Tokyo Food Safety Information Center » Good things to know »  Poisonous plants easily mistaken for harmless ones » Adonis ramosa (Ranunculaceae)

Adonis ramosa (Ranunculaceae)

Perennial plant that grows in mountainous areas of Hokkaido, Tohoku and Kanto regions. It sprouts in early spring and has a bright yellow flower and it is used for New Year decoration, since it is considered as a flower attracting good luck. There exist many garden species.


Characteristics

Habitat Besides growing in mountainous areas of Hokkaido, Tohoku and Kanto regions, it is grown in gardens.
Parts of the plant that may be ingested accidentally. Whole plant. Its sprouts may be mistaken for butterbur scape.
Symptoms Vomiting, breathing difficulties, heart attack, etc. Can be fatal.
Venomous constituents Its poisonous substances are cardiac glycosides cymarin and adonitoxin. Whole plant is poisonous.

Adonis ramosa
Adonis ramosa
Adonis ramosa sprouts (poisonous)
Adonis ramosa sprouts (poisonous)
Butterbur scape (edible)
Butterbur scape (edible)

 

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