Cotoneaster species are among the most popular shrubs in German gardens due to their hardiness and evergreen leaves. In addition to the leaves, the cotoneaster produces fruits that shine in attractive colors throughout the winter and thus distract from the wintry gray. As with many other plants that form berries, the question arises with the rose family whether they are poisonous and if so, which parts of the plant pose the greatest risk of poisoning.
Is the cotoneaster poisonous?
The cotoneasters are rose plants, which also include genera such as apples (bot. Malus) or roses (bot. Rosa). Compared to these, however, the plant is called slightly toxic classified because it contains two ingredients that are formed, for example, by the species of the genus Prunus, keywords: apricot and cherry stones.
ingredients
1. Amygdalin
Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside, a plant toxin based on carbohydrates and alcohol. The glycoside also carries a nitrile group, which makes the sugar alcohol a well-known, highly toxic substance: hydrogen cyanide or hydrocyanic acid (HCN). Hydrocyanic acid has a highly toxic effect on numerous living beings, with the exception of plants and certain animal families, and becomes extremely dangerous in large quantities. Hydrocyanic acid is used by the plant to protect itself from being eaten and is only released when parts of the plant are damaged. The fruits and seeds in particular contain large amounts of amygdalin.
2. Prunasin
Prunasin is also a cyanogenic glycoside, but has a slightly different composition and also carries a different nitrile group. However, prunasin and amygdalin are very similar in terms of their toxic effects. Prunasin contains large amounts of mandelonitrile, which is a nitrile of mandelic acid. Mandelic acid is closely related to hydrocyanic acid and works in a similar way, making the symptoms of prunasin and amygdalin poisoning almost identical. However, mandelic acid only occurs in a few plants, while hydrocyanic acid covers a larger group. Unlike other plants, it is not found in the seeds.
differences in venom content
The cotoneaster is poisonous in all parts of the plant and therefore particularly dangerous for mammals that feast on the berries or nibble on the leaves. Even the flowers contain at least one of these substances. This is what makes the cotoneasters so dangerous, as they definitely have one of the two poisons. However, not all species of cotoneaster are equally poisonous and there are five taxa that compare favorably to the others high toxin content to have:
- Glossy cotoneaster (bot. Cotoneaster lucidus)
- Peking cotoneaster (bot. Cotoneaster acuifolius)
- Cotoneaster horizontalis (bot. Cotoneaster horizontalis)
- Boxleaf cotoneaster (bot. Cotoneaster praecox)
- Cotoneaster insignis
Since the fan and glossy dwarf medlar are among the most popular taxa of the genus, they are often found in German gardens and numerous varieties are offered. That's why you absolutely should Precautions meet if you have one of these plants in the garden. Especially over the winter, when the berries are in all their glory, poisoning with the plant often occurs.
Fan cotoneaster, Cotoneaster horizontalis
tip: The toxins of the cotoneaster do not affect birds, which makes them an ideal forage plant over the winter. The more specimens of the ground cover you plant, the more birds you can attract to your garden over the winter.
effect on humans
Since the ingredients of the cotoneaster are a form of hydrocyanic and mandelic acid, consumption of the plant is not recommended. The plant is classified as only slightly poisonous, since the ingredients only work in larger quantities and therefore symptoms of poisoning do not appear immediately. In healthy, adult people, the first symptoms become noticeable with a quantity of ten to twenty berries, in children after about five. Symptoms of poisoning are more difficult to assess after eating the following parts of the plant, since the berries have the highest poison content:
- leaves
- root
- blossoms
- seed
symptoms
The shoots themselves only have small amounts of poison, but you should also avoid eating them. However, since all parts of the cotoneaster have a rather unpleasant taste, the consumption of larger quantities is usually avoided. Especially if you have children, you should watch out for the plants in the garden, as the fruits are very attractive due to their colour. Sensitive people should also avoid consumption, as the toxins can hit harder. The following symptoms can be expected after consuming the above quantity:
- a headache
- vomiting diarrhea
- Vomit
- Lips swell
- stomach pain
- the inside of the mouth burns
The concentration of prussic and mandelic acid within the cotoneaster is not high enough to cause life-threatening poisoning. In humans, large quantities of hydrocyanic acid have a direct effect on the energy metabolism, which is switched off completely. This can even lead to death, which is not possible given the low concentration. To do that, you would need to intentionally consume as many berries as possible.
First aid
Once you have consumed too much of the plant, follow these steps to take action against the poisoning:
1. Apply immediately activated charcoal on. This binds the toxins and directs them out of the body without any problems. One gram of carbon is used per kilogram of body weight.
2. In case of high consumption, as a precaution, contact a doctor. This is particularly important for children, as they are at greater risk from the ingredients.
As long as you do not chew the plant parts of a cotoneaster, there is no risk of poisoning. You don't even have to wear gloves or protection when caring for them, since the glycosides first have to be broken down by enzymes in order to take effect. Therefore, you can proceed with the care as usual. When sowing, be careful not to swallow any of the seeds, as they can stick to your skin.
Small children and babies are exposed to the greatest danger from the plant, since their organism is still developing. When playing in the garden you have to be particularly careful what your protégé picks up.
tip: It doesn't matter in which form you keep the crop, the poison content remains the same. This means that even if you have a cotoneaster bonsai, the amount of toxin inside the plant will not change.
effect on animals
cats
Cotoneaster is also toxic to cats and acts even faster than humans. The reason for this is the cat's organism, because house tigers are generally more sensitive to the toxins. Together with the velvet paws' habit of chewing on all the plants in their environment, the rose family poses a great danger to the animal. Cats don't even stop at the berries and enjoy the fruits out of sheer curiosity. Even small amounts of the plant lead to the following symptoms:
- difficulty breathing
- Vomit
- palpitations
- nausea
In some cases, the animals even go mad after they have consumed an extremely large amount. Typically for hydrocyanic acid, the toxins then lead to death, since the oxygen in the blood can no longer be delivered to the cells. This is known as internal suffocation. For this reason, you should ensure that your cat has no contact with the plants.
tip: The same information also applies to rodents and lagomorphs. Since these animals usually have an even smaller organism, even small amounts are sufficient
dogs
Not only cats and rodents should refrain from eating the cotoneaster. Consumption can also be very dangerous for dogs, since dogs are extremely sensitive to hydrocyanic acid and even small amounts can trigger the following symptoms:
- Gastrointestinal Pain
- saliva
- Vomit
- Red discoloration of the mucous membranes
- shortness of breath
- fever
- cramps
- weakness
If a lethal dose is consumed (depending on the dog's breed and weight), death by internal asphyxiation will result. Compared to cats, dogs have the advantage that their taste buds are more developed and cotoneasters are avoided after a single try. The situation is different for dogs that are already a senior or still a puppy or suffer from health restrictions in relation to their senses. However, never give your dog branches of the plant to chew on, as these also contain poison.
tip: Also make sure that your horse does not consume large quantities of the berries of the cotoneaster over the winter. Hydrocyanic acid poisoning can be fatal for horses, and since the animals have a large appetite, one of the bushes is eaten up quickly within a short time.
Source: http://www.gizbonn.de/248.0.html
notice: Please note that this article is by no means a substitute for a doctor's visit. There is no guarantee of the correctness of medical statements.
Detailed information on first aid in the event of poisoning and important information on the poison control centers can be found here.