Virginia creeper
General poisoning notes:
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquifolia) is a native climbing vine found in eastern Canada. It is also used as an ornamental climber on trellises and building walls. Children who ingested berries and leaves have reportedly been poisoned and have died. Some authors view these reports as circumstantial. However, this plant should be considered as potentially toxic if ingested (Warren 1912, Kingsbury 1964, Fuller and McClintock 1986).
Description:
A woody, dedicuous vine, Virginia Creeper can be high-climbing or trailing, 3-40 ft.; the structure on which it climbs is the limiting factor. Virginia Creeper climbs by means of tendrils with disks that fasten onto bark or rock. Its leaves, with 5 leaflets, occasionally 3 or 7, radiating from the tip of the petiole, coarsely toothed, with a pointed tip, and tapered to the base, up to 6 inches long. Leaves provide early fall color, turning brilliant mauve, red and purple. Inconspicuous flowers small, greenish, in clusters, appearing in spring. Fruit bluish, about 1/4 inch in diameter.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Parthenocissus quinquefolia(L.) Planch.
Vernacular name(s): Virginia creeper, five-leaved ivy, or five-finger
Scientific family name: Vitaceae
Vernacular family name: grape
Geographic Information:
Central North America, in southeastern Canada, the eastern and central United States, eastern Mexico, and Guatemala, west as far as Manitoba, South Dakota, Utah and Texas.
Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec.
Toxic parts:
Leaves, mature fruit.
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Raphide crystals of calcium oxalate have been reported in the leaves and berries of Virginia creeper. Fuller and McClintock (1986) stated that the quantities are small and that the irritant effect is usually not significant.
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.
Humans
General symptoms of poisoning:
Death, tenesmus, vomiting.
Notes on poisoning:
Cases have been reported of illness and death resulting after berries of Virginia creeper were ingested. In another case, two children became ill after swallowing the juice from chewed leaves. Symptoms included vomiting, purging, and tenesmus. The children collapsed and were in stupor for 2 h. A dozen ripe berries were fed to a guinea pig, which died within 36 h (Warren 1912). Modern reports view these cases as circumstantial. The amounts of oxalate contained in the plant is usually not significant (Kingsbury 1964, Fuller and McClintock 1986).
