's berries or roots, both of which are poisonous.
- The distinctive blackish-red berries on garget's long, drooping racemes grow densely but are best avoided due to toxicity.
- Rural residents are often advised to watch out for garget as its blossoms, though they may initially attract bees and other desirable pollinators, can start an allergic reaction in some pets after being trampled upon.