In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote:

Gloriosa doesn't smell significantly, but it is SERIOUSLY poisonous,
much worse than anything that is naturalised in the UK, and I didn't
know if a single leaf or flower could kill a child.

I've grown it for years, and have never detected any scent. All the
reports of poisoning I've read about have followed ingestion of the
rhizomes. There are many comments about all parts of it being toxic, but
I haven't been able to find details of the levels of colchicine in the
leaves.

Nor me, but I was referring to small children (infants) and did NOT
want a death from that cause, or even a sick child. As I said, I didn't
know how toxic the leaves and flowers are.

I don't understand your comment about it being "much worse than anything
naturalised in the UK". If we try to compare like with like, then surely
we should be comparing it with anything growable in the UK, even in a
tropical house. That opens the field to many very poisonous plants. But
even if limited to those which can grow and survive outside in the UK,
what about Colchicum?! It's exactly the same as far as possible
poisoning is concerned, with the same active principle. We can also
include other plants such as Aconitum, Veratrum, Convallaria, Digitalis,
and others with cardiac glycosides. If we include other classes, we come
to Ricinus and other polypeptide poisons (including Abrus if we return
to tropical plants). So the field is pretty wide. Perhaps the unique
thing about colchicine is that, as far as I am aware, in it's mode of
action it is in a class of its own.

My understanding is that, in terms of concentrations, Gloriosa tubers
are significantly worse than those. I could be wrong, but my sources
seemed fairly reliable.

The point is that, allergies and damage to mucous membranes aside,
any plant found 'in the wild' in the UK can be handled and even tasted
without serious risk of death or permanent injury. The same is not
true for tropical plants, including those grown in conservatories,
greenhouses etc.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.