Recent investigations into the toxicity of known and unknown poisonous plants in the Union of South Africa

Abstract

1. Thirty-seven plants were tested biologically. 2. The following plants, of which no records of toxicity could be found in the literature consulted, were found poisonous to animals : Hertia pallens (D C) Kuntze; Ferraria welwitchii Bkr.; and Phytolacca dioica L. The fruit of Phytolacca dioica appeared to cause death through hoven, whilst the leaves drenched in the dry state apparently had no ill-effects on sheep. 3. Acacia giraffae Willd., A. lasiopetala Oliv., and A. litakunensis Burch. Were found to contain hydrocyanic acid (cyanogeneticglucosides) whilst the test for this poison in A. Arabica Willd. A. karoo Hayne, and A. permixta Burtt-Davy were negative. 4. One of two specimens of Sorghum sudanense Stapf. examined contained the cyanogenetic glucoside but not the enzyme necessary for the liberation of hydrocyanic acid.