Narcissus-Narcissus poeticus L.-Poisonous plant

Narcissus

General poisoning notes:

Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus) is an ornamental bulb that is planted outdoors as a perennial and is occasionally used indoors as a winter forced flower. This plant contains allergens in the aboveground plant parts, which cause dermatitis in sensitive humans. Ingesting the bulbs can cause poisoning in humans and has also poisoned some cattle. Family pets could be at risk if they ingest quantities of this plant. Serious cases of poisoning are rare. Humans have been poisoned only when the bulbs were mistaken for onions (Mitchell and Rook 1979, Litovitz and Fahey 1982, Cooper and Johnson 1984). See notes under daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) for more information.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Narcissus poeticus L.

Vernacular name(s): narcissus

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:

See notes under daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) for more information.

Toxic parts:

Bulbs, flowers, leaves.

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

The bulbs contain oxalate crystals as well as an alkaloid lycorine, which cause toxic problems. Unknown allergens in the leaves and flowers cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals (Mitchell and Rook 1979).

Toxic plant chemicals:

Lycorine, oxalate.

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, gastroenteritis.

Notes on poisoning:

In World War II, cattle were fed bulbs of daffodils, with toxic results. Ingesting narcissus bulbs can have similar results. The animals were given these plants because of scare food supplies (Cooper and Johnson 1984).

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

Dizziness, eczema, erythema, nausea, skin, flushed, vomiting.

Notes on poisoning:

Symptoms of ingesting narcissus bulbs include lightheadedness, nausea, and vomiting. More severe symptoms are rare because of rapid emesis (Litovitz and Fahey 1982).