Thevetia peruviana
Thevetia peruviana
Safety & Hazards
All parts of the plant produce a latex which is highly poisonous; the kernels are the most toxic[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. The active principles are cardiac glycosides of the cardenolide type; symptoms of poisoning mainly involve the cardiovascular system (including various types of arrhythmia, e.g. Sinus bradycardia) and the gastro-intestinal tract. Vomiting is the common symptom in poisoning in about 30% of all cases. Ischaemic changes occur in about 40% of the cases, as well as palpitations in about 10%. The most serious and immediate cause leading to death is peripheral vascular failure[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. The seeds have been used for committing suicide, homicide, as an ordeal poison, a rat poison and as an arrow poison when hunting[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. , 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. The wood and bark may be employed as fish poison[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. , 526 Title An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences. Publication Author Gould G.M. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; Philadelphia. Year 1907 ISBN Description A major work at the time, though very dated now. Contains quite a lot of information about medicinal plant uses. ].
Botanical Description
Thevetia peruviana is an evergreen shrub or small tree usually growing 3 - 8 metres tall with a short bole[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. , 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. The plant is widely used in folk medicine in Central and South America, many of these uses having also spread to South-East Asia. In the Philippines and India the plant has become a household remedy for several ailments[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. It is sometimes cultivated for medicinal use and sold in local markets; it is also often grown as an ornamental and hedge, being valued for its floral display[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. , 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].