American elder
General poisoning notes:
American elder (Sambucus
canadensis) is a native shrub found in the moist soils of swamps and along
rivers and lakes in eastern Canada. This plant contains cyanogenic glycosides
and a cathartic chemical. The plant has poisoned cattle and perhaps sheep.
Children were poisoned after using the hollow stems for whistles. Ingesting
uncooked berries may cause nausea (Kingsbury 1964, Muenscher 1978). Red-berried
elder (Sambucus pubens) is a native shrub found from Newfoundland to
Manitoba. There are unsubstantiated reports that this species may also have
toxic potential. Children should not be allowed to chew the stems or berries.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Sambucus canadensis L.
Vernacular
name(s): American elder
Scientific family
name: Caprifoliaceae
Vernacular family
name: honeysuckle
Geographic Information
New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec
Notes on Poisonous plant parts:
Animals were
poisoned after ingesting young shoots and leaves. Children were also poisoned
when they used the hollow stems as whistles. Uncooked berries may cause nausea
(Muenscher 1975).
Toxic parts:
Leaves, pollen, young
shoots
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Cyanogenic
glycosides are found in elders. Sambunigrin and other chemicals may be
involved. Cathartics may also be present (Kingsbury 1964, Tewe and Iyayi 1989).
Toxic plant chemicals:
Sambunigrin
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an
animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993)
contained no detailed explanation.
Cattle
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Abdominal
pains
Humans
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Nausea,
vomiting
Notes on poisoning:
Apparently, the
use of the hollow stems as whistles or blowpipes has caused poisoning in
children. The bark contains a cathartic. Ingesting uncooked berries can cause
nausea and vomiting. Cooked are not harmful if eaten in small amounts
(Kingsbury 1964).
0 Comment:
Post a Comment