Bird rape
General poisoning notes:
Bird rape (Brassica campestris) includes the vegetables turnip and chinese cabbage. These plants can accumulate toxic quantities of SMCO, which poisoned several types of livestock after they ingested sufficient quantities (Benevenga et al. 1985). Please see the expanded notes on poisoning by this chemical under kale (Brassica oleracea) and the effects on various livestock animals.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Brassica campestris L.
Vernacular name(s): bird rape
Scientific family name: Cruciferae
Vernacular family name: mustard
Brassica campestris L.
Geographic Information
Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory
Notes on Poisonous plant parts:
The quantities of SMCO vary amongst the plant parts and in relation to the maturity of the plant (Benevenga et al. 1989).
Toxic parts:
Flowers, leaves , stems
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
This species can produce toxic quantities of SMCO (S-methyl-L- cysteine sulfoxide) (Benevenga et al. 1989).
Toxic plant chemicals:
S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCO)
S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCO)
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.
