Toxic Plants of North America

NATIVEPLANTS | FALL 2003 his huge book (22 x 28 cm [8.5 x 11 in]; 1342 pages) is an encyclopedic account of the poisonous plants of North America. The book begins with a brief introduction describing the objectives, scope, organization, and format of the text. Families of vascular plants are then listed alphabetically, with ferns, gymnosperms, monocots, and dicots all grouped into a single alphabetical list. Included for each family is a family description with notes on the natural history and uses of the plants. The genera that include poisonous species are then listed alphabetically, and each generic account includes a description of the genus, a list of toxic species, distribution and habitat, disease problems, disease genesis, clinical signs, pathology, and treatment. Each family account then concludes with an extensive bibliography. Both native species and commonly used ornamentals are included, and the toxic effects of these plants on animals and humans are extensively described and referenced. Also included are many notes on medicinal uses of the species. Although the text is dense and detailed, helpful listings in the side margins of each page are included so that at a quick glance the reader can see a drawing of the plant, a map of its distribution, a listing of the problematic species, an indication of what plant parts are involved, a summary of the symptoms, and a list of the toxic compounds. A total of 76 families are described in detail, beginning with the Aceraceae and concluding with the Zygophyllaceae. Toxic Plants of North America