Metopium toxiferum / [Species detail] / Plant Atlas

Characteristics

Classification

Dicots

Family

ANACARDIACEAE

Genus

Metopium

Species

Metopium toxiferum (L.)Krug &. Urb.

Common Name

FLORIDA POISONTREE; POISONWOOD

Growth Habit

C Value

Plant Notes

This species contains certain types of urushiols which may be toxic to some persons exposed to the plant (Gross et al. 1975). In the Bahamas, tests on 20 volunteers found varying degrees of sensitivity, with one developing a severe rash, one a severe local erythematous reaction, 12 developed papules, and six were unaffected (Jackson 1946). Reactions to the toxins may appear a few days after exposure.

Status

Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP)

** Not applicable or data not available.

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Classification

Supraordinal

Order

SAPINDALES

Family

ANACARDIACEAE

Genus

Metopium

Species

Metopium toxiferum (L.)Krug &. Urb. - FLORIDA POISONTREE; POISONWOOD

Citation

METOPIUM TOXIFERUM (Linnaeus) Krug & Urban, in Urban, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 21: 612. 1896.

Basionym

Amyris toxifera Linnaeus 1759.

Type

BAHAMAS: Without data (lectotype: Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina 1: t. 40. 1730). Lectotypified by Bornstein, in R. A. Howard, Fl. Less. Antill., Dicot. 2: 99-100. 1989.

** Not applicable or data not available.