bryony

Everyday

1. Bryony is a climbing plant found in hedges in Britain and Europe; there are two kinds, white bryony and black bryony, both with shiny red berries in autumn. tree →
2. Bryony is also a girl's name (a name). tree →

In the lessons

In nature and safety lessons bryony is important because all parts of it, especially the red berries and the roots, are poisonous; children should never eat wild berries without an adult who knows plants. It climbs by curly tendrils (white bryony) or by twisting stems (black bryony). Phrases: white bryony, black bryony.

Examples

• Bryony climbed all over the hedge by the lane. tree →
• The bright red berries of bryony are poisonous. tree →
• Never eat hedge berries like bryony. tree →
• White bryony holds on with curly tendrils. tree →
• In autumn the bryony berries hung like red beads. tree →
• Bryony is the name of the girl who sits next to me. tree →
• The teacher pointed out bryony on our nature walk and warned us not to touch it. tree →

Note

Pronounced BRY-uh-nee. The plant is usually small b; the name has a capital B. The two bryonies are not closely related, despite their names.