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Arum Lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Description Creamy-white, hood-shaped flower with a yellow spadix. Arrow-shaped leaves. Can grow to nearly 1m (3ft) tall. Flowers May - June
Symptoms Entire plant is toxic. Nausea and vomiting
Animals Mainly Affected All
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B
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Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
Description Tree with blackish bark. Leaves usually have short thorns at the base. White flowers trailing for 8-20cm.
Symptoms Bark, leaves and seeds are toxic. Causes staggering and paralysis.
Animals Mainly Affected Horses, cattle, poultry, sheep, goats
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Black locust - J. Samanek, Bugwood.org

Black locust flowers - J. Samanek, Bugwood.org |
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Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum
Description Large green triangular fronds. Widespread and invasive
Symptoms Entire plant is toxic, even when dry.Blood loss, ulceration, blindness in ruminants – staggering, weight loss, constipation in horses, jaw tumours in sheep.
Sheep and cattle normally avoid it.
Animals Mainly Affected Horses, sheep, cattle, pigs
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Bracken - C. Evans, Bugwood.org
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C
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Cocklebur
Xanthium strumarium
Description Tall plant with spiky leaves – seedlings have smooth leaves and so palatable.
50-120cm tall – flowers July – September
Symptoms Seedlings and seeds toxic. Causes depression, vomiting and weakness. Death can be rapid.
Animals Mainly Affected Cattle, pigs
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Cocklebur sappling - J. D. Byrd, Bugwood.org

Cocklebur - F.&K. Starr, Bugwood.org
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Creeping Buttercup
Ranunculus repens
Description Small yellow flowers – same as normal buttercup, but with runners
Symptoms Entire plant is toxic. Poison strongest when plant is flowering. Can severely injure digestive system (inflamation, diarrhoea) and can cause dermatitis.
Animals Mainly Affected Grazing animals
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Creeping buttercup - R. Old, Bugwood.org
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D
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Deadly Nightshade
Atropa belladonna
Description 2-5 ft tall with branched stems. Large dull purple flowers in June – August. Purple to black berries. Very rare.
Symptoms Entire plant is toxic. Causes intense digestive disturbances, dilated pupils, inflamed mucus membranes, nervous excitement, inability to stand.
Animals Mainly Affected Sheep, horses, goats
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E
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Elderberry
Sambucus nigra
Description Shrub or small tree – clusters or small white or cream flowers in Spring, followed by umbrella shaped clusters of berries (red-black).
Symptoms Leaves, stems, roots, unripe berries are toxic.Nausea, vomiting & diarrhoea.
Animals Mainly Affected Cattle, goats
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Elderberry - T. Webster, Bugwood.org
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F
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Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Description Tall plant with bell-shaped flowers – can grow to 1.5m.
Symptoms Entire plant is toxic. Cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract affected.
Animals Mainly Affected All
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Foxglove - G. Wojciech, Bugwood.org
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H
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Hemlock
Conium maculatum
Description Tall plant – up to 2m, with white flowers. Purple blotches on light-green stems, unpleasant smell when bruised.
Symptoms Very dangerous even in small doses – death within hours. Causes, trembling, salivation, weakness. Can also cause birth defects.
Animals Mainly Affected All
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Hemlock - S. Dewey, Bugwood.org

