Snowdrop-Galanthus nivalis L.-Poisonous plant

Snowdrop

General poisoning notes:

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is an outdoor ornamental spring flower. This plant contains the alkaloid lycorine, which can cause poisoning. Some individuals were poisoned after ingesting the bulbs as emergency food in Holland during World War II. Large amounts of bulbs need to be ingested to produce toxic reactions (Lampe and McCann 1985, Fuller and McClintock 1986).

Description

Plants to 7–20(–40) cm; bulbs 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.5(–2) cm. Leaves: vernation flat and parallel, remaining so within basal sheath; blade linear to ligulate, 5–15 × 0.3–0.7 cm. Spathe 2–3.5 cm. Flowers: outer tepals white, oblong to broadly obovate, 1.5–2(–2.5) × 0.6–1.1 cm; inner tepals white with green blotch at apex only, narrowly obovate or oblong, 7–12 × 4–6 mm; anthers 3–5 mm; ovary 5–6 × 3–4 mm; style 6–8 mm; pedicel 1.2–3(–4) cm.

Flowering late winter--early spring. Roadsides, open forests, abandoned gardens; 0--500 m;

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Galanthus nivalis L.

Vernacular name(s): snowdrop

Scientific family name: Amaryllidaceae

Vernacular family name: amaryllis

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

Toxic parts:

Bulbs.

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.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.

Active substances

Snowdrops contain an active substance called galantamine, (or galanthamine), which can be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, though it is not a cure.

Snowdrops contain also an active lectin or agglutinin named GNA for Galanthus nivalis agglutinin. Potatoes have been genetically modified with the GNA gene. In 1998 Árpád Pusztai said in an interview on a World in Action programme that his group had observed damage to the intestines and immune systems of rats fed the genetically modified potatoes. He also said "If I had the choice I would certainly not eat it", and that "I find it's very unfair to use our fellow citizens as guinea pigs". These remarks started the so-called Pusztai affair.