A BURNING QUESTION

  I wonder how often people have been put off planting Euonymus when they see that Toronto's Sick Kids' Hospital calls them 'poisonous to humans' as they declare in 'Information for Families - Plant Safety'.
 What are parents supposed to do with this information ?  See to it that their home garden is Euonymus free ?  or go to the childrens' school and rebuke the principal for using 'Emerald Gaiety', 'Emerald and Gold' or the popular Burning Bush to bring life to the asphalt and concrete of the typical schoolyard ?
   Going through the piles of books stacked beside my desktop as I work on toxic taxa, it is actually quite surprising that many authors do not address Euonymus at all; and those that do make light of the matter. Of course the 'Toronto List' says starkly, Euonymus: and so convicts all 170 species that grow on every continent except Antarctica.   However, there is one species that may merit attention: The Spindle Tree, Euonymus europaeus is most often cited as being hazardous; although the A.M.A. Handbook says, "There are few reported human cases of human exposure,(sic) and they are not readily accessible."  ( I don't know what that last remark means. ) But I do note the poor grammer. Also, "Euonymus europaeus contains a digitalis-like steroid and a number of alkaloids with gastrointestinal irritant properties."
   We get much more frightening statements from the authors of "Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World (Timber Press 2008) when they tell us that "All parts are toxic, especially  fruits; 36 fruits are SAID to kill an adult person; (My emphasis) 2 fruits caused a severe poisoning in a 7 year-old child." They do not give a reference so I am unable at least for the moment to decide the truth of the matter. I would like to know what is meant by 'a severe poisoning' and believe me, you haven't heard the last of this.

UP A GUM TREE

EUCALYPTUS 
 According to "Information for Parents  -  Plant Safety" from Toronto's Sick Kids' Hospital, Eucalyptus are 'known to be poisonous to humans'. www.sickkids.ca/poisoninformationcentre/

Piece of rubbish !   There are more than 400 species of these oily aromatic Southern Hemisphere trees and shrubs. None that I can discover are poisonous to humans nor are they medicinally therapeutic. We may identify the distinct taste and smell of eucalypts as 'medicinal' despite their lack of any health enhancing qualities although you will find the strange smell in Vick's Vapo-Rub and Hall's Throat Lozenges. I am a cough drop sucker too but even a placebo effect is probably denied me since I know 'that it is all in your head.'

   Eucalyptus plants are not rare as house plants in Canada, but not common either. Should you like their strange odour, they could be considered a natural 'air freshener' and you can quite often find a foliage stem included in a bunch of fresh flowers. Eucalyptus which is the dietary staple for the Australasian Koala is not poisonous to humans or dogs; it can be hurtful to cats. Now, don't have a panic attack. A cat can be allowed an experimental nibble but no more, since it would eventually damage the cats' liver. So, if you have cats and Eucalyptus; one of them will have to go.
    Thre are reports of one species of Gum Tree causing significant harm to Australian sheep but I cannot see that that should be of concern to you or me or the staff of the Poison Information Centre. Give them a call at 1 800 268 9017 or 416 813 5900 and ask them to explain in what way Eucalyptus ( or any other plant that they have accused of being poisonous ) is harmful. If you are told that it can cause a dermatisis I won't be at all surprised as it seems that there will always be someone somewhere who can suffer this kind of reaction although usually only with repeated exposure over time. By all means give them a call. put your tax dollars to work. It seems to me that they have lots of 'splainin to do.
  
  
   