Hemlock flowers - J. D. Byrd, Bugwood.org
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Henbane
Hyoscyamus niger (black) / albus (white)
Description Large yellow and purple flowers in June – August. – can grow to 31 inches tall. White hairs on stems and unpleasant smell. Common in coastal locations.
Symptoms Nausea, vomiting, trembling, possible blindness. Also toxic in hay when dried. Poisonings are rare due to the unpleasant smell.
Animals Mainly Affected Cattle, horses, sheep, pigs
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Henbane - M. E. Harte, Bugwood.org
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Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum
Description Climbing plant with cream and pink scented flowers.
Symptoms Plant and berries toxic. Can produce severe vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy.
Animals Mainly Affected Sheep
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I
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Ivy
Hedera helix
Description Climbing plant with glossy evergreen leaves.
Symptoms Entire plant is toxic, but berries are more toxic than leaves. Causes vomiting, diarrhoea, muscular spasms and paralysis.
Animals Mainly Affected All
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Ivy - J. H. Miller, Bugwood.org |
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L
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Laburnum
Laburnum anagyroides
Description Small tree with long chains of pea-like yellow flowers in May - June.
Symptoms Entire tree is toxic. Abdominal & muscular pain, salivation and diarrhoea.
Animals Mainly Affected All
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Larkspur
Consolida ajacis
Description Tall plant with blue flowers at the top – 25-60cm tall.
Symptoms Young plants and seeds are toxic. Causes digestive upset, nervousness, depression, breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, musular spasms, difficulty standing and can affect the cardiovascular system. Can also cause dermatitis. Very common in USA.
Animals Mainly Affected Sheep, cattle, cats
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Lesser Celandine
Ranunculus ficaria
Description Small yellow flowers found on banks and hedgerows in early spring – very common – flowers February to May
Symptoms Causes skin irritation
Animals Mainly Affected Sheep, horses, cattle
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Lesser celandine - L. J. Mehrhoff, Bugwood.org
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M
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Marsh Marigold
Caltha palustris
Description Yellow flowers in Spring and early summer. Large kidney-shaped dark green leaves. Found in wet, boggy land.
Symptoms Irritating for animal and can cause blisters. Toxins lost by drying, so not toxic in hay. Toxic if eaten – diarrhoea, colic, occassionally blindness and death if large quantities eaten.
Animals Mainly Affected Sheep, horses, cattle
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Marsh marigold - J. O'Brien, Bugwood.org
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Monkshood (Wolfsbane)
Aconitum variegatum
Description Dark green leaves arranged alternately along the stem. Tall plant topped with blue, purple, white, yellow or pink hooded flowers with multiple stamen.
Symptoms Entire plant is very toxic (but rare).
Causes colic, paralysis and repiratory problems – death can be sudden.
Animals Mainly Affected Cattle, goats, horses
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O
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Oak
Quercus robur
Description Large deciduous tree with dark green serrated leaves.
Symptoms Leaves and acorns toxic.
Symptoms can include constipation, blood stained faeces, weakness and staggering, slow heart beat, watery eyes and damage to the kidneys in severe cases.
Animals Mainly Affected Sheep, horses
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Oak - G. Wojciech, Bugwood.org
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R
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Ragwort
Senecio jacobaea
Description Tall plant with clusters of small yellow flowers – 30-100cm tall
Symptoms Entire plant is toxic. Also toxic in hay once dried. Causes liver damage, kidney failure, slow death. Dispose of plant by digging up and burning.
Animals Mainly Affected Most animals, mainly: sheep, horses, cattle, dogs
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Ragwort - R. Old, Bugwood.org

Ragwort flowers - R. Old, Bugwood.org
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Rhododendron
Rhododendron ponticum
Description Shrubs or trees, ranging from 30cm to 30m tall. Large dark green leathery leaves with clusters of large rosette style flowers.
Symptoms Hypotension and respiratory depression, excessive salivation, abdominal pain and staggering.Unpalatable to most grazing animals.
Animals Mainly Affected Cattle, sheep
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W
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Wood Anemone
Anemone nemorosa
Description Small, white flowers with yellow stamens. Found in woodland in Spring.
Symptoms Gastrointestinal irritation
Animals Mainly Affected Sheep
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Wood anemone -G. Wojciech, Bugwood.org
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Woody Nightshade
Solanum dulcamara
Description Common inhedgerows. Purple flowers with yellow centres – flowers June - September.
Symptoms Nausea, vomiting, nervous excitement, rapid pulse and respirartion, dilated pupils, staggering.
Animals Mainly Affected Sheep, horses
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Woody nightshade - D. Cappaert, Bugwood.org

Woody nightshade berries - J. Cardina, Bugwood.org
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Y
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Yew
Taxus baccata
Description Dense, evergreen tree with red berries – UK native.
Symptoms Berries and foliage toxic. Mainly kills farm animals in winter. Causes digestive distubances, dizziness, abdominal cramping, salivation and vomiting. Death can be sudden with no symptoms.
Animals Mainly Affected Mainly farm animals, horses
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Yew - C. Evans, Bugwood.org
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