Lecture 2: Poisonous Plants

Question 1

plants metabolic products

Answer 1

poisons provide protection for plants against pest, bacteria and fungi

Question 2

potatoes

Answer 2

solanine, bitter alkaloid
-potatoes will go green and leaves full of it
when exposed to light they go green and produce solanine

Question 3

western skunk cabbage

Answer 3

• lysichiton americanum
• contains raphide crystals of calcium oxalate
• pins of painful acid
• found by vic native kids

Question 4

Dieffenbachia spp.

Answer 4

Dumbcane
dreadful history with slavery as people were forced to eat it
most commonly ingested poisonous plant

Question 5

posion

Answer 5

substance that when absorbed in sufficient quantity causes an abnormal biological response thats either molecular or physiological

Question 6

what are no poisons?

Answer 6

corrosive agents
allergens
hay fever and poison ivy

Question 7

preconditions for poisoning

Answer 7

victim must contact the plant
-there must be sufficient concentration in the plant to cause a physical rxn
victims detox capacity must be breached

Question 8

Paracelsus 1566

Answer 8

dosage alone determines what a poison is

Question 9

should you be poisoned

Answer 9

rare and rarely fatal
-call poison control
-watch breathing 
-take sample of poison/vomit
-dont induce vomiting
-give milk to drink
put rolled cloth in teeth

Question 10

types of poisons

Answer 10

cardiac glycosides
alkaloids
phototoixns

Question 11

american pine mushroom

Answer 11

tricholoma spp.
easily confused by natives
american masutake mushroom but confused with Smiths lepidella - Amantia smithania