When hobby gardeners talk about an amaryllis, it is usually a knight star. The popular, winter-blooming houseplant also belongs to the Amaryllis family, but is assigned to the Hippeastrum genus by botanists. The toxin content of the onion flower is less ambiguous.
Amaryllis bulbs contain most of the poison
Toxic in lethal proportions
The knight star is truly not a plant of half measures. This applies to its unique blossom splendor in the middle of winter as well as to its special care requirements. It is therefore hardly surprising that the onion flower comes up with an exorbitant poison content. The alkaloid lycorine in particular causes these symptoms of poisoning:
- Severe nausea followed by vomiting
- Heavy sweats
- Drowsiness to cardiac arrhythmia and paralysis
The concentration of poison in an onion is so high that eating just a few grams can have fatal consequences. This applies to both humans and pets, especially cats and dogs. A knight star therefore has no place in a family household.
Please avoid skin contact
The toxins of an amaryllis do not only exert their fatal effects as a result of oral ingestion. If your skin comes into contact with the plant sap, there is a risk of extremely unpleasant irritation, swelling and inflammation. Therefore, please wear protective gloves for all planting and care work.
Dispose of clippings with care
Regular pruning is one of the key maintenance measures on the Ritterstern. Please only dispose of the withered flowers and leaves on the compost if no animals can get hold of them.
tips
At first glance, the mighty amaryllis bulb with its brown skin looks a lot like a vegetable onion. Store a knight's star safely in a dark cellar during its autumn rest period so that it cannot be confused with onions.