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Queensland Health
Health Services > Queensland Poisons Information Centre

Plants and mushrooms

Brunfelsia (Yesterday, today and tomorrow)

Brunfelsia flowers (Yesterday, today and tomorrow) Brunfelsia flower and leaves (Yesterday, today and tomorrow)
Category 2 toxicity icon

 Common name   Yesterday, today and tomorrow
 Botanical name   Brunfelsia species (most common species B. bonodora, B. pauciflora, B. americana)
 Other common names   Franciscea; morning, noon and night
Family   Solanaceae
 General description   A semi-evergreen ornamental shrub to 2m.
Flowers   The perfumed flowers are bright blue fading to light mauve to almost white, about 5cm in diameter with 5 broad petals. (B. americana has yellow flowers fading to cream). The flowers are usually grouped together at the ends of branches in clusters of 2 or 3 (sometimes up to 10).
Leaves   The shiny green leaves are leathery in texture, alternate on the stem and elliptic to oval in shape, 4-13cm long and up to 3cm wide.
 Fruit/Berries   Although very rarely seen to develop, the berries are globose to ovoid, green turning brown to black, 1-2cm in diameter, fleshy or leathery in texture. Seeds are prism shaped.
Other   -
Symptoms   All parts of the plant, including the roots, are poisonous. Symptoms can include salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea and nervous system disturbances with excessive excitement, tremor, hallucinations, delirium and seizures Death has been reported in dogs.
Toxicity category   2
Warning   Seek urgent medical attention if berries or seeds are ingested.

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Last Updated: 24 August 2010
Last Reviewed: 30 March 2008