are peonies toxic? archived

ring 1800 222 1 222 RIGHT NOW if you haven't already - that's meant to be your nearest Poisons Centre. I've been told it shouldn't be a real traumatic problem in human children but you never know (it can cause a poison episode in animal).

Carolyn Jabs replieseonies are not listed in any of the standard references on poisonous plants. According to Dr. R.W. Moriarty, director of the National Poison Center Network in Pittsburgh, ''there is nothing to indicate that peony petals are troublesome.'' The center maintains extensive files on poisonings across the country; though they have reports on exposure to peonies, there is, according to Dr. Moriarty, ''no evidence that they are toxic.''

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05EFD61138F932A35754C0A967948260

Dave, when I rang our local poisons centre here in Victoria Australia, they did check which part of the plant was consumed and how old the child was. The centre is attached to a children's hospital in Melbourne Australia. While the petals aren't poisonous, there is insufficient information in the literature on other parts of the plant and their affect on humans but there are accounts of animals poisoned after consumption of leaves, stems, stamen, pollen etc. In these days of greater awareness of allergies and sensitivities, they advised me to tell to calypso the phone number above (they actually looked it up from here) and to ring immediately. They also said that any serious symptoms should be obvious by now, but it's better to be checked than not.

The nectar is found on the petals. I've tried some. Sweet, but a bit anty. The ants themselves have a lemon zest flavor.

And they say that Dave is a one-trick peonie.

lest anyone think I'm the world's worst parent, I DID call poison control, as well as posting on MOL (always first instinct when I need help) and checking on line listings of poisonous plants. All agreed peonies are not poisonous. I guess I was interested that he'd found a source of plant sweetness I'd never heard of--glad to hear Dave has tried it as well!

fyi: In related plant trivia, Poinsettia's aren't the child killers people make them out to be. They have an undeserved reputation. I know this is the wrong time of the year for this, but I always like to help clear their name.

On behalf of Poinsettias everywhere, Spontaneous, we thank you. Isn't it awful that people always POINt the finger at us? You're a true friend.

Wow, that joke fell completely flat, huh? That sounded SO much better in my head. Yikes. Well, with the gross output of wit and humor that comes flying out of my finger tips on a daily basis, I suppose even The Great Fishy can't bat a thousand.

I'm still mulling over whether to call DYFS on Calypso - her son does something that Dave does, and she sees this as something to be happy about. The peony could be responsible for making Dave the way he is. I'd think that any responsible parent would be concerned about that....



:devil: