Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Can you help me identify the symptoms associated with toxic Echium species?
QUESTION:
I am an Italian palynologist of the University of Modena, and I am studing
the problem of overrappresentation of Echium pollen in different sediments,
expecially coprolites from goats. As I found several references about
toxicity of Echium in herbivores, I'm searching for news on Echium species
as toxic plants. I known that Echium, and many Boraginaceae, contains
pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Can you give me some notices? expecially on
poisoning symptoms?
ANSWER:
Echium plantagineum is the modern Echium species most often cited as toxic. It
does contain pyrolizidine alkaloids that can cause all of the liver damage one
associates with these kinds of toxins. The English name for this plant when it
is killing animals is Patterson's Curse.
On the other hand, there are certain years and seasons that this plant may be
the only source of feed and in fact may save large flocks of sheep from
starvation. The English name for the plant then becomes Salvation Jane.
Goats are very resistant to pyrrolizidine alkaloids and sheep are almost as
resistant (relative to cattle or pigs, for example). If you were to find
Echium pollen with the feces of any livestock, it is not surprising that it
would be with goat feces.