Yellow iris
General poisoning notes:
Yellow iris (Iris
pseudacorus) is a naturalized plant found in wet areas in parts of southern
Canada. This plant has poisoned cattle and swine and may cause similar symptoms
in humans if the rhizomes are ingested. The plant juices can cause dermatitis
in sensitive humans. In British Columbia cattle were poisoned by a cultivated
blue-flowered Iris species. The symptoms of that poisoning are described under
this species (Bruce 1920, Cooper and Johnson 1984).
Description:
Rhizomes pink,
freely branching, producing extensive clumps, 2–3 cm diam., with fibrous
remains of old leaves; roots fleshy. Stems usually 1-branched, solid, 7–15 dm.
Leaves: basal deciduous, at first erect, then recurved, blade dark green, with
prominent median thickening, 4–10 dm × 2–3 cm, slightly glaucous basally;
cauline equaling inflorescence unit. Inflorescence units 4–12-flowered; spathes
green with brown margins, outer spathe strongly keeled, inner without keel, 6–9
cm, subequal, margins not scarious. Flowers: perianth bright yellow; floral
tube 0.6–0.8 cm, with no constriction into ovary; sepals bright yellow or cream
colored, lanceolate to ovate or suborbiculate, 5–7.5 × 3–4 cm, base abruptly
attenuate, claw ca. 1/2 length of limb, signal a darker yellow basal patch
limited by short, brown lines; petals without veining, lanceolate to spatulate,
2–3 cm; ovary triangular in cross section with concave sides and narrow groove
at each angle, 1.5 cm; style keeled, 3–4 cm, crests spreading, 1–1.2 cm, laciniate
at apex; stigmas rounded with prominent tongue; pedicel 2.5–7 cm. Capsules
prismatic to oblong-ovoid, obscurely 3-angled with obvious groove at each
angle, 3.5–6 cm, beak 5 mm. Seeds D-shaped, flattened, 6–7 mm, corky, lustrous.
2n = 34.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Iris pseudacorus L.
Vernacular
name(s): yellow iris, pale-yellow iris, yellow flag, yellow water iris,
fleur-de-lis, iris jaune
Scientific family
name: Iridaceae
Vernacular family
name: iris
Geographic Information:
British Columbia, Manitoba,
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Quebec.
Notes on Poisonous plant parts:
Ingesting the
rhizome causes poisoning in animals, and the plant juices cause dermatitis in sensitive
individuals (Cooper and Johnson 1984).
Toxic parts:
Plant juices, rhizome
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
The toxin in Iris
species has not been confirmed, but a glycoside, iridin (or irisin), has been
implicated (Cooper and Johnson 1984).
Toxic plant chemicals:
Iridin.
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an
animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993)
contained no detailed explanation.
Cattle
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Abdominal
pains, blistering, diarrhea, death, mouth, irritation of, salivation,
recumbency.
Notes on poisoning:
Ingesting yellow
flag rhizome has apparently caused diarrhea and bloody feces in cattle in
Europe. The toxin can survive drying because yellow flag in hay causes diarrhea
(Cooper and Johnson 1984).
In
a case in British Columbia, cattle ingested rhizomes from an unidentified
blue-flowered cultivated Iris species. Three calves showed symptoms and died
within 4 days. Initial symptoms included recumbency and excessive salivation.
The glands of the head and throat became hard and enlarged. Raised sores
appeared on the lips and muzzle, becoming yellowish scabs that irritated
animals. Acute abdominal pain occurred, and bloody feces were passed. Death
followed. Postmortem findings showed irritation of the lower stomachs and
intestines. The kidneys, liver, and spleen were very dark-colored.
Unfortunately, the identity of this iris was never determined (Bruce 1920).
Livestock should be denied access to any Iris species that grow in the wild or
in gardens, because ingestion may cause poisoning.
Humans
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Blistering.
Swine
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Abortion,
diarrhea, death.
Notes on poisoning:
Swine that ingest
rhizomes suffer diarrhea; one sow hemorrhaged, aborted, and died (Cooper and
Johnson 1984).
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