A DIFFERENT POISON IVY

We are told that English Ivy
is 'known to be poisonous to humans'. There is no explanation.
   I don't know whether to laugh or cry as I interpret "Information for Families - Plant Safety" as published by Sick Kids' Hospital and promulgated by the Poison Information Centre.
   John M. Kingsbury was Professor of Botany at N.Y.State College of Agriculture and author of Poisonous Plants of the United States and Canada.
In his treatment of English Ivy he notes that suggestions of toxicity go as far back as Pliny and are often cited in the older European literature: but, and I quote,
"No cases of poisoning are known to have occured in the United States." (1964) Also that any toxicity would relate to the presence of a saponic glycoside. He includes a mention of an incident where cattle were harmed after ingesting a "very considerable" quantity of ivy vine with their uneventful recovery after three days.
   It was only with this and other reading that I came to realize that the toxin in English Ivy that we are warned about were 'saponins' and then surprised to learn that soybeans were a much richer source and vegetable pea best of all.
   In my enviable agri-rural community I see very few faces of Asian appearance and the only skin tint is pink. So, at Foodland it is the cherry-cheeked Caucasians that are buying the tofu and soy milk in all its guises. Even if you do not directly choose to purchase 'edemame' or soy yoghurt you will still unwittingly be consuming a great deal of soy. It's in almost everything. On checking the pantry shelf just now I found soy in the ingredients list of Hamburger Helper, chicken soup, pancake mix and oatmeal cookies. Of course, it is in many more prepared food items than these few.
   I will not burden you here with a ton of information considering that you are a mouse click away from finding many more facts for yourself.
When you do a search for saponins, saponins in soy and saponins in vegetable pea, you will discover many claims of major health benefits that saponins are said to provide. I will not venture an opinion on their medical benefits but if you were to believe all that it said. then soybeans and peas are a universal panacea. There are claims that saponins reduce cholesterol, prevent stomach and colon cancers and more. For all I know it solves all bedroom problems and banishes death as we know it today.
   I will add this cautionary note: 'Edemame' is soybeans in their pods that have been boiled in salted water and is an Asian treat. They must be boiled or cooked, as the raw unprepared vegetable could be considered to be 'poisonous'.
    Perhaps that's where we went wrong. We did not realize that English Ivy should be boiled first.

ENGLISH IVY- THE SOAP OPERA

English Ivy contains saponins.
Since the creators of this anti-plant list do not know what saponins are, they are frightened by the word. Saponins refer to soap and are, or once were, well-known when the roots of the wild-growing Soapwort was used as a detergent. Saponaria officinalis plants were churned in water to create a sudsy lather for cleaning the laundry. ( I am told that it is still used by museum curators for cleaning delicate fabrics. )
   Soapwort or Bouncing Bet as it is often called, was brought to North America for this sensible purpose. This species is a perennial wild flower of disturbed soil and its pale pink to white flowers are showy in farm country from July to September. You might miss it if you seek it too early in the day since the flowers do not open until late afternoon. It is an attractive plant quite suitable for your garden. But what about those Saponins ?
    You may find them of particular interest if you believe the claim that Saponins prevent stomach cancer; in which case I would stear you away from English Ivy that is hardly palatable and the Soapwort which after all is, well_soapy. No. My recommendation would be the vegetable pea which has a much richer content of Saponins. Some fussy eaters say that they don't like Brussells Sprouts or Asparagus or Beetroot or other perfectly wholesome comestibles, but I have yet to meet a person who does not like vegetable peas.
   You will note that the compilors of ths list of plants 'known to be poisonous to humans' do not warn us of the ample supply of Saponins in peas. No, they pick on English Ivy; where the presence of Saponins is quite immaterial.
   In the next act of this opera, the lead role and centre stage will feature the Saponin-rich Soybeans. Co-starring will be Edemame, Soy Milk and Tofu.
  

MAIRZY DOATS ...

