Importance of angiosperm

•As a good source of nutrients

•As a source of income

•Medicinal plants

As a good source of nutrients

As a source of income

Medicinal plants

Poisonous Plants

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.

In General

• More than 700 plants toxic to animals

• Economic losses

• Chemicals in plants are natural defense

Can you tell by looking at a plant if it is poisonous?

NO

Suspect Plant Families

• Philodendron family (Araceae)

• Cactus family (Cactaceae)

• Tomato family (Solanaceae)

• Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae)

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.

Classes of Poisons

• Poisons acting on the brain

• Poisons acting on the spinal cord

• Poisons acting on the heart

• Vegetable irritants

Houseplants

Amaryllis

•Houseplant

•Bulbs and seeds are toxic

Caladiums & Dieffenbachia

•Houseplant

•All parts

•Humans and pets

Easter Lily

•Houseplant or ornamental

•All parts

•Humans, cats, livestock

Oleander

• Ornamental shrub

• Extremely toxic

• Livestock, pets and humans

• Gastroenteritis, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sweating and weakness

LandscapingPlants

Azalea, Rhododendron

• Shrub

• Entire plant

• Livestock, pets and humans

Castor bean

• Ornamental herb

• Various parts of the plant –particularly in the seed

• All livestock, pets and humans

• 6 seeds can kill a horse

• 1-2 seeds can kill a child

Poison Ivy

• a climbing vine of the

cashew family that has

three-part leaves and

white berries.

Foxglove

• Biennial plant

• All parts – most toxic just before the seeds ripen

• Cats, cattle, dogs, goats, horses, humans

Lantana

• Annual flower, warm climates spreading shrub

• All parts are quite toxic

• Cattle, sheep, horses and humans

• Gastric, vomiting, diarrhea, circulatory collapse

Lily of the Valley

• Perennial flower

• All parts are extremely toxic

• Humans, cats, dogs, goats

Red Maple

• Ornamental tree

• Leaves, especially when fallen, damaged, or wilted

• Horses only

• Breathing difficulties, jaundice, dark brown urine, death

Black Walnut

• Natural and ornamental tree

• Moderately toxic, depending upon length of exposure

• Horses, dogs, possibly other animals

• Laminitis, breathing problems, gastroenteritis

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.

Plants in Nature

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

Jetropha Curcas

Dawa-dawa and saka-saka

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.

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

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

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

Pokeweed

• Perennial herb

• Young leaves often used as cooked green

• Cattle, horses, swine and man

• Severe gastroenteritis w/ cramping, diarrhea and convulsions

• Can be fatal

• Treat with gastrointestinal protectives and sedatives

Myths & Potentially Poisonous Plants

Poinsettia

• No part of these holiday beauties is toxic to either people or pets

• Tastes extremely bitter and could cause stomach upset

Nitrate Toxicity