Spindleberry? Poisonous?
Philippa Paul
Does anyone know anything about a hedgrow plant called Spindleberry.
We believe eating this is what poisoned a horse on my yard. He was
staggering, foaming at the mouth and his jaw was locked. Caught in time,
and believe he will recover fully.
The plant in question is a woody shrub type this that forms part of the
back hedge in lots of places. It is also almost like an ornamental tree
in places. There are signs that the horses have been eating it. The
horse affected is prone to colic and other upsets and if there is
anything silly to do, will do it. He cribs on the fence and chews this
tree at the same time (we think).
Not clear what the best solution is. Need to know how poisonous this
plant is. It has been in the field as part of the hedge a very long
time, with no problems. Electric fencing the whole area off would be
extensive. And removing the plant, very very difficult and would create
a lot of problems with the estate, we would have to convince them this
was essential.
Vet said that lack of grass was causing a lot more poisoning cases than
normal this year. Vet also believes that this is what horse ate, but
doesn't know what it is. Said most horses learn and don't eat the same
thing that make them ill again. Hmmm this horse is stupid and has no
common sense. There is grass in the field though. Have now added
haylage.
http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/Environment/wildlife/default.htm
Think it is a non native ornamental shrub, hence hard to research.
COnsidered a pest and a threat in NZ. I think it would have come from
the gardens that are very near the otherside of the hedge. It is a fast
spreader, and hard to remove, and very hardy. Question is it a serious
poison for horses or not?
Definition: shrubby trees or woody vines of the genus Euonymus having
showy usually reddish berries Synonyms: spindle tree, spindleberry tree
See Also: bush, common spindle tree, Euonymous alatus, Euonymus,
Euonymus europaeus, genus Euonymus, shrub, winged spindle tree
The plant is shrub like, with woody thick stem. It has flat green
rounded leaves. It has heart shaped 4 part pink berries. The game keeper
said he thought it was spindleberry. And I think I can identify it as
that through pictures too, but I can't find much about it being
poisonous. Found that the berries are poisonous to people, and the the
leaves are poisonous to rabbits. BUt nothing conclusive to justify
having to remove it. CAn anyone help?
Many thanks
PIp
--
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Petra Ruettiger
>Found that the berries are poisonous to people, and the the
>leaves are poisonous to rabbits. BUt nothing conclusive to justify
>having to remove it
Sorry, don't get that... you know that the darn thing is poisonous. Isn't that
good enough? If it can't be removed how about having it fenced off so the
horses can't get to it?
Petra
Philippa Paul
Not really, not conclusively. It is not my field, my land etc. I have
found an amateur site that lists Spindleberry as something rabbits
shouldn't eat, and a rambling site that lists the berries as poisonous
to people. Neither are conclusive evidence or good sources. This field
has grazed horses for many years and the plant is very well established.
If the estate are to allow it to be extensively cut down / treated, then
they would require a lot of evidence that the plant was extremely
dangerous to horses. I can not as yet provide this evidence. Regarding
fencing it off, that too is a solution, but to electric fence such a
large area will not be straight forwards or cheap, and who should pay
for and maintain the new fencing? Again I need some evidence. It may be
that the horse in question has eaten a lot of this plant, and it isn’t
very good for him and he is highly prone to colic, It maybe that in
small amounts the plant isn’t actually that harmful to horses with a
normal constitution, or it may be that it is? It may be a serious CNS
cumulative toxic poison? I don’t know.
Pip
Petra Ruettiger
0870 600 6266
If that's wrong call your GP and ask for the number of the National Poison
Helpline, I can't find it I'm afraid.
Petra
Mary McHugh
> dangerous to horses. I can not as yet provide this evidence. Regarding
> fencing it off, that too is a solution, but to electric fence such a
> large area will not be straight forwards or cheap, and who should pay
> for and maintain the new fencing? Again I need some evidence. It may be
In the US, a box of 50 step-in posts is about $90. You can get a small solar fence
charger for $175 and rolls of 1/2" tape go for about $30/660 feet. Alternatively,
you could go with electric wire or rope which is even cheaper. You'd also spend
about $20-$30 between ground rods and various bits of hardware (splicers,
tighteners, etc.).
All you'd need is a single strand of fence between the horses and the hedgerow.
Maintenance is low.
How big an area are you talking about?
Mary
Philippa Paul
thanks. they weren't very helpful as I wasn't a doctor or nurse. General
info
have to eat quite a lot to be harmful, then the effects are quite
severe. Not
considered that high a risk. Couldn't comment on effects in animals.
Does anyone have access to veterinary journals or databases to look up
the
effects of Spindleberry. See Also: common spindle tree, Euonymous
alatus, Euonymus, Euonymus europaeus, genus Euonymus, shrub, winged
spindle tree
I used to have access to the Bristol Vet library and JOurnals to look
this
kind of thing up :-(
I will suggest that the girl with sick horse asks her vet to research
the
plant.
