That last point probably won't affect that many people trying to grow mountain laurel, but still: People attempting to keep animals should not allow them to consume the plants. Some people believe that the use of grayanotoxins from rhododendron species like mountain laurel has some health benefits. Clinical Signs: Typically not very palatable to horses unless it is the only forage available, but sheep and goats may graze readily on the plant. By mid-summer, these give way to fuzzy tan seed pods. In 1907, Connecticut's General Assembly designated the shrub as that state's state flower, praising its beauty and scent. Deer also consume the mountain laurel and other similar species of plant. All parts of the mountain laurel, from its stem to the nectar of its beautiful flowers, should not be consumed by mammals. The poison is at its strongest in the young shoots and leaves. Scientists cannot confirm that these qualities are valid, but some of them have interest in grayanotoxins from these plants for medical use and see it as a promising field of research. Inside the pods are rock-hard bright scarlet seeds. Light poisoning can result in salivation, intestinal pain, bloating and vomiting. Mountain Laurel poisoning: The mountain laurel is a large evergreen shrub which bears clusters of small flowers. The seeds – called mescal beans – are a pretty orange-red color and are sometimes used as necklace beads. Keep mountain laurel plants out of any enclosures with domesticated animals – it is poisonous to many mammals. One of the earliest reports of "mad honey disease" comes from the Greek warrior and writer Xenophon in 401 B.C. Though the plant is evergreen, its leaves tend only to live two or three years, shedding in the late spring of their second growing season. All information is provided "AS IS." Among domesticated animals, cattle primarily suffer from eating the shrubs. In cattle, intoxication from grayanotoxins usually comes about between three and 14 hours and can last up to two days. Fruit is a one to several-seeded persistant thick pod 2" to 8" long and ripen to revel the inner, bright red seeds, which are poisonous. The bright red beans were also used for ornamentation. Sheep, horse, goats, cats and dogs, the two latter examples of which consume the plant less frequently, can also find themselves ill as a result of consuming the beautiful shrub. Humans who consume the plant, or who are near someone else who has, should seek immediate medical attention. Mescalbeans are poisonous, yet they were used by native socities for ritual purposes, because of its powerful psychoactive properties. The chemicals work by binding to parts of the cell membrane that determine its regular function and then inhibits those parts – scientists call these parts sodium channels, and the grayanotoxins bind to those found in the heart, nerves and muscles of a person. Some scientists believe that mountain laurel burns at a higher temperature because of its leaves, which the scientists say arises due to the oil and wax content inside them. In 1750, Swedish explorer Peter Kalm send a specimen to Carol Linnaeus, another Swede who is often hailed as the "father of modern taxonomy." The compounds in the plants burn the mouths of animals, which dissuades consumption, but deer will still eat them as a last resort, which usually indicates that all the rest of the ungulate species' food sources have dried up. However, it will produce large seed pods that are toxic (see image below). Mountain Laurel Mushrooms Narcissus, daffodil Nettles Nectarine (seeds, wood) Nightshade *Oak. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Mountain Laurel, U.S. Forestry Service: Fire Effects Information System (FEIS), Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Mountain Laurel, Pennsylvania's State Flower, University of Maryland Extension: Toxic Plant Profile: Rhododendron and Azalea, Cardiovascular Toxicology: Grayanotoxin Poisoning: ‘Mad Honey Disease’ and Beyond, Texas A&M Today: Expert Gives the Buzz on Mad Honey, Agriculture and Food Security: Bioactive Compounds, Health Benefits and Utilization of Rhododendron: a Comprehensive Review, ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Mountain Laurel, Colorado State University: Guide to Poisonous Plants, North Carolina State University Extension: Poisonous Plants to Livestock. Like most plants, the mountain laurel relies on bees and other pollinators to sexually reproduce; bees act as the primary pollinator for the species, though the mountain laurel frequently reproduces asexually through tubers or other methods. There is no way of telling which honey bees have been collecting where so the offending honey cannot be identified. While there is no known antidote, veterinarians can offer supportive care, and some animals will recover from consuming small amounts. This leads to drowsiness. Grayanotoxin is the toxic substance found in the mountain laurel. They ARE NOT eating any leaves. Red flowered varieties of oleander appear to be more toxic. My mountain laurel has bloomed and it is covered in seed pods. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Oleander remains toxic when dry. Although many people might have been made ill by mountain laurel and made a full recovery, the potency of the poison should not be ignored. Although the 'Texas mountain laurel' can be grown from seed, it grows so slowly that you're better off investing in a 5 gallon specimen that can be planted any time of year. It is almost hard to believe that the mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia, which grows comfortably in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 9) carries within it a deadly poison. Its range stretches from southern Maine south to northern Florida , and west to Indiana and Louisiana . The mountain laurel is poisonous in all aspects. Website operating Until these claims can be confirmed, however, many researchers recommend avoiding taking herbal remedies containing mountain laurel or its relatives. Mountain laurel seed propagation requires conditions that match the wild ones in which the seeds will germinate. B was cut between the two cotyledons, one being removed to show the red coloring of the innermost portion of the inner seed coat. Also known as mescal bean, this small, slow-growing tree is drought tolerant and thrives in rocky, limestone soils. Poisoning from the plant in animals shows itself in a number of symptoms: depression, weakness, excessive drooling and/or bowel movements and diarrhea among them. Bark is fissured, dark gray to black. While many cattle owners know the risk these plants pose to their animals, bystanders and visitors may unknowingly feed mountain laurel or its peers to the creatures. A native to these regions, the mountain laurel can be found as far north as New England – occasionally it can be found in Quebec – as far south as Florida and as far west as Louisiana. Bees are attracted to the mountain laurel and, if they spend a lot of the season collecting pollen and nectar from it, they can produce a poisonous honey. Grayanotoxin interferes with the body’s sodium channels by binding to them in certain places. The seed views labled 'A' represent the typical mature seed. Convulsions occur, which can be quite severe, with death being preceded by a sort of creeping paralysis. It sees some interest as an herbal treatment for a variety of things such as diarrhea, headaches and fungal infections, and it can be purchased online. The dried seeds inside the pods rattle when completely dry and mature. It has a slow growth rate. They are alternate, once-pinnately compound, elliptic, obovate. Other animals beyond humans may also be affected by the harmful compounds in the mountain laurel. At a hospital, a doctor will likely administer activated charcoal through a stomach tube to prevent more of the grayanotoxin from being absorbed. In some southern states, it can grow as high as 40 feet. Asked April 11, 2016, 2:27 PM EDT. Different patients worldwide have consumed between 20 and 200 grams of honey before becoming afflicted. These include site, temperature, soil and moisture. We welcome your comments and One or two will probably germinate within a year. Its stems tend to grow in the spring, and its seeds mature between September and October. It is one powerful seed! Effects usually begin within six hours. The gorgeous ornamental shrub, easily recognizable for its clusters of 10-pointed, starlike flowers, stands as the state flower of both Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The plants can survive in infertile soils in part because of their waxy, leatherlike leaves, which reduce the amount of nutrients that can be leached from them. Horses will not normally consume the plant, but other grazing animals like sheep and goats may. In one area in the United States that had mountain laurel, grayanotoxin concentration was 100 parts per million. The grayanotoxin produced in the laurel plant has chemical properties that closely resemble turpentine, and this causes some burning in the mouth … Doug Johnson is a Canadian writer, editor and journalist. Minor Toxicity: Ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea. Whenever you handle mountain laurel you should be very careful about washing your hands. The seeds have a very heavy seed coat, making them hard to germinate. It exists taxonomically as a member of the heath family, which also includes the rhododendron, azalea, huckleberry and blueberry. Toxic Principle Oleandrin and neriine are two very potent cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) found in all parts of the plant. The mountain laurel is a very attractive plant with very pretty flowers, but never forget that this shrub has a more sinister side. Most parts of it contain a poison that can be deadly to humans and a wide array of other animals including horses, goats and monkeys. The main toxin is called andromedo toxin. Holding up their distinct flowers and broad leaves, their reddish-brown limbs, branches and stems twist and curl, cutting interesting pathways from the soil to the air. Once fully mature, the seed pods turn dark brown or gray, and the seeds inside are dark red. Whenever you handle mountain laurel you should be very careful about washing your hands. Although they are quite beautiful, mountain laurel flowers, like the rest of the shrub, are also quite poisonous. While humans rarely die from consuming these compounds, cattle and other grazing animals have higher mortality rates. All rights reserved. The plant grows to be between 3 and 18 feet tall. The poison is at its strongest in the young shoots and leaves. While fatalities related to mountain laurel are rare, they are not unheard of. Doctors may use medicines like laxatives and other compounds that quicken the removal of a substance from the body, or atropine, which increases a person's heart rate. ... Exterminate Pests and Revive Your Mounta... Exterminate Pests and Revive Your Mountain Laurels. Do not operate motor vehicles. If you want a Texas mountain laurel in a specific spot, obtain and plant about five seeds at the location about one inch deep. His report stated that the soldiers who ate the honey – which they thought was regular, old honey – acted as though they were extremely intoxicated on alcohol. The toxicity of the laurel lies in the neurotoxin that it contains, called grayanotoxin. Mountain Laurel Planting Mistakes to Avo... Mountain Laurel Planting Mistakes to Avoid. The pods are oozing some kind of sap and there are small red bugs (I think they have wings) apparently eating the sap but also eating the seed pods. Although it isn’t compulsory, a small fence round your mountain laurels could help make people aware of the danger. This inappropriate binding prevents sodium channel inactivation which leads to cell depolarization. If ingested, immediately call the Poison Control Center -- (800) 222-1222 -- or your doctor. Unless chewed, the seeds passthrough the digestive tract without causing toxicity. The leaves can induce staggering, convulsions, difficulty with breathing and drooling. The dispersal partners get a tasty snack while the Texas Mountain Laurel sends its children out into the wider world. The seeds contain several toxic quinolizidine alkaloids including cytisine, with N-methylcytisine, anagyrine, and termopsine. This toxin acts on blood circulation by lowering the blood pressure. Humans who consume any part of the mountain laurel should seek medical attention immediately. Copyright© In the 1930s, Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot decided that the mountain laurel would become the state flower of Pennsylvania, and he signed a bill into law on May 5, 1933. Seeds: The seeds are poisonous if swallowed, but not dangerous otherwise. It has a similar profile to the effects of eating the raw plant material – low blood pressure, blurred vision, seizures and, in some cases, hallucinations. The toxin is located in the leaves, petals and even pollen of the laurel plant. Mountain Laurel and Sheep Laurel (K. angustifolia) are part of the Ericaceae family. The nectar in the flowers forms quite a large drop and children are often made ill by trying to suck the sweet liquid out of the flowers. It is important to be careful with these seeds when handling them. The toxic principle interferes with normal skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and nerve function. In the case of the Texas Mountain Laurel, animals carry away its seeds to eat their fleshy outer coating while the toxic seed passes harmlessly through their digestive tract. Some see "mad honey" and other grayanotoxin-containing compounds from plants like the mountain laurel as medicine, but doctors and researchers are still undecided about its supposed benefits. Certain types of laurel contain diterpenoids (grayanotoxins).