General poisoning notes:

Spotted dumbcane (Dieffenbachia maculata) is an indoor ornamental. Experimental work with leaf and stem material caused death in mice and rats (Der Marderosian et al. 1976). Toxic symptoms have also occurred in humans and house pets. Chewing produces painful irritation of the mouth and throat. Symptoms may take several days to disappear. The insoluble oxalates do not cause systemic poisoning in humans (Lampe and McCann 1985).

References:

Der Marderosian, A. H., Giller, F. B., Roia, F. C. 1976. Phytochemical and toxicological screening of household ornamental plants potentially toxic to humans. 1. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1: 939-953.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Dieffenbachia maculata (Lodd.) G. Don

Vernacular name(s): spotted dumbcane

Scientific family name: Araceae

Vernacular family name: arum

Go to ITIS*^ca for more taxonomic information on: Dieffenbachia maculata

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.

Image or illustration

spotted dumbcane:

Images: images.google.com

Toxic parts:

leaves
stems

References:

Der Marderosian, A. H., Giller, F. B., Roia, F. C. 1976. Phytochemical and toxicological screening of household ornamental plants potentially toxic to humans. 1. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1: 939-953.

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

See notes under Dieffenbachia seguine for additional information on toxic chemicals in Dieffenbachia spp.

Toxic plant chemicals:

oxalate

References:

Der Marderosian, A. H., Giller, F. B., Roia, F. C. 1976. Phytochemical and toxicological screening of household ornamental plants potentially toxic to humans. 1. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1: 939-953.

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:

mouth, irritation of

Notes on poisoning:

See additional notes under Dieffenbachia seguine.

References:

Der Marderosian, A. H., Giller, F. B., Roia, F. C. 1976. Phytochemical and toxicological screening of household ornamental plants potentially toxic to humans. 1. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1: 939-953.

Rodents