Cheers
Francis Burton
Philippa Paul <winge...@fly-by-night.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
>Does anyone have access to veterinary journals or databases to look up
>the
>effects of Spindleberry. See Also: common spindle tree, Euonymous
>alatus, Euonymus, Euonymus europaeus, genus Euonymus, shrub, winged
>spindle tree
According to
http://wellness.ucdavis.edu/safety_info/poison_prevention/take_care_with_plants/toxicity_of_plants.html
Euonymus is "known to cause problems in animals".
According to
http://cal.nbc.upenn.edu/poison/agbook/arctium.htm#Celastru
"Horses are recorded to have been poisoned by leaves [...]
of Euonymus."
According to
calve.massey.ac.nz/poisonplants/data/ spindle_tree/spind_tree.html
"Spindle tree. Euonymus europeus. Other names. spindleberry. [...]
Seen in mainly in people but also animals. Reported cases include
toxicity in goats and horses."
According to
http://www.smartt.com/~brianp/plantpage.html
"Poisonous plants which may be poisonous to llamas and other
livestock [include] [...] Spindletree"
Is(n't) that enough?
Francis
Marie Fischer
> Hiya,
>
> Does anyone know anything about a hedgrow plant called Spindleberry.
> We believe eating this is what poisoned a horse on my yard. He was
> staggering, foaming at the mouth and his jaw was locked. Caught in
> time, and believe he will recover fully.
[...]
> http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/Environment/wildlife/default.htm
Well, after looking at the picture I recalled that I was always told
as a kid that this stuff is poisonous!
Euonymus europaea - Pfaffenhütchen (or Spindelstrauch) in German. I
couldn't find anything informative in English, but lots of stuff in
German.
http://www.reitverein-hoevelhof.de/Giftpflanzen/Pfaffenhuetchen.htm
says all parts are very poisonous, especially the berries. Contains
alkaloids, glycosides, terpenes and more. Symptoms: colic, diarrhea,
convulsions, heart/circulation problems.
--
marie
Petra Ruettiger
>Euonymus europaea - Pfaffenhütchen (or Spindelstrauch) in German. I
Goodness. Yes of course... I never even looked at the piccie.... Pip, YES.
POISONOUS.
Now what?
Petra
Vincent Smith
Philippa Paul at winge...@fly-by-night.fsnet.co.uk wrote on 6/10/03 1:33
pm:
Hiya,
Does anyone know anything about a hedgrow plant called Spindleberry.
We believe eating this is what poisoned a horse on my yard. He was
staggering, foaming at the mouth and his jaw was locked. Caught in time,
and believe he will recover fully.
Hi,
The photograph URL given by Philippa is of the Spindleberry Euonymus
europaeus. Which is a plant native to the British Isles.Please ignore the
comments referring to totally different plants!!
It is not poisonous to everything as insinuated by some members of this NG.
The berries are a valuable food source to birds so please don't start an ill
informed destruction campaign of this valuable species.
The berries are poisonous to humans - don't eat them!!
I'll reply later after I've checked out the toxicity relating to horses,
Cheers,
Vince.
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Vincent Smith
vince...@tesco.net wrote on 6/10/03 9:01 pm:
in article a21cb4254e40b02fbd9...@mygate.mailgate.org,
Philippa Paul at winge...@fly-by-night.fsnet.co.uk wrote on 6/10/03 1:33
pm:
Hiya,
Does anyone know anything about a hedgrow plant called Spindleberry.
We believe eating this is what poisoned a horse on my yard. He was
staggering, foaming at the mouth and his jaw was locked. Caught in time,
and believe he will recover fully.
Hi,
The photograph URL given by Philippa is of the Spindleberry Euonymus
europaeus. Which is a plant native to the British Isles.Please ignore the
comments referring to totally different plants!!
It is not poisonous to everything as insinuated by some members of this NG.
The berries are a valuable food source to birds so please don't start an ill
informed destruction campaign of this valuable species.
The berries are poisonous to humans - don't eat them!!
I'll reply later after I've checked out the toxicity relating to horses,
Cheers,
Vince.
Hi,
According to a book published by MAFF in 1984 ('Poisonous plants in Britain
and their effects on animals and men' by Cooper & Johnson) , horses have
been fatally poisoned, whilst goats and sheep have suffered after eating it.
A whole page is given up to describing the plant and its effects. It is
'locally frequent , especially in south-east Cornwall'( French, Murphy &
Atkinson in 'The Flora of Cornwall' (1999)).
Donna Pattee
However, removing every plant that is poisonous to every animal would
leave a bare dirt lot. It's rather amazing to discover how many plants
are poisonous and in what ways.
Donna Pattee
Philippa Paul <winge...@fly-by-night.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
Look here: http://www.vth.colostate.edu/poisonous_plants/report/search.cfm
Serviceberry is listed, and there is a picture. If this is the same
plant you are looking at, it is a problem for rumens but not horses.
Philippa Paul
>
> Petra
Ad lib haylage until weekend
Electric fencing at the weekend. Before horse chewing
shrubs is put back out.
And will write to estate, discussing long term solution.
And citing evidence.
thanks for all information.