Plants and mushrooms

Chalice vine

Common name		Chalice vine
Botanical name		Solandra maxima
Other common names		Golden cup, Trumpet flower
Family		Solanaceae
General description		A large woody vine cultivated as an ornamental.
Flowers		The flowers, which open mostly at night, are large, cup-shaped, white to yellow in colour, sometimes with purple veins, and measure up to 25cm in length. The flowers are strongly perfumed at night.
Leaves		The leaves are up to 15cm long and 7cm wide, and can sometimes be variegated in colour.
Fruit/Berries		The fruit are fleshy, nearly round and up to 6cm in diameter, white to pale-yellow, with many small seeds inside.
Other		The sap has been recorded as being an irritant, either in the eye or on the skin.
Symptoms		All parts of the plant are thought to be toxic. If ingested, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, dilated pupils, temperatures and delirium.
Toxicity category		2, 3
Warning		For all eye exposures rinse the eye with water for 15 minutes and then seek urgent medical assistance. Seek medical assistance for all ingestions.