Caladium
General poisoning notes:
Caladium (Caladium bicolor) is a houseplant that can cause burning and irritation of the lips. The plant can be a problem to children who ingest the leaves as well as to family pets that might nibble on the foliage.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Caladium bicolor (Ait.) Vent.
Vernacular name(s): caladium
Scientific family name: Araceae
Vernacular family name: arum
Caladium bicolor (Ait.) Vent.
Geographic Information
Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.
Notes on Poisonous plant parts:
All parts of this plant contain oxalate crystals, which can cause intense irritation if ingested (Lampe and McCann 1985).
Toxic parts:
Leaves, roots, stems
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Oxalate crystals are common to many members of the family Araceae and are capable of causing intense irritation.
Toxic plant chemicals:
oxalate
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.
Cats
Dogs
Humans
General symptoms of poisoning:
Mouth, irritation of
Notes on poisoning:
Ingesting material containing calcium oxalate raphide crystals causes irritation of the soft mouth parts and perhaps the throat of humans and animals. Swelling of tissues causes pain and a burning sensation that slowly subsides. Cool liquids or analgesics may be indicated. The insoluble oxalates do not cause systemic poisoning (Lampe and McCann 1985).
