In the latest episode of 'internet teaching us life lessons,' Alicia Silverstone became the unwitting educator through a widely shared TikTok video. The renowned actress, remembered for her 1995 Clueless break-out role as Cher, inadvertently highlighted the dangers of consuming plants with unidentified origins, whether it be in the wilderness or someone's front yard.

The 47-year-old actress sought identification assistance for a fruit she stumbled upon in a Tuesday, August 20th social media appeal. Showcasing a halved, round, orange fruit roughly the size of a cherry tomato, Silverstone asked her followers, “I’ve discovered something that I can’t figure out what it is, and I need your help." Despite exclaiming that she shouldn't consume the fruit, she is observed taking a bite from the mysterious fare that she plucked from a sidewalk bush while out and about in London.

Internet users swiftly cautioned the actress about the possible toxicity of the fruit and inquired about her well-being. Thankfully, Silverstone alleviated everyone's concerns by posting on Instagram later that she was "alive and well." Her post, however, still left the identity of the fruit in question: what did Alicia Silverstone eat, and was it actually as hazardous as her followers suggested?

As the internet went into a frenzy to identify it, the fruit was recognized as a Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum), a relative of the nightshade family also known as the Madeira winter cherry. Its kinship with tomatoes isn’t accidental since both belong to the same genus, and reportedly, Jerusalem cherries resemble a cherry tomato in taste, although it’s not advisable to confirm this by taste test.

Originating from South America, the evergreen shrub that houses the nightshade blooms with striking, white, star-shaped blossoms with orange cores that mature into fruit. The color of the resulting fruit varies, as shown by the bright tangerine Jerusalem cherry that Silverstone picked, and can transform from a light yellow-green to a robust red.

Since it’s introduction to other realms, the Jerusalem cherry is deemed a weed in warm climate nations like South Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Even so, its appealing fruit and flowers make it a popular houseplant, but owners should be careful if they have pets, as it can be especially harmful for dogs and potentially dangerous for cats to consume.

Eating Jerusalem cherries is highly discouraged, as they are toxic. Despite common descriptions of the plant as "very poisonous" or lethal, as foraging professional Alexis Nikole mentioned in her TikTok video, it might not be entirely accurate. The primary effect of its ingestion is gastrointestinal discomfort, such as vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea, and it isn't typically fatal to humans. Yet, eating them in large quantities could trigger more serious symptoms, including fever, shock, slow breathing, and delirium, according to Medline Plus, a U.S. National Library of Medicine health resource.

Despite all parts of the Jerusalem cherry plant being poisonous, it doesn’t mean all nightshades pose a danger to our health. Some members of this plant family, like tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes, are integral parts of our diet, though others like belladonna or "toxic nightshade" are notoriously harmful.

Just to be safe, it's best to avoid eating Jerusalem cherries to ward off stomach issues and possible severe repercussion. Thanks to Alicia Silverstone, we have an important reminder not to eat anything from unidentified plants, especially those that aren’t ours.