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poisonous flowers

In answer to the question below about the poisonous properties of Sambucus,
I referred to the book Poisonous Plants of California by Thomas C. Fuller
and Elizabeth McClintock, University of California Press:

Sambucus (Elderberry, Elder)

Toxic part:  roots, bark, stems, leaves

Toxin:  uncharacterized toxic alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, and
purgative substances

Symptoms: Nausea and upset stomach

Cases of poisoning from elderberries are rare but have been recorded for
cattle, hogs, and humans.  The roots and extensive rhizomes of elderberries
have been postulated as the most toxic parts of the plant.  Hogs should not
be allowed to root in soil near elderberry bushes.  Cattle rarely eat these
shrubs. 

Ripe berries are not toxic, but they will produce nausea if too many are
eaten.  Cooked berries are not toxic.  

On removing the pith, the hollow stems have been used by children as
blowguns or whistles and have resulted in cases of poisoning.  

In August 1983, a group of twenty-five people in Monterey county were
served a drink made from crushed berries, stems, and leaves of the native
Sambucus mexicana.  Within 15 minutes after drinking the mixture several of
the group experienced nausea and vomiting.  The eight who became most ill
also reported abdominal cramps, weakness, dizziness, and numbness.  One who
became stuporous was hospitalized.  All recovered after treatment.
Although ripe elderberries are edible, particularly if cooked, the leaves
and stems, especially young leaves, can produce hydrocyanic acid and cause
illness.  One sampling of elderberry shrubs taken in Orange County,
California, contained 4.4% nitrates as potassium nitrate, an extremely high
percentage.  Hence elderberried are nitrate accumulators.

It would seem that caution is well advised, although flowers are not
specifically mentioned.

Holly Forbes




>Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 16:54:55 +1000
>To: lyn@anchor.engr.sgi.com (Lyn Dearborn), MEDIT-PLANTS@ucdavis.edu
>From: Michael  Bailes <frgntgar@ozemail.com.au>
>Subject: Re:  Edible flowers ? poison
>Cc: dearborn@anchor.engr.sgi.com
>Reply-To: frgntgar@ozemail.com.au
>Sender: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>
>At 7:35 AM +1000 21/10/98, Lyn Dearborn wrote:
>>You can also add the blossoms of the pineapple guava -- they are
*wonderful*.
>>On the sambucus (Elderberry), please note that the stems are poisonous, so
>>care should be taken.
>Are you sure?
>>Another "deadly error" I'd like to mention to all the "eaters of plants" is
>>that right now, as the seed heads are drying on fennel plants all over the
>>west,
>They seem so obviously differnt to me I am amazed that people would confuse
>them
>POISON HEMLOCK
>> -- thinking it was fennel... why their father was acting brain-dead is
>>beyong me ... then an hour later, in the same park, a group of docents on
>>their
>>way back from a training hike had a mishap because one of them reached
>>over and picked a seedhead of what she **thought** was dried fennel...
>>sigh ... butt
>>head ... Unfortunately, she broke the most important rule there is: NEVER
put
>>anything in your mouth who's identity isn't 1000% positive!!
>I find tasting is one of the best ways of testing if something is
>poisionous. (Who was the brave person who discovered Oysters were edible?!)
>Usually a nasty flavour or bitterness tells you to avoid the plant. Mr. Tim
>Lowe and the Cribbs in their books on Oz Native plants and weeds give some
>good advice on that point. ( ie how to taste-test poisionous plants)  I
>especially liked Tim Lowes comment "Nature is not out to get you"
>I often feel that "poison" is a most misunderstood word when applied to
>plants. It helps to alienate people from plants and nature even more than
>they are now. There seems to be a great overreaction to the whole word. Why
>is plant poising such aminor cause of world mortality? If plants were
>poisionous why dont more people use them for suicde? (EG 1,000 young people
>aweek try to kill themselves here every week only 5 succeed).
>:"Poison" is all a matter of quantity.  Carrots in the right quantity can
>be poisionous. So too can water; even cleanliness can be deadly and the
>most dangerous place  for getting something deadly is a hospital
> The result was
>>that it was poison hemlock seeds she had put in her mouth, not fennel seeds.
>>Luckily she didn't die, but when I checked in with the poison control
people a
>>How much would you need to die? Afair bit I would imagine?
>week later, they said the woman's mouth was still numb, including her taste
>>buds.
>Amazing
>>
>>RE: DAISY PETALS -- is whoever said they are edible positive? Pyrethrum
comes
>>from daisies & who can tell which species is which?
>The English lawn daisy (Bellis perrenis is the one mentioned)
>Pyrethrum is not necessarily poisionous to humans. I will check it thoug
>>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>>			Life's Lessons Part III...
>Thanks I love the quotes.
>
>Michael Bailes.
>Herbarist
>****************************************************************
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>International fax 61 243 651979          Phone 61 243 677322
>Bookshop, nursery, media, school, garden, medical herbalist, cafe, herbal
>products, gift gallery, insanity. EMAIL: frgntgar@ozemail.com.au
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>****************************************************************
>Herbarist N. ( U.S herb soc, 1930?) : One who studies all aspects of herbs,
>culinary, medicinal, folklore, literature, ethnobotany, pharmacy,
>cultivation & propagation,herbals, etc
>****************************************************************
>
>
>
*****************************************************************************
Holly Forbes
Curator
UC Botanical Garden
200 Centennial Drive, #5045
Berkeley, CA 94720-5045

http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/garden/

Phone: 510-643-8040
FAX:  510-642-5045
hforbes@uclink4.berkeley.edu
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