Cut-leaved coneflower-Rudbeckia laciniata L.-Poisonous plant

Cut-leaved coneflower

General poisoning notes:

Cut-leaved coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) is native to some parts of Canada and is naturalized in others. A double-flowered form is also used as an ornamental in flower beds and is usually called golden glow. Early circumstantial evidence of poisoning of horses, sheep, and swine can be found. Experiments on sheep and swine have shown that some symptoms of toxicity can occur, although animals generally refuse to eat the unpalatable plants. Animal poisoning by this plant should be considered unlikely (Kingsbury 1964).

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Rudbeckia laciniata L.

Vernacular name(s): cut-leaved coneflower

Scientific family name: Compositae

Vernacular family name: composite

Geographic Information

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan

Notes on Poisonous plant parts:

Ingesting the aboveground portion of this plant produced symptoms in some animals (Kingsbury 1964).

Toxic parts:

Flowers, leaves, stems

Toxic plant chemicals:

unknown chemical

Animals/Human Poisoning:

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

Horses

Sheep

General symptoms of poisoning:

Anorexia, depression, incoordination.

Notes on poisoning:

Experiments on sheep showed that animals ate the distasteful plant after a period of starvation. Ingesting plant material equal to 3-4% of body weight produced symptoms after 24 h. The primary symptoms were incoordination and listlessness. Respiratory rates increased. Animals returned to normal within 36 h (Kingsbury 1964).

Swine

General symptoms of poisoning:

Abdominal pains, anorexia, depression, incoordination

Notes on poisoning:

In experiments, swine ate the distaste plant material after a period of starvation. The animals exhibited incoordination, dullness, some signs of abdominal pain, and aimless wandering. The symptoms disappeared within 36 h. Symptoms appeared after ingesting plant material equal to 3-4% of body weight. Symptoms could not be reproduced a second time with further feedings (Kingsbury 1964).