"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://www.cals.ncsu.edu/botany/ncsc...lar_plants.htm

"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