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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

FDA Poisonous Plant Database
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AUTHOR(S): Burrows, G. E.; Tyrl, R. J.
TITLE: Plants causing sudden death in livestock.
YEAR: 1989 CITATION: Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract, 5(2), 263-289 [English]
FDA #: F08647
ABSTRACT: A number of plants are capable of producing intoxication of sufficient severity as to cause death within 12 hours of the onset of clinical signs. Those most rapid in their lethal effects are the cyanogenic plants and yew. Nitrate-accumulating plants likewise are capable of causing sudden death with only a brief appearance of signs. Most toxic plants, however, typically either require a longer time for the intoxication to develop and become lethal or sudden death is the exception rather than the rule following ingestion. In these cases, diagnosis of the problem may be facilitated by recognition of arrays of clinical signs that appear. Seven major groups of presenting signs can be distinguished: dyspnea and polypnea, hemorrhage, prominent excessive muscular activity, depression and/or weakness, diarrhea and weakness, excessive salivation and/or regurgitation and/or colic, and weakness and incoordination and/or tremors. Based on these and accompanying signs in surviving animals, many of the causes of sudden death can be differentiated. In addition, pathological changes visible on necropsy and identification of plant fragments in the rumen and stomach may be of diagnostic value.
GRIN #: 2803 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: pigweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Amaranthaceae
LATIN NAME: Amaranthus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Amaranthus retroflexus L.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 509G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: serviceberry
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: Amelanchier
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Amelanchier sp.
GRIN #: 432267 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: white camas
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Melanthiaceae
LATIN NAME: Zigadenus elegans
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Anticlea elegans (Pursh) Rydb.
GRIN #: 402527 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: antelope horns milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: inmortal
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias asperula
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias asperula (Decne.) Woodson
GRIN #: 404184 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: Indian milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias eriocarpa
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias eriocarpa Benth.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: NoSource Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: narrow-leaf milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias fascicularis
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias fascicularis Decne.
GRIN #: 316571 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: labriform milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias labriformis
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias labriformis M. E. Jones
GRIN #: 404185 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: broad-leaf milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias latifolia
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias latifolia (Torr.) Raf.
GRIN #: 316573 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: plains milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias pumila
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias pumila (A. Gray) Vail
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 1031G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias sp.
GRIN #: 316574 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: showy milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias speciosa
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias speciosa Torr.
GRIN #: 316575 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: horsetail milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias subverticillata
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias subverticillata (A. Gray) Vail
GRIN #: 4478 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: summer milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: milkweed
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias syriaca
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias syriaca L.
GRIN #: 4480 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: butterfly milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: butterfly weed
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias tuberosa
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias tuberosa L.
GRIN #: 103167 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: eastern whorled milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias verticillata
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias verticillata L.
GRIN #: 417796 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: green milkweed
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
LATIN NAME: Asclepias viridis
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Asclepias viridis Walter
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 1146G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: saltbush
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Chenopodiaceae
LATIN NAME: Atriplex
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Atriplex sp.
GRIN #: 404228 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: summer cypress
STANDARD COMMON NAME: summer cypress
FAMILY: Chenopodiaceae
LATIN NAME: Kochia scoparia
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 1321G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: bassia
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Chenopodiaceae
LATIN NAME: Bassia
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Bassia sp.
GRIN #: 7057 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: beet
STANDARD COMMON NAME: beet
FAMILY: Chenopodiaceae
LATIN NAME: Beta
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris
GRIN #: 311781 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: rape
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Brassicaceae
LATIN NAME: 
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Brassica napus L. var. napus
GRIN #: 7668 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: kale
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Brassicaceae
LATIN NAME: 
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Brassica oleracea L.
GRIN #: 316592 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: turnip
STANDARD COMMON NAME: turnip
FAMILY: Brassicaceae
LATIN NAME: 
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Brassica rapa L. subsp. rapa
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 1826G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: box
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Buxaceae
LATIN NAME: Buxus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Buxus sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 2316G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: mountain mahogany
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: Cercocarpus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Cercocarpus sp.
