Name: Rhododendron (Rhododendron caucasicum)
Otherwise known as: Rosebay, Yellow Bay
Habitat: An evergreen shrub member of the Ericaceae family, growing up to 3.5m in light, well-drained, acid soil and native to Europe and Asia. The plant has dense, dark green spear-shaped leaves that cover it from base to tip and displays clusters of sweet smelling yellow flowers. All parts of the plant are poisonous and narcotic.
What does it do: Rhododendrons and Azaleas all contain alkaloids, the most prominent being Andromedotoxin, Rhodotoxin, Rhododendrol and Rhododendrin. The properties of these chemicals make them analgesic, anti-rheumatic and a cardiac sedative.
The earliest reference to Rhododendron poisoning is to be found in the Anabasis of Xenophon, whose troops were rendered comatose after consuming honey made from the pollen of the plant when gathered in the Black Sea region on his retreat from Persia. He states that ‘they fell all around me; some remained senseless for as many as four days’.
Pliny refers to the analgesic effect of making a plaster from the leaves and strapping it to the head.
Siberian shamen use tinctures from the flower and leaves to treat chronic rheumatism, gout and syphilis; they also burn the roots and stems in enclosed areas and inhale the smoke to induce prophetic dreams. It is claimed that smoke inhalation of the burning plant creates a shift in colour perception. In early Tibetan herbals, they claim Rhododendrons will restore vitality and sexual potency. The alkaloid Andromedotoxin is known to dramatically slow the pulse rate and lower blood pressure and is now proving useful in heart surgery; it is also given in post-surgical cases to combat the accretion of cholesterol.
Modern herbalists use extracts from the plant to treat cases of facial myalgia, acute testicular and ovarian pain.
The wood is extremely hard and is employed in the Caucasus region to produce charcoal, and in Nepal the wood forms the handles of the kukri, the famous Ghurka blade.
Providing they are planted in sufficiently acid soil, Rhododendrons and their relatives, the Azaleas, can flourish in Cyprus, but best results come from planting at altitude.
Next dangerous plant Moonseed
