Oleander-Nerium oleander L.-Poisonous plant

Oleander

General poisoning notes:

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an ornamental indoor shrub found in Canadian homes and offices. This plant is quite toxic if the leaves or stems are ingested. Humans have died after eating meat that was skewered with oleander stems. Ingesting a single leaf may be toxic to a person. The dry leaves remain toxic. Cattle, horses, and sheep have been poisoned experimentally (Wilson 1909, Kingsbury 1964). Livestock are not likely to have access to oleander in Canada. Children and family pets should be prevented from ingesting green or dry leaves, chewing stems, or sucking the nectar from flowers.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Nerium oleander L.

Vernacular name(s): oleander

Scientific family name: Apocynaceae

Vernacular family name: dogbane

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

Toxic parts:

All parts, flowers, leaves, stems, young shoots

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

Oleandrin, a cardiac glycoside, is found throughout the plant, including the nectar of the flowers. Smoke from burning twigs is said to be toxic (Fuller and McClintock 1986).

Toxic plant chemicals:

Oleandrin

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:

Breathing, rapid, death, heart rate, elevated, mouth, irritation of, pupil dilation.

Notes on poisoning:

Experimental poisoning of cattle has shown symptoms that include elevated breathing and heart rate. If a large dose is given, the heart action becomes so low that a pulse is almost undetectable. Green leaves at a rate of as little as 0.005% of a cow''s body weight can cause death (Wilson 1909, Kingsbury 1964).

Horses

General symptoms of poisoning:

Breathing, rapid, death, mouth, irritation of, pupil dilation.

Notes on poisoning:

Experimental poisoning of horses with fresh oleander leaves resulted in toxic symptoms, including elevated breathing and pulse, greenish feces, some abdominal pain, cold extremities, and a swollen and irritated mouth and tongue. A dose of green leaves equal to 0.005% of a horse''s body weight is sufficient to kill a horse (Wilson 1909, Kingsbury 1964).

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

Abdominal pains, coma, death, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dyspnea, mouth, irritation of, nausea.

Notes on poisoning:

Humans have been poisoned from using the twigs of oleander to skewer meat or roast frankfurters. Ingesting a single green or dry leaf may cause poisoning. Symptoms include dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, unconciousness, bloody stools, and light and rapid pulse. Death has occurred in some cases. Symptoms occur several hours after ingesting a toxic dose (Wilson 1909, Kingsbury 1964).

Sheep

General symptoms of poisoning:

Breathing, rapid, death, mouth, irritation of

Notes on poisoning:

Experimental feeding of green oleander leaves has caused elevated breathing, partial unconsciousness, sore mouth and nostrils, discolored mucous membranes, and death (dose: 0.015% body weight of green leaves). Cold extremities and gastroenteritis also occur (Wilson 1909, Kingsbury 1964).