Notes on poisoning: heart-leaved philodendron

General poisoning notes:

Heart-leaved philodendron (Philodendron scandens) is an ornamental. Chewing the leaves of philodendrons results in painful burning and swelling of the mouth parts because of the oxalates. Contact dermatitis also occurs (Lampe and McCann 1985). A recent survey showed that even though 67% of 188 cases involved philodendrons, only one case developed minor symptoms (Mrvos et al. 1990). McIntire et al. (1990) describe the death of an infant after it had ingested a philodendron. The child had ulceration of lips and tongue as well as esophageal erosion. Death was caused by cardiac arrest secondary to vagotonia resulting from esophageal erosions. Family pets can also exhibit signs of toxicity if they chew on leaves of philodendrons. Hanna (1986) lists several symptoms attributable to ingestion of these plants by pets. However, Sellers et al. (1977) conducted laboratory feeding studies on cats and concluded that signs of acute toxicity were not found upon necropsy, even when large quantities of leaves were ingested. Experimental work on mice and rats showed that death occurred when the rodents were given extracts from leaves and stems (Der Marderosian et al. 1976).

References:

Der Marderosian, A. H., Giller, F. B., Roia, F. C. 1976. Phytochemical and toxicological screening of household ornamental plants potentially toxic to humans. 1. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1: 939-953.

Hanna, G. 1986. Plant poisoning in canines and felines. Vet. Hum. Toxicol., 28: 38-40.

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

McIntire, M. S., Guest, J. R., Porterfield, J. F. 1990. Philodendron - an infant death. Clin. Toxicol., 28: 177-183.

Mrvos, R., Dean, B. S., Krenzelok, E. P. 1990. Philodendron/Dieffenbachia ingestions: are they a problem? Vet. Hum. Toxicol., 32: 369.

Sellers, S. J., King, M., Aronson, C. E., Der Marderosian, A. 1977. Toxicologic assessment of Philodendron oxycardium Schott (Araceae) in domestic cats. Vet. Hum. Toxicol., 19: 92-96.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Philodendron scandens C. Koch & H. Sello

Vernacular name(s): heart-leaved philodendron

Scientific family name: Araceae

Vernacular family name: arum

Go to ITIS*^ca for more taxonomic information on: Philodendron scandens

References:

Agriculture Quebec. 1975. Noms des maladies des plantes du Canada/ Names of plant diseases in Canada. , Quebec City, Que., Canada. 288 pp.

Alex, J. F., Cayouette, R., Mulligan, G. A. 1980. Common and botanical names of weeds in Canada/Noms populaire et scientifiques des plantes nuisibles du Canada. Revised. Agric. Can. Publ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 132 pp.

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Scoggan, H. J. 1978, 1979. The flora of Canada. Nat. Mus. Nat. Sci. (Ottawa) Publ. Bot. 7(1)-7(4). 1711 pp.

Van Wijk, H. L. 1911. A dictionary of plant names. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, The Netherlands. 1444 pp.

Victorin, M. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2nd ed. Univ. Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada. 952 pp.

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

References:

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Boivin, B. 1966, 1967. Énumération des plantes du Canada. Provencheria 6. Nat. Can. (Que.) 93: 253-274; 371-437; 583-646; 989-1063. 94: 131-157; 471-528; 625-655.

Image or illustration

Images: images.google.com

Toxic parts:

leaves

References:

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

Toxic plant chemicals:

oxalate

References:

Sellers, S. J., King, M., Aronson, C. E., Der Marderosian, A. 1977. Toxicologic assessment of Philodendron oxycardium Schott (Araceae) in domestic cats. Vet. Hum. Toxicol., 19: 92-96.

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Cats

General symptoms of poisoning:

References:

Hanna, G. 1986. Plant poisoning in canines and felines. Vet. Hum. Toxicol., 28: 38-40.

Sellers, S. J., King, M., Aronson, C. E., Der Marderosian, A. 1977. Toxicologic assessment of Philodendron oxycardium Schott (Araceae) in domestic cats. Vet. Hum. Toxicol., 19: 92-96.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

Notes on poisoning:

Painful burning and swelling of lips, mouth, tongue, and throat can develop quickly after chewing of leaves. Contact dermatitis can also occur. Treatment includes administering cool liquids. The insoluble oxalates do not produce systemic poisoning in humans (Lampe and McCann 1985).

References:

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

McIntire, M. S., Guest, J. R., Porterfield, J. F. 1990. Philodendron - an infant death. Clin. Toxicol., 28: 177-183.

Rodents

General symptoms of poisoning:

References:

Der Marderosian, A. H., Giller, F. B., Roia, F. C. 1976. Phytochemical and toxicological screening of household ornamental plants potentially toxic to humans. 1. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1: 939-953.