General poisoning notes:

Common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is an ornamental shrub that is often planted as a hedge, and therefore the flowers and berries are trimmed. In older European literature, ingesting the berries has been noted to cause sickness in children. In more recent cases of ingestion by children, symptoms included only vomiting and diarrhea, after up to 12 berries were eaten (Frohne and Pfander 1983). Reynard and Norton (1942) cite the case of sheep that died after ingesting the trimmings from a hedge of a related privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium).

References:

Frohne, D., Pfander, H. J. 1983. A colour atlas of poisonous plants. Wolfe Publishing Ltd., London, England. 291 pp.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Ligustrum vulgare L.

Vernacular name(s): common privet

Scientific family name: Oleaceae

Vernacular family name: olive

References:

Agriculture Quebec. 1975. Noms des maladies des plantes du Canada/ Names of plant diseases in Canada. , Quebec City, Que., Canada. 288 pp.

Alex, J. F., Cayouette, R., Mulligan, G. A. 1980. Common and botanical names of weeds in Canada/Noms populaire et scientifiques des plantes nuisibles du Canada. Revised. Agric. Can. Publ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 132 pp.

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Scoggan, H. J. 1978, 1979. The flora of Canada. Nat. Mus. Nat. Sci. (Ottawa) Publ. Bot. 7(1)-7(4). 1711 pp.

Van Wijk, H. L. 1911. A dictionary of plant names. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, The Netherlands. 1444 pp.

Victorin, M. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2nd ed. Univ. Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada. 952 pp.

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

References:

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Boivin, B. 1966, 1967. Énumération des plantes du Canada. Provencheria 6. Nat. Can. (Que.) 93: 253-274; 371-437; 583-646; 989-1063. 94: 131-157; 471-528; 625-655.

Toxic parts:

mature fruit

References:

Frohne, D., Pfander, H. J. 1983. A colour atlas of poisonous plants. Wolfe Publishing Ltd., London, England. 291 pp.

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

Unknown chemicals are involved in common privet poisoning. Frohne and Pfander (1983) note that lignan glycosides, saponins, and seco- iridoid bitter substances are likely involved.

Toxic plant chemicals:

unknown chemical

References:

Frohne, D., Pfander, H. J. 1983. A colour atlas of poisonous plants. Wolfe Publishing Ltd., London, England. 291 pp.

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

diarrhea
vomiting

Notes on poisoning:

In recent reports the berries of common privet produced symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting only. In older literature, death was reported. Gastroenteritis may persist for 48-72 h. (Frohne and Pfander 1983, Lampe and McCann 1985).

References:

Frohne, D., Pfander, H. J. 1983. A colour atlas of poisonous plants. Wolfe Publishing Ltd., London, England. 291 pp.

Information Source: ©Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility.