Do Photinias harm animals?

[hannarose]

Staycalm Wrote:
> "hannarose" wrote in message
> ...-
>
> Help! Do photinias harm horses? We have a stud farm in Victoria and
> someone told us photinias harm sheep, what about horses. We breed
> thoroughbreds and have planted a hedge of photinias near our stallion
> yards. We may need to move them or fence off if they are poisonous.
>
>
> --
> hannarose-
>
> From this site:
> http://tinyurl.com/43qhx
>
> "Photinia spp. - Photinia
> The evergreen photinias are popular ornamental shrubs grown for their
> round
> clusters of white flowers, red berries, and particularly their red new
> leaves in the spring. Cuttings from these shrubs can be poisonous
> because
> they contain hydrocyanic acid similar to Prunus."
>
> and then from the info about Prunus:
>
> "Poisonous principle: Hydrocyanic acid (also called prussic acid),
> which is
> one of the decomposition products formed by the action of enzymes on
> the
> glycoside amygdalin. Many factors appear to contribute to the formation
> of
> the acid, but it is most commonly found when the leaves are partially
> wilted. When fresh leaves are eaten, they release hydrogen cyanide
> (HCN) in
> the stomach or rumen after mastication.
>
> Parts of plant: Leaves, twigs, bark, or seeds. Discarded fruit pits
> should
> not be available to dogs or caged birds.
>
> Periodicity: Spring, summer, and fall; fresh, or wilted due to frost,
> drought, or broken branches.
>
> Animals poisoned: Cattle, horses, sheep, goats, dogs, and birds."
>
> Sound pretty noxious.
>
> Liz

Thank you Liz,
I will take this into serious consideration. I don't think we'll be
taking any risks.


--
hannarose