Gas plant-Dictamnus albus L.-Poisonous plant

Gas plant

General poisoning notes:

Gas plant (Dictamnus albus) has caused phytophotodermatitis in humans. In one case in Ottawa, a gardener suffered recurring skin eruptions for several summers. The original diagnosis was poison-ivy, but subsequent testing proved that the gas plant was causing the skin reactions. The plant juices are absorbed by the skin and, in the presence of long-wave ultraviolet light, cell damage occurs. Once this cause is recognized, careful avoidance of contact with the gas plant prevents further problems (Henderson and DesGroseilliers 1984). This is an uncommon and colorful plant found in Canadian herbaceous borders.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Dictamnus albus L.

Vernacular name(s): gas plant

Scientific family name: Rutaceae

Vernacular family name: rue

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

Notes on Poisonous plant parts:

Exposure to the plant juices is required, which occurs when weeding around the plant or cutting the flowers (Henderson and DesGroseilliers 1984).

Toxic parts:

Plant juices

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

Furocoumarins, which are derived from psoralen, are found in several of the plants that cause phytophotodermatitis. These compounds are primary photodynamic agents that absorb long-wave ultraviolet light at the surface of the skin and then cause cell damage (Henderson and DesGroseilliers 1984, Cheeke and Schull 1985).

Toxic plant chemicals:

furocoumarin

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

Blistering, erythema.