>dave, i believe the origin of the term dumbcane was
>not that children or anyone else would unwittingly
>chew on this plant, but that it was used as a
>punishment for escaped slaves in the caribbean (to
>have the cut stems rubbed inside their mouths and thus
>they would not be able to speak for several days).
>
>=========
>tsuh yang
Hi Tsuh:
It is actually the "dumbman's cane". The oxalate crystals are
present in Spatiphyllum, Arum, Zantedeschia, Anthurium, Philodendron,
Dracontium and any aroid you can think of, when raw. That practice was
common in Brazil as well. A piece of stem was placed horizontally in the
slave's mouth and then forced to bite it.
Regards
Alberto
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