GRIN #: 10545 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: water hemlock
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Apiaceae
LATIN NAME: Cicuta maculata
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Cicuta maculata L.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 2605G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: water hemlock
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Apiaceae
LATIN NAME: Cicuta
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Cicuta sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 3482G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: larkspur
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Ranunculaceae
LATIN NAME: Delphinium
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Delphinium sp.
GRIN #: 311156 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: halogeton
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Chenopodiaceae
LATIN NAME: Halogeton
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Halogeton glomeratus (M. Bieb.) C. A. Mey.
GRIN #: 19124 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: mannagrass
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Poaceae
LATIN NAME: Glyceria
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Hierochloe odorata (L.) P. Beauv.
GRIN #: 19333 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: barley
STANDARD COMMON NAME: barley
FAMILY: Poaceae
LATIN NAME: Hordeum
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Hordeum vulgare L. subsp. vulgare
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 6253G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: laurel
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Ericaceae
LATIN NAME: Kalmia
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Kalmia sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 15043G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: summer cypress
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Chenopodiaceae
LATIN NAME: Kochia
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Kochia sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 6796G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: laurel
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Ericaceae
LATIN NAME: Leucothoe
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Leucothoe sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 6825G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: privet
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Oleaceae
LATIN NAME: Ligustrum
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Ligustrum sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 6984G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: trefoil
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Fabaceae
LATIN NAME: Lotus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Lotus sp.
GRIN #: 104681 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: apple
STANDARD COMMON NAME: apple
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: Malus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Malus domestica Borkh.
GRIN #: 23676 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: alfalfa
STANDARD COMMON NAME: alfalfa
FAMILY: Fabaceae
LATIN NAME: 
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Medicago sativa L.
GRIN #: 23989 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: white sweet clover
STANDARD COMMON NAME: white sweetclover
FAMILY: Fabaceae
LATIN NAME: Melilotus albus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Melilotus albus Medik.
GRIN #: 24009 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: yellow sweet clover
STANDARD COMMON NAME: yellow sweetclover
FAMILY: Fabaceae
LATIN NAME: Melilotus officinalis
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 7430G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: sweet clover
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Fabaceae
LATIN NAME: Melilotus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Melilotus sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 7966G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: heavenly bamboo
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Berberidaceae
LATIN NAME: Nandina
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Nandina sp.
GRIN #: 25229 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: oleander
STANDARD COMMON NAME: oleander
FAMILY: Apocynaceae
LATIN NAME: Nerium oleander
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Nerium oleander L.
GRIN #: 102419 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: coyote tobacco
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Solanaceae
LATIN NAME: Nicotiana attenuata
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Nicotiana attenuata Torr. ex S. Watson
GRIN #: 25270 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: tree tobacco
STANDARD COMMON NAME: tree tobacco
FAMILY: Solanaceae
LATIN NAME: Nicotiana glauca
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Nicotiana glauca Graham
GRIN #: 409870 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: desert tobacco
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Solanaceae
LATIN NAME: Nicotiana trigonophylla
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Nicotiana obtusifolia M. Martens & Galeotti
GRIN #: 25309 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: tobacco
STANDARD COMMON NAME: tobacco
FAMILY: Solanaceae
LATIN NAME: Nicotiana
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Nicotiana tabacum L.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 8681G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: sheep sorrel
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Oxalidaceae
LATIN NAME: Oxalis
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Oxalis sp.
GRIN #: 27364 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: purple mint
STANDARD COMMON NAME: perilla
FAMILY: Lamiaceae
LATIN NAME: Perilla frutescens
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 9277G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: photinia
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: Photinia
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Photinia sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 9380G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: pieris
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Ericaceae
LATIN NAME: Pieris
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Pieris sp.
GRIN #: 29841 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: apricot
STANDARD COMMON NAME: apricot
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: 
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Prunus armeniaca L.
GRIN #: 29888 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: plum
STANDARD COMMON NAME: plum
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: 
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Prunus domestica L.
