Poisonous plants annually cause significantly large losses of money through injury to man and livestock. No verifiable sums are available but figures as high as "several million dollars" are often quoted. There is no doubt that poisonous plants adversely affect man and all classes of livestock through reduced productivity and even death.
Quick recognition of some of the more common poisonous plants found in fence lines and pastures may encourage livestock producers to remove such plants where feasible and cause people to avoid exposure to such plants.
The need for a regional publication on the identification and toxicity of common poisonous plants was discussed at the annual meeting of Southern Extension Directors held July 1974. Dean William D. Bishop (Tennessee) appointed the following committee to prepare the publication:
- Dr. A. H. Kates - Extension (VPI & SU)
- Dr. D. E. Davis - Botanist (Auburn University)
- Dr. John McCormack - Extension D.V.M. (University of Georgia)
- Chairman, Dr. James F. Miller - Extension (University of Georgia)
Extension weed specialists and Extension veterinarians in the southern region states were asked in a survey to name poisonous plants in order of poisoning frequency and relative importance in their state. A master list of poisonous plants was developed from these surveys. The list was returned twice to Extension weed specialists for adjustment in order of importance.
Plant
species in this publication are shown in the order determined by the procedure described
above.
The committee chairman acknowledges with grateful appreciation the dedicated efforts of the committee members and their patience and perseverance: Dr. Davis who prepared the descriptive text for each species, Dr. Kates who prepared the glossary and conducted the surveys, and Dr. McCormack who prepared the symptomatology and toxicology text.
The committee hopes that by preparing this material as a regional publication copies will always be available through periodic reprints. Availability has not been the case with several excellent state publications on poisonous plants.
For reprints, please contact:
