Bulletin 3967 - Cyanogenetic plants of Western Australia

Authors

T E H Aplin, Western Australian Department of Agriculture

Files

Publication Date

6-1979

Series Number

Bulletin 3967

Abstract

This article deals with those native, naturalized and cultivated plants, which by virtue of contained cyanogenetic glycosides, are known to be poisonous or potentially poisonous to livestock in Western Australia.

Cyanogenetic glycosides are chemical compounds which contain a cyanogen (cyanide) radical combined with a sugar molecule. The sugar moiety may differ in glycosides obtained from different plants, and as a consequence glycosides from different plants, containing different sugar moieties, may be given different names.

When a cyanogenetic glycoside is broken down by enzyme action, through injury to the plant or by microbial action in the digestive system of the animal, prussic acid or hydrocyanic acid (HCN) is released and absorbed by the digestive tract. Cyanide poisoning results when the HCN level in the blood stream reaches toxic levels.

Number of Pages

15

Publisher

Western Australian Department of Agriculture

City

Perth

Keywords

Cyanogenetic plants, Poisonous plants, Livestock, Western Australia

Disciplines

Agricultural Education | Agricultural Science | Beef Science | Plant Biology | Plant Sciences | Sheep and Goat Science | Toxicology | Veterinary Toxicology and Pharmacology

Recommended Citation

Aplin, T E. (1979), Bulletin 3967 - Cyanogenetic plants of Western Australia. Western Australian Department of Agriculture, Perth. Bulletin Bulletin 3967.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bulletins3/29

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