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Fire Lily
Plant Name:
Fire Lily
Scientific Name:
Hippeastrum spp.
Family:
Amaryllidaceae
Toxins:
Lycorine, galanthamine, haemanthamine, tazzetine, hippeastrine, and others.
Poisoning Symptoms:
Moderate to severe gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain), drooling, inappetance, lethargy, general appearance of unwellness. In cases of a large ingestion; low blood pressure, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, cardiac arrhythmias, collapse and possibly death. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.
Additional Information:
Hippeastrum puniceum, also known as Easter Lily, Fire Lily, Lily of the Palace, Ridderstjerne, and Common Amaryllis a perennial bulbous plant native to tropical regions of South America although it has become naturalized elsewhere. It produces 3 to 6 bright green, glossy strap shaped (lorate) leaves, 12-24 inches long and 1”- 1 ¼ inches wide that taper to a point. The flowers are trumpet shaped and borne in an umbel on a stem. The petals, or more accurately tepals, are orange-red with paler bases. The bulb has medicinal properties and is used against asthma, bronchitis, constipation and respiratory diseases. It contains the phytochemicals Galanthamine and Lycorine. Due to the exceptionally beautiful flowers this plant produces it is a commonplace garden ornamental and potted house plant in many parts of the world.
The plant is toxic to pets as it does contain amaryllidaceae alkaloids (phenanthridine derivatives) such as lycorine, crinidine, and other lesser known alkaloids like clivacetine, clivonine, cliviasine and clividine. These alkaloids are emetics (causing vomiting), but the mechanism is unknown. Large quantities must be ingested to cause symptoms of toxicity.
A toxic crystalline alkaloid, lycorine is found in many other members of the Amaryllidaceae family as well, to include surprise lilies (Lycoris), and daffodils (Narcissus). In sufficiently high doses it can be highly poisonous, or even lethal when ingested. Lycorine intoxication has both central nervous system and gastrointestinal effects. The typical clinical signs of ingestion include moderate to severe gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain), lethargy and the general appearance of unwellness. In cases of a large ingestion; convulsions, paralysis, collapse and possibly death could be the result. Lycorine is believed to inhibit protein synthesis and may also decrease ascorbic acid biosynthesis, although the latter is subject to some controversy and is generally considered to be inconclusive.
As the toxins of Hippeastrum puniceum have an emetic effect, the amount typically ingested is small, so serious cases of acute intoxication are rare. In the majority of cases the symptoms will be limited to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The majority of pets that ingest Hippeastrum puniceum will fall ill and begin to vomit out the plant before consuming a quantity large enough to cause life threatening toxicosis. As with any toxic or potentially toxic plant, exercise common sense and good environmental awareness by preventing pets from gaining access to areas that contain the plant.
First Aid:
Treatment for the ingestion of plants containing lycorine is symptomatic and supportive; there is no specific treatment or antidote. If the ingestion was recent remove any existing plant matter from the mouth and flush the mouth thoroughly with water. Unless it is recognized very early on that a pet ingested a plant containing lycorine or the amounts involved are large, vomiting the patient is probably not recommended, as the emetic effects of the toxin will inevitably cause the patient to vomit spontaneously. . When significant amounts are involved, and there is danger of prolonged vomiting or nongastrointestinal effects, lavage may be indicated. Although activated medical charcoal may be very useful in adsorbing these alkaloids, its use may be limited since symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea can take an hour or more to manifest from the time of ingestion. . If the vomiting and diarrhea are extensive, patients should be monitored for fluid and electrolyte loss. In cases where animals have ingested a large amount, hypotension, seizures and hepatic damage has been reported; patients should have blood pressure and liver function monitored.
Species Affected:
Toxic To Dogs
Toxic To Cats
