Toxic ornamental plants in Venezuela

Carlos Varela Romero; Guillermo Vizcarrondo; Mahinda Martínez

doi:10.30972/bon.2612073

Authors

Carlos Varela Romero Universidad de Carabobo, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Departamento de Biología. Valencia, Venezuela. Actual: Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas. Querétaro
Guillermo Vizcarrondo Universidad Nacional Experimental de los Llanos Centrales Rómulo Gallegos, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. San Juan de los Morros. Guárico
Mahinda Martínez Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas. Querétaro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30972/bon.2612073

Keywords:

Biodiversity, economic botany, ornamental plant, toxic plant, Venezuela

Abstract

The aim of this research was to contribute information on toxic ornamental plants in Venezuela. Information on taxonomy, common names, habit, origin, status, location, propagation and toxicology (part of the plant, effects) was compiled from articles, books, catalogs, herbarium collections. A botanical analysis (taxonomy, common names, habit, origin, status, location, propagation) and toxicology (part of the plant, effects) was performed. The information about plant poisoning cases was requested to SIMET (Pharmacy faculty -UCV). Seventy-eight species were found in 34 families, the most important were: Apocynaceae (10 genera/12 species), Araceae (9/9), Euphorbiaceae (4/10) and Solanaceae (5/6). Genus Euphorbia was the most species rich. Most species were exotic species (79.5%) and shrubs (32.1%). The entire plant (35) and latex (19) were the most toxic parts and the most frequent accidental ingestion (61.5%). Twenty cases were reported between 2009-2013, of which 80% were minors, female and urban areas. There is very little information published in Hispanic American countries