OT dumbcane (was: Moles and other Geophyte predators)
Dell Sherk (Tue, 03 Jan 2006 13:03:32 PST)
How is the mythological character, Narcissus, related to sleep-inducement,
then?
-----Original Message-----
From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]
On Behalf Of piaba
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 1:01 PM
To: Pacific Bulb Society
Subject: [pbs] dumbcane (was: Moles and other Geophyte predators)
The name "narcissus" descends from the Greek word
narkissos meaning (broadly)
sleep-inducing. Narcissus bulbs contain an oxalate,
the crystals of which
are needle shaped (raphides). When ingested, these
crystals are released and
lodge in the mucous membranes lining the mouth and
esophagus causing the tissue
to swell. Diffenbachia sp. also contain this
compound. "Dumb cane" is a
colloquial term used for this plant. It has to do
with an inability to speak and
not, necessarily, to the relative smarts of the
person ingesting the plant!!
When chewed on by the unsuspecting (most frequently
children under five
years), swelling of the mucous membranes is so great
as to prevent speech (hence,
"dumb"). In the worst case, swelling could close
off the airway causing death.
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
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