USEFUL PLANT SPECIES with TOXIC SUBSTANCE

[Pages:15]RESEARCH INFORMATION SERIES ON ECOSYSTEMS

Volume 12 No. 2 May ? August 2000

USEFUL PLANT SPECIES with TOXIC SUBSTANCE

Compiled by Wilma C. Dichoso

Foreword

Species of plants found in our forests have their own specific important economical values. Some of these are categorized to have harmful or toxic effects. But even with the presence of toxic substance, several of these are still beneficial and have special uses to human lives, animals and to living organisms found in the water (fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.). Familiarity with these plant species and their economic uses gives many benefits to ranchers, stock raisers, veterinarians and foresters. Awareness of these plants and plant parts that are toxic or could give toxic effects on people is highly important. In this issue of RISE, we emphasize the importance of these information. Let's go green and plant more trees to add zest and life to our environment.

CELSO P. DIAZ Director

Adelfa

1. Common name: adelfa; Southern rose; Oleander tree; rose bay 2. Local names: adelfa (Spanish, Tagalog); baladre (Tagalog)

3. Scientific name: Nerium indicum Mill. 4. Family name: Apocynaceae

5. Description Adelfa is an erect, smooth shrub growing up to 1.5 to 3 m with a sticky cream-colored and resinous juice. There are 3 to 4 leaves forming in whorl, linear-lanceolate and 10 to 15 cm long. Flowers are showy, sweet-scented, with single or double petals, 4 to 5 cm in diameter, white, pink or red and borne in terminal inflorescence. Fruits are cylindrical, 15 to 20 cm long, occurring in pairs with deep linear strations, slightly twisted. Seeds are compressed with fine, shining white grayish silky hairs.

6. Distribution Adelfa is cultivated throughout the Philippines and thrives well in sandy loan soil.

7. Propagation Adelfa can be propagated easily by stem cuttings and by air layering. In layering, the method of propagation is through the use of adventitious roots which is caused to form on

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a stem while it is still attached to the parent plant. The layered stem is detached to become a new plant growing on its own roots.

The steps recommended for air layering are:

1. Girdle or cut the bark of the stem about 1.8 to 2.5 cm wide. Remove the bark completely around the stem.

2. Scrape the exposed surface to ensure complete removal of the phloem and cambium to retard healing.

3. Place a slightly damp sphagnum moss around the girded section.

4. Wrap with polyethylene film around the sphagnum moss and tie each end.

8. Parts of the plant that contain toxic substance

Leaves and bark are poisonous. Roots, top of plants are pounded and used as an insecticide.

9. Economic importance

The shrub is cultivated as an ornamental plant. Powdered bark and leaves mixed with oil are applied to skin eruptions like herpes and ringworm. Pounded bark and leaves are also used to treat snake bites.

10. Active principle: Nerin, oleandrin

11. Remarks

Symptoms of toxicity: Nausea, vomiting, colic in appearance, dizziness, drowsiness, staggering, decrease in pulse rate, irregular heart action, unconsciousness, and finally, death.

Atis

1. Common name: atis

2. Local names: Ates, atis, Yates (Tagalog)

3. Scientific name: Anona squamosa Linn.

4. Family name: Apocynaceae

5. Description

It is a small tree, 3 to 5 m in height. Leaves oblong and somewhat hairy when young. Flowers occur singly in the axils of the leaves and are about 2.5 cm long, hairy, greenishwhite or light yellow with thick petals.

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Fruits are borne on thick stalks, ovoid, 5 to 8 cm in diameter, pale green or glaucous when mature, the outside is roughened by rounded end of carpels which are light yellowishgreen when ripe. Seeds are smooth, brownish, embedded in very, creamy-white, sweet and juicy fleshy meat with a mild, agreeable flavor.

6. Distribution

Atis is cultivated throughout the Philippines and occasionally spontaneous. From tropical America, it was introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish era and is now pantropic in cultivation. It occurs at low and medium elevation throughout the tropics. It is videly distributed in the Philippines except in Mindanao.

7. Propagation

Atis is propagated by seeds, grafting, cutting or marcotting.

8. Parts of the plant that contain toxic substance

Leaves and seeds.

9. Economic importance

Fruits are edible and used commercially as flavoring for ice cream.

10. Active principle: non drying oil (alkaloids)

11. Remarks

Seeds contain 45% of a yellow, non drying oil which is an irritant or poison for lice. Crushed and pulverized seeds mixed with water or coconut oil can kill lice.

Baraibai

1. Common name: baraibai; buta-buta, marabai

2. Local names: baraibai, buta-buta, maraibai, toktok-kalau (Tagalog); batano, tabau-tabu (Ilocos); magkanai (Bicol); buto-buto (Cebu, Visayas); lipata, arbon (Tagbanua); lipatag, panabulon (Panay, Visayas); dita (Sulu); dungis (Maguindanao); kaliptan (Bacolod).

3. Scientific name: Cerbera manghas Linn.

4. Family name: Apocynaceae

5. Description

An erect shrub, sometimes growing into a small tree up to 6 m in height, with stout and cylindrical branches with leaf scars. Leaves are shiny, alternately clustered toward the

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ends, oblong, borne upon 3 cm long, petioles, short, acute, narrowly obtuse toward the base, average blades are 15 x 15 cm. Inflorescence both smooth, terminal, often as long as the foliage. Flowers are white, fragrant, and about 5 cm in diameter. Fruits are smooth, and are spreading ovately ellipsoid red on the exposed side. Solitary seed is surrounded by a spongy or light fibrous matrix. 6. Distribution Barabai tree is widely distributed throughout the Philippines. It also grows in India, China, Malaysia, Australia as well as in Polynesia. It thrives along the sea coast or in swamp area. 7. Propagation These species is propagated by seeds. 8. Parts of the plant that contain toxic substance Latex, fruits and seeds. 9. Economic importance Baraibai wood is a source of fine charcoal. They are used in the Philippines to poison fish. The seeds provide oil called Odolla fat which is used for illumination. It is also used for expelling worms. 10. Active principle: Cerberin and odollinn 11. Remarks Latex can cause blindness when dropped into the eyes. Seeds taken internally are poisonous causing vomiting and purging, soon followed by collapse and death.

Ligtang

1. Common name: ligtang 2. Local names: aria (Mindanao); ligtang, bayati (Tagalog); bayating (Ilocos); lagtal, laglang

(Visayas); lagtang, lantal (Pampanga) 3. Scientific name: Anamirta cocculus (Linn.) W.&A. 4. Family name: Menispermacaeae

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