GRIN #: 30027 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: cherry laurel
STANDARD COMMON NAME: cherry laurel
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: Prunus laurocerasus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Prunus laurocerasus L.
GRIN #: 409345 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: bagpod
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Fabaceae
LATIN NAME: Sesbania vesicaria
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Sesbania vesicaria (Jacq.) Elliott
GRIN #: 30151 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: choke cherry
STANDARD COMMON NAME: chokecherry
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: Prunus virginiana
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Prunus virginiana L.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 10203G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: oak
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Fagaceae
LATIN NAME: Quercus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Quercus sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 10404G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: rhododendron
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Ericaceae
LATIN NAME: Rhododendron
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Rhododendron sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 10584G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: dock
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Polygonaceae
LATIN NAME: Rumex
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Rumex sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 11303G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: Indian grass
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Poaceae
LATIN NAME: Sorgastrum
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Sorghastrum sp.
GRIN #: 35129 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: Columbus grass
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Poaceae
LATIN NAME: Sorghum almum
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Sorghum ×almum Parodi
GRIN #: 35113 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: sudan
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Poaceae
LATIN NAME: 
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Sorghum ×drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase
GRIN #: 35092 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: sorghum
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Poaceae
LATIN NAME: Sorghum
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
GRIN #: 35119 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: Johnson grass
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Poaceae
LATIN NAME: Sorghum halepense
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.
GRIN #: 432241 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: black snakeroot
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Melanthiaceae
LATIN NAME: Zigadenus densus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Stenanthium densum (Desr.) Zomlefer & Judd
GRIN #: 410170 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: queen's delight
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
LATIN NAME: Stillingia
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Stillingia treculiana (Müll. Arg.) I. M. Johnst.
GRIN #: 311264 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: poison suckleya
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Chenopodiaceae
LATIN NAME: Suckleya
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Suckleya suckleyana (Torr.) Rydb.
GRIN #: 314459 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: Hicks yew
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Taxaceae
LATIN NAME: Taxus media
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Taxus ×media Rehder
GRIN #: 80070 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: English yew
STANDARD COMMON NAME: English yew
FAMILY: Taxaceae
LATIN NAME: Taxus baccata
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Taxus baccata L.
GRIN #: 80073 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: Japanese yew
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Taxaceae
LATIN NAME: Taxus cuspidata
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Taxus cuspidata Siebold & Zucc.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 11900G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: yew
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Taxaceae
LATIN NAME: Taxus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Taxus sp.
GRIN #: 432259 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: death camas
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Melanthiaceae
LATIN NAME: Zigadenus nuttallii
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Toxicoscordion nuttallii (A. Gray) Rydb.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 12357G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: clover
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Fabaceae
LATIN NAME: Trifolium
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Trifolium sp.
GRIN #: 40544 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: wheat
STANDARD COMMON NAME: wheat
FAMILY: Poaceae
LATIN NAME: Triticum
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum
GRIN #: 42072 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: cocklebur
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Asteraceae
LATIN NAME: Xanthium strumarium
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Xanthium strumarium L.
GRIN #: 311987 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: corn
STANDARD COMMON NAME: corn
FAMILY: Poaceae
LATIN NAME: Zea
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Zea mays L. subsp. mays
GRIN #: 410356 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: southern camas
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Liliaceae
LATIN NAME: Zigadenus glaberrimus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Zigadenus glaberrimus Michx.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 13042G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: death camas
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Liliaceae
LATIN NAME: Zigadenus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Zigadenus sp.
GRIN #: 30065 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: peach
STANDARD COMMON NAME: peach
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: 
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Prunus persica (L.) Batsch
GRIN #: 30099 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: black cherry
STANDARD COMMON NAME: black cherry
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: Prunus serotina
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Prunus serotina Ehrh.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 9887G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: cherry
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME: 
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Prunus sp.
FDA #: F08647
GRIN #: 10679G Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: elderberry
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Caprifoliaceae
LATIN NAME: Sambucus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Sambucus sp.
GRIN #: 105067 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: greasewood
STANDARD COMMON NAME: 
FAMILY: Sarcobataceae
LATIN NAME: Sarcobatus
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.
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