Dear Staff of Botanical Science Institutes of Canada, Hi there. My name is Brodie Sanderson, and I'm writing from Winnipeg, Manitoba. I'm doing preliminary research on skin irritating and contact poisonous plants of the world, and was wondering if any of your establishments were currently growing any of these plants, or if you have any more information that may be useful to my research. Any help you could give me would be much appreciated. The plants that I am specifically interested in are as follows: - Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens): - Manchineel Tree (Hippomane mancinella): - Nilgiri Nettle (Girardinia leschenaultiana): - Black Poison Wood (Metopium toxiferum): - Upas (Antiaris toxicