Daffodil-Narcissus pseudonarcissus L.-Poisonous plant

Daffodil

General poisoning notes:

Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is an ornamental that is planted outdoors as a spring-flowering perennial. It may be used indoors as a forced flower during the winter. The aboveground parts cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals. The bulbs can also cause dermatitis. Humans have been poisoned after ingesting bulbs thought to be onions, as have cattle when they were fed bulbs instead of feed in times of scarcity. Family pets may be at risk if they ingest daffodils (Mitchell and Rook 1979, Litovitz and Fahey 1982, Cooper and Johnson 1984).

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Narcissus pseudonarcissus L.

Vernacular name(s): daffodil

Scientific family name: Amaryllidaceae

Vernacular family name: amaryllis

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

Notes on Poisonous plant parts:

The bulbs of narcissus are toxic if ingested. All parts of the plant can cause allergic dermatitis in sensitive humans (Mitchell and Rook 1979).

Toxic parts:

Bulbs, flowers, leaves, stems

Toxic plant chemicals:

Lycorine.

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:

Convulsions, drowsiness, gastroenteritis.

Notes on poisoning:

During World War II, cattle were fed daffodil bulbs because of scarce feed. They developed seizures, sedation, hypotension, and gastrointestinal and hepatic degeneration. Animal poisoning is more severe than human poisoning because humans develop rapid emesis (Litovitz and Fahey 1982, Cooper and Johnson 1984).

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

Abdominal pains, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, dizziness, dyspnea, eczema, erythema, hoarseness, itchiness, nausea, vomiting.

Notes on poisoning:

Ingesting daffodil bulbs produces the following symptoms: abdominal pains, vomiting, nausea, lightheadedness, shivering, and sometimes diarrhea. Because emesis is rapid, more severe symptoms do not usually occur. Ingesting bulbs is rare (Litovitz and Fahey 1982, Lampe and McCann 1985).