Plants and mushrooms

Green cestrum

Common name		Green cestrum
Botanical name		Cestrum parqui
Other common names		Green poisonberry, Chilean cestrum, Iodine bush, Willow-leaved jessamine
Family		Solanaceae
General description		A single or multi-stemmed, weedy shrub up to 2m tall, sometimes to 5m, with extensive yellow roots. It has been cultivated as an ornamental in the past and is a weed in some areas.
Flowers		The flowers are tubular, 2-2.5cm long with five star shaped lobes, greenish-yellow and grouped in clusters at the ends of the stems.
Leaves		The leaves are alternate, soft dark green, 2-10.5cm long and 0.5-2.4cm wide. The leaves have a strong unpleasant odour when crushed.
Fruit/Berries		The fruit are succulent shiny black berries, oval or teardrop shaped and about 1.0-1.5cm long. When crushed, the berries will stain the skin an iodine- brown.
Other		The sap is clear.
Symptoms		All parts of the plant are toxic, especially the fruit, and can cause elevated temperature, rapid pulse, excess salivation and gastritis
Toxicity category		2
Warning		Seek urgent medical attention for all ingestions.