Poisonous Plants

1. Poisonous Plants Leanne Stevenson Miami County Agriculture Extension Agent

2. Poison Any substance which, when taken into the system, acts injuriously, in a manner neither thermal nor mechanical, tending to cause death or serious detriment to health.

3. In General • More than 700 plants toxic to animals • Economic losses • #1 reason for calls to poison control centers • Chemicals in plants are natural defense • Best Treatment – prevention

4. Can you tell by looking at a plant if it is poisonous? NO

5. Suspect Plant Families • Philodendron family (Araceae) • Cactus family (Cactaceae) • Tomato family (Solanaceae) • Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae)

6. Levels of Poisoning • Chronic - Over a period of time. Can refer to prolonged or repeated exposure to toxins or to the progression of clinical signs. • Acute - A rapid, severe onset of signs.

7. Classes of Poisons • Poisons acting on the brain • Poisons acting on the spinal cord • Poisons acting on the heart • Vegetable irritants

8. Houseplants

9. Amaryllis • Houseplant • Bulbs and seeds are toxic • Humans • Gastrointestinal problems vomiting, diarrhea

10. Caladiums & Dieffenbachia • Houseplant • All parts • Humans and pets • Ingestion causes intense burning, swelling and irritation of the mouth, lips and throat

11. Easter Lily • Houseplant or ornamental • All parts • Humans, cats, livestock • Dizziness, stomach pain, collapse, fatal to livestock

12. Oleander • Ornamental shrub • Extremely toxic • Livestock, pets and humans • Gastroenteritis, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sweating and weakness

13. Landscaping Plants

14. Azalea, Rhododendron • Shrub • Entire plant • Livestock, pets and humans • Nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, breathing difficulty, coma

15. Castor bean • Ornamental herb • Various parts of the plant – particularly in the seed • One of the three most toxic plants • All livestock, pets and humans • 6 seeds can kill a horse • 1-2 seeds can kill a child

16. Delphiniums and Larkspurs • Perennial • Young leaves and seeds • Pets, humans, cattle, and can effect horses • Nervous symptoms, nausea, depression and even death

17. Foxglove • Biennial plant • All parts – most toxic just before the seeds ripen • Cats, cattle, dogs, goats, horses, humans • Dizziness, vomiting, irregular heart beat, and delirium or hallucinations. Can be fatal at any time.

18. Lantana • Annual flower, warm climates spreading shrub • All parts are quite toxic • Cattle, sheep, horses and humans • Gastric, vomiting, diarrhea, circulatory collapse

19. Lily of the Valley • Perennial flower • All parts are extremely toxic • Humans, cats, dogs, goats • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat and pulse, mental confusion – can lead to coma and death

20. Red Maple • Ornamental tree • Leaves, especially when fallen, damaged, or wilted • Horses only • Breathing difficulties, jaundice, dark brown urine, death

21. Rhubarb • Garden plant • Low, unless animals are fed the leaves intentionally • Cattle, swine, sheep and goats • Staggering, trembling, breathing difficulties, weakness, diarrhea, increased drinking and urinating, death

22. Black Walnut • Natural and ornamental tree • Moderately toxic, depending upon length of exposure • Horses, dogs, possibly other animals • Laminitis, breathing problems, gastroenteritis

23. Yew • Ornamental Shrub • All parts extremely toxic, death is likely • All animals-livestock, pets, humans and birds • Sudden death is the typical sign. Occasionally: breathing problems, trembling, weakness, heart problems, stomach upset.

24. Plants in Nature

25. Black Locust • Shrub or tree • Roots, bark, sprouts, seed pods and/or trimmings • Horses, cattle, sheep, poultry and humans • Weakness, posterior paralysis, depression and loss of appetite

26. Common Cocklebur • Annual herb • Toxin concentrated in the seeds and seedlings • Vomiting and gastrointestinal irritation with occasional diarrhea • Swine mostly – chickens and other livestock

27. Hemp Dogbane • Native perennial • All parts- particularly tender shoots. Can be in hay • Horses, cattle, humans, sheep, cats, dogs, goats • Heart stimulant, increased temperature and pulse, pupils dilated. Can result in death.

28. Horsenettle • Perennial, thorny herb • Berries most toxic, leaves to a lesser degree • Mostly cattle, humans, rodents • Sometimes sheep, horses, goats • Irritation of the mouth, gastrointestinal lesions, unthriftiness, jaundiced mucous membranes, abdominal dropsy and constipation

29. Jimsonweed • Annual • All parts, green or dried are poisonous – especially seeds • Cattle, swine:primary Horses, poultry, goats, dogs and humans: possible • Cattle – .5 to 1# • Weak, rapid pulse and heartbeat

30. Milkweed • Perennial herbs • All parts are toxic fresh and dried • Cattle, sheep, goats, horses and poultry • 2% of body weight • Staggering, depression, weakness, labored respiration and dilated pupils • Eventual coma and death

31. Poison Hemlock • Biennial Herb • All parts are toxic, but the seeds are the worst • Livestock, poultry and humans • Gastrointestinal irritation, nervousness, trembling, staggering, coldness of the extremities, slow heartbeat and eventually coma and death

32. Pokeweed • Perennial herb • Young leaves often used as cooked green • Older leaves quite poisonous • Root most poisonous – other parts contain smaller amounts of toxins • Cattle, horses, swine and man • Severe gastroenteritis w/ cramping, diarrhea and convulsions • Can be fatal • Treat with gastrointestinal protectives and sedatives

33. Myths & Potentially Poisonous Plants

34. Poinsettia • No part of these holiday beauties is toxic to either people or pets • Tastes extremely bitter and could cause stomach upset • The milky sap can trigger allergic reactions and skin irritations.

35. Nitrate Toxicity

36. What to do… • In case of Emergency – identify the plant, determine how much was eaten, and contact the poison control center. • Watch for adverse symptoms • Take the plant with you to the hospital or veterinarian.

37. Poison Control Centers • For humans: Refer to handout • For pets: ASPCA National Animal Poison Center ASPCA-NAPCC 800-548-2423

38. Additional Resources www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/cover1.htm http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/poison/links.htm http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/ento/PLANT.HTM www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/index.html http://texnat.tamu.edu/cmplants/toxic/index.htm

39. Know whether you have plants in your house, yard or property that are toxic. • Know the signs of toxicity. • Use risk management techniques to decide what to do with your toxic plants. • Have poison control numbers handy.