Experiments with Palicourea longepedunculata Gardn. revealing its non-toxicity for cattle

Abstract

In order to investigate its toxicity, experiments with Palicourea longepedunculata Gardn. were performed on bovines. Samples from various counties of the States of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo were collected at different times of the year. The leaves, flowers and fruits were given orally in doses up to 25,1 g/kg. No symptoms of poisoning were observed. Contrary to these results, P. longepedunculata was considered poisonous to cattle according to one published paper; the plant is said to have caused death of bovines in doses of only 1 g/kg. These different results probably are due to an erroneous identification of the plant material used. The leaves of P. longepedunculata are very similar to those of Palicourea maregravii St. Hil, a very poisonous plant for cattle. Both plants are found in the same "habitat" and can only be distinguished by their flowers and odor. Crushed leaves or stems of P. maregravii produce the odor of methyl salicylate. In the paper referred to, P. longepedunculata was reported having this odor, a statement which enhances the suspicion that there. was a mistake in the identification of the plant material used in those experiments. It is concluded that Palicourea longepedunculata Gardn. is not a poisonous plant for cattle.