JUVENILE FOLIAGE            MATURE WITH BERRIES

     ENGLISH IVY, Hedera helix is much more successful as a groundcover than as a climbing vine, at least in these parts. Other than some Euonymus it is the only evergreen that will clad a wall. Should you fancy your home as being stately or you are recalling the halls of Academe, you'll have to wait awhile.
   The vine needs to be established for a number of years and have developed a substantial root system before it ventures aloft to face the rigours of winter.
    If you have such long-term plans, it should be a very hardy cultivar such as 'Thorndale's'. The way I heard the story was that the City of Chicago, famous for cold winters, experienced an even more severe season in 1918. That was the year when all of the English Ivy died; except the ones at Mr.Thorndale's place. Smart nurserymen took note; so the English Ivy that you buy in Ontario today will likely be clones of that original Chicago survivor.
   Nevertheless, Even 'Thorndale's' English Ivy is at the northern limit of its' range in Toronto and evergreen walls are not a notable feature of our urban landscape. Due to die back in repeated winters the vine is most unlikely to ever produce flowers and fruit.In which case any question of toxicity is moot.
   Lorne Fast, Curator of Collections at Niagara Park's Botanical Garden and instructor at the School of Horticulture tells me that among a number of old plantings, the one in the Woodland Garden has been known to flower.
   It's a mystery why it is Hedera helix, it does not grow in a helical or spiral manner. Once that it decides to climb, it clings to the wall with root-fasts and heads straight up. In places where it grows well ( all commerce in the plant is banned in the State of Oregon ) there is a remarkable change to its' habit and appearance at maturity.
   Apparently aware that it has reached the top of the structure and finding nothing more to hold fast to, the new stems do not produce hold-fasts and the leaf shape changes from being five-lobed to plain unlobed with a pointed tip. These stems now hang away from the wall and produce clusters of nectar-rich small greenish yellow flowers and subsequently tiny berries with a few seeds. Should you wish to observe this botanical phenomenon you will have to be agile and quick. When it is in flower you must be comfortable with bees and to collect any fruit you must get there ahead of the sparrows.
   In my next posting I hope to explain why anyone would fear a harmless plant. Perhaps we can get such folk to lighten up and not take such a jaundiced look at things botanical.
   Altogether now. " Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey.
A kiddley divey too. Wouldn't you."

  

ELEPHANT EARS

TARO                          DASHEEN     IMPERIAL TARO & BOG LILY

 When I was asked for Elephant Ears or Elephant's Ear I could never resist quizzing in my best sarcastic style, "How big are these ears? Is this an African or Asian Elephant ?" Elephant's Ear could be any number of large leaved plants including Caladium. Besides, it is already known the world over as Taro.
   Taro, Calocasia esculenta (meaning good to eat) is an important food item for many people. It evolved in India and S.E. Asia and is now grown in many different parts of the world; not just in tropical climates but even in more temperate climates such as Japan. The edible underground tubers are called Dasheen, probably a corruption of de chine which is not quite right although they were known as a food source in China by the year 100 B.C.
   Actually the tuber is a corm that produces cormlets called Eddoes. Both forms of tubers are peeled and boiled and generally used much like potatoes.
The leaves too are used as a vegetable despite the presence of those sharp raphides of calcium oxylate crystals. They need to be boiled in changes of water. If not properly prepared it would be like swallowing broken glass.
   Having made numerous jokes about treating  raphide- inflamed mouths with ice cream, it is more than amusing to suggest in this case that it should be Taro ice cream. I am not kidding. Google it and you will see.
   On one occasion when I was looking after a lady who had asked for Taro and had told her that Toronto's Sick Kids' Hospital claimed that Taro were poisonous, she only smiled and said in the lovely cadence of the Islands,
 "Pay them no never mind."                My sentiments exactly.

SHOOTING THE RAPHIDES

Dieffenbachia
   
RAPHIDES rhymes with HAY RIDES

In my earlier post to this Blog, Caladiums a la Mode, I suggested Haagen Dazs ice cream to ease the pain in the mouth should anyone munch on a plant containing raphides of calcium oxylate. Surprisingly some people took this too literally. It need not be that particular brand; Nielsen's or Baskin Robbins would be just as effective.
However, if an ice cream of any make is not readily to hand, have the sufferer suck on a frozen piece of dihydrogen monoxide. It need not be Bayer's Aspirin; acetylsalicylic acid will be just fine.
   Oxylates are found in many plants, such as beets, spinach and Swiss Chard and is a major feature in members of the Araceae. Other houseplants in this group are Aglaonema,Chinese Evergreen, Monstera deliciosa, Swiss Cheese Plant and Philodendron. Some garden perennials are Jack in the Pulpit, Skunk Cabbage and Sweet Flag.
   Even in the case of Dieffenbachia with the common name of Dumb Cane its' dangers appears to be merely anecdotal and it's throat closing potential never actually happening to anyone. If a well documented case is known I would welcome hearing about it. In the meantime I would like people to stop using the word poison in these circumstances. The prescence of calcium oxylate crystals  can cause extreme discomfort but are nevertheless not a poison.
    Those who profess to care for the health of mothers and children should consider their emotional state too. High anxiety is surely a medical condition that deserves treatment; but best avoided and not needlessly provoked.