RHODODENDRON, RHODORA, AZALEA (RHODODENDRON SPECIES)

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Rhododendrons and azaleas are chiefly ornamental shrubs, grown for their brightly coloured and showy flower clusters and often distinguished by evergreen foliage. They are members of the blueberry family, all of which have potentially toxic leaves and flowers, even though cranberries and blueberries are perfectly safe eating.

Many livestock deaths are attributable to wild species of the blueberry family, such as lambkill and laurel, but human beings have to eat a lot of leaves to get sick. The Delaware Aboriginal people reportedly used laurel tea to commit suicide; it must have taken quite a brew to get fatal effects.

In Nova Scotia, the only native species of rhododendron is Rhodora, the wild rhododendron. All other rhododendrons and azaleas are cultivated ornamentals, which gardeners struggle to help survive our often-severe winters. Heath family species all contain terpenoid toxins in their leaves and stems and should be avoided in teas; and livestock should not graze these plants.

POISON LOCATION

Flowers and leaves of all rhododendrons and azaleas.

POISON TYPE

Some glycosides, but particularly andromedotoxin, a volatile resin chemically related to turpentine. Luckily, like turpentine, andromedotoxin burns the mouth, which frequently discourages potential victims from consuming dangerous quantities of the leaves.

TYPICAL POISONING SCENARIO

Consumption of leaves and/or quantities of flowers by livestock or children. Even the continual consumption of honey from rhododendron and azalea flowers can be poisonous. This effect has been known since 400 BCE, when honey was a chief source of sweetness in Europe and Asia. Greek soldiers of that era were poisoned by prolonged use of rhododendron honey.

SYMPTOMS

The human digestive tract is capable of breaking down small doses of andromedotoxins into harmless compounds, so human fatalities from eating these plants are rare. However, victims who consume a lot suffer from nausea, vomiting, abdominal upset, and low blood pressure. People who regularly eat affected honey can suffer chronic symptoms of this sort, as well.

RHODODENDRON, RHODORA, AZALEA POISON INFORMATION

Resins and Volatile Oils

Resins and volatile oils are derived mostly from hydrocarbons—chemicals composed of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. This group of poisons is very diverse.

POISON PLANT LOOKUP

Browse Plant Guide By --------------------------------- Plant Category / Family Common Plant Name Botanical Plant Name Poison Type Choose Browse Criteria

Choose Plant Family --------------------------------- Algues toxiquesAloe FamilyAmanita FamilyAmanita Family2Amaryllis FamilyArum FamilyBean FamilyBirch FamilyBuckeye FamilyBuckwheat FamilyButtercup FamilyCashew FamilyFlax FamilyFumitory FamilyHeath FamilyHolly FamilyHoneysuckle FamilyHymenogastraceaeHymenogastraceae FamilyLily FamilyMagic MushroomsMagic Mushrooms2Magic Mushrooms3Mezereum FamilyNightshade FamilyParsley FamilyPlantain FamilyPoisonous AlgaePoisonous AlgaePoppy FamilyRose FamilySensitive-fern FamilySnapdragon FamilySpurge FamilySt. Johns-wort FamilySunflower FamilyYew Family

Choose Common Plant --------------------------------- AlderAloeAutumn CrocusBaneberryBleeding HeartBloodrootBracken FernBuckwheatButtercupCaladiumCastor BeanCherry, Chokecherry, PlumCloverCommon St. John's-wortConocybeCrotonCrown-of-thornsDaffodilDaphneDeadly GalerinaDestroying AngelDumbcaneElderberryEnglish HollyFalse HelleboreFlaxFly AgaricFoxgloveGolden ChainHorse-chestnutJack-in-the-pulpit; Indian TurnipJimsonweedLaceleafLarkspur and MonkshoodLiberty CapLily of the valleyLocustLupin or LupineMarsh-marigoldNightshade, BittersweetPanaeolusPhilodendronPlantainPoinsettiaPoison HemlockPoison IvyPoppyRagweedRed TideRhododendron, Rhodora, AzaleaRhubarbScillaScotch BroomSkunk-cabbageSnow-on-the-mountainStar of BethlehemSun SpurgeTansy RagwortTulipVirgin's-bowerWater-hemlock; CowbaneWinterberry, Canada HollyWormwoodYew

Choose Botanical Plant --------------------------------- Actaea speciesAesculus hippocastanumAlnus speciesAloe barbadensisAmanita muscariaAmanita virosaAmbrosia speciesAnthurium speciesArisaema triphyllumArtemisia speciesCaladiumCaltha palustrisCicuta maculataClematis speciesCodiaeum variegatumColchicum autumnaleConium maculatumConocybeConvallaria speciesCytisus scopariusDaphne mezereumDatura stramoniumDelphinium and AconitumDicentra formosaDieffenbachia speciesDigitalis purpureaEndymion speciesEuphorbia helioscopiaEuphorbia marginataFagopyrum esculentumGalerina AutumnalisHypericum perforatumIlex aquifoliumIlex verticillataKoeberlinia species; Euphorbia speciesLaburnum speciesLinum speciesLupinus speciesNarcissus speciesOrnithogalumPanaeolus speciesPapaver speciesPhilodendron speciesPlantago speciesPoinsettiaPrunus speciesPsilocybe pelliculosa, P. semilanceolataPteridium aquilinumRanunculus speciesRed TideRheum rhabarbarumRhododendron speciesRicinus communisRobinia speciesSambucus speciesSanguinaria canadensisSenecio jacobaeaSolanum dulcamaraSymplocarpus foetidusTaxus speciesToxicodendron radicansTrifolium speciesTulipaVeratrum species

Choose Poison Type --------------------------------- AlcoholAlkaloidsCarcinogens and co-carcinogensGlycosidesHay Fever allergensOxalatesPhenolsPhototoxinsProteins and Amino AcidsResins and Volatile OilsShellfish Poisons

Common Lookups

Poison Ivy

Red Tide

Buttercups

Ragweed

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