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Dracena is one of the most popular poisonous potted flowers in Poland. Dracaena is attractive in appearance, grows quickly and is undemanding, but can be dangerous to young children and pets, especially cats.
Dracaena( DracaenaL) is a family of plants with around 40 different species. In nature, they mainly grow in Asia and Africa, and in the Canary Islands - where it is warm and humid.
In their natural environment, dracaena can reach a height of several meters and often have tree trunks. The potted ones are much shorter.
Dracaena, depending on the species, has longer or shorter, wider or narrower leaves, which, however, form a crown on the tops, which forms like an outstretched umbrella.
Their flowers are cream or green-white, gathered in umbellate or ear-shaped inflorescences. They smell bad, and they almost never bloom at home.
In home cultivation, the most common ones are:
- dragon dracaena
- dracaena wonna
- edged dracaena
- dracaena Sandera
- Dracaena Hookera
- reverse dracaena
In Poland, fragrant dracaena is the most popular.
What is poisonous in dracaena?
Plants of this species can be dangerous to young children and toxic to pets, especially cats that like to nibble on dracaena leaves.
The main source of poisoning are saponins in the leaves of dracaena - glycosides with a molecular weight of 600-1500 u. In small doses, these substances have a beneficial effect:
- lower cholesterol
- have a diuretic effect
- accelerate the digestion of fats
- protect the liver
- have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties
They are toxic in higher doses:
- reduce the level of total protein in the blood
- make you vomit
- lead to hemolysis of erythrocytes, i.e. red blood cells - as a result of this process, they can leak hemoglobin into the plasma, which can damage the bone marrow and lead to anemia
Dracaena: symptoms of poisoning
In children, the symptoms of dracaena poisoning depend on the amount of saponins that entered the body along with the bitten leaves. Usually they arevomiting, sometimes problems with concentration, dilated pupils.
The most common symptom of dracaena poisoning in cats are changes in behavior - the animal may become overactive or depressed (saponins affect their brain functions).
In other animals, both domestic and farm, the symptoms of dracaena poisoning will be different.
In horses, for example, intestinal peristalsis increases, while in guinea pigs and mice, on the contrary - bowel movements almost completely cease.
In rats, the saponins contained in dracaena cause blood pressure spikes and slow down the heart rate.
Taken in very large doses, they can paralyze the brain and spine, as well as damage the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Dracaena poisoning: what to do?
If you suspect your child has bitten or swallowed dracaena leaves, you should take him to the doctor - especially if there were more than one or two leaves.
The doctor will decide whether it will be necessary to induce vomiting or administer medication based on the symptoms of poisoning (if any). Take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.
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