The laburnum is known for its decorative, golden yellow radiant and wonderfully fragrant grape blossoms - and therefore also a very popular garden and park plant. Behind its beauty, however, lies a toxicity that should not be despised.
Unfortunately, the beautiful laburnum is poisonous
The Toxicity of Laburnum
As beautiful and lovely as laburnum is as a arbor or avenue plant - almost all parts of the laburnum are poisonous. And that applies to all three types - 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. The alpine laburnum also contains the toxin ammodendrine, especially in the leaves.
Notice:
- all 3 laburnum species are poisonous
- especially seeds highly poisonous
The Effects of the Poison
Cytisine is a quinolizidine alkaloid that acts in the brain in a similar way to nicotine. In fact, the leaves of laburnum were smoked as a substitute for tobacco in times of war. However, if the parts of the plant 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 the case of severe poisoning, muscle cramps and paralysis are added - 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 the consumption of about 15 to 20 seeds or 4 to 5 seed pods can be fatal for them. In adults, the lethal dose is about 23 seed pods. The flowers are not quite as poisonous, but here, too, 12 pieces are enough to cause symptoms of poisoning.
measures
Young children should never play near Laburnum unsupervised. Fortunately, once plant parts have been ingested, vomiting usually avoids the worst, which is why deaths are rather rare. In any case, you should call an ambulance immediately.