The laburnum is known for its decorative, golden-yellow and wonderfully fragrant grape flowers - and is therefore also a very popular garden and park plant. But behind its beauty lies a toxicity that should not be despised.
Is laburnum poisonous?
The laburnum is a poisonous plant in which all parts of the plant, especially seeds, contain toxins such as cytisine. In children, 15-20 seeds can be fatal, while in adults, 23 seed pods constitute a lethal dose. Caution is advised, especially with small children.
The Toxicity of Laburnum
As beautiful and lovely as laburnum is as an arbor or avenue plant, virtually all parts of the laburnum plant are poisonous. And that applies to all three species – the common laburnum, the noble laburnum and the alpine laburnum. The toxin cytisine is contained in the leaves, flowers and especially in the bean-shaped seeds. Alpine laburnum also contains the toxin ammodendrin, especially in the leaves.
Remember:
- all 3 types of laburnum are poisonous
- especially seeds highly poisonous
The effects of the poison
Cytisine is a quinolizidine alkaloid that acts similarly to nicotine in the brain. In fact, the leaves of the laburnum were smoked as a tobacco substitute during wartime. However, if the plant parts are taken directly, i.e. chewed and swallowed, the result is not a harmless state of intoxication, but rather more serious symptoms of poisoning.
Burning and itching in the mouth are the first signs, followed by severe thirst and nausea with vomiting. Sweating and headaches are also side effects. In severe poisoning, muscle cramps and paralysis occur - in the worst case, the poisoning leads to death.
Which doses are dangerous?
In children, even a small amount of the most poisonous part of the plant, the seeds, is theoretically enough to cause fatal poisoning. Even consuming around 15 to 20 seeds or 4 to 5 seed pods can be fatal. In adults, the lethal dose is about 23 seed pods. The flowers are not quite as poisonous, but even 12 of them are enough to cause symptoms of poisoning.
Measures
Small children should never play unsupervised near laburnum. Fortunately, once plant parts have been ingested, vomiting usually prevents the worst, which is why deaths are rare. In any case, you should call the emergency doctor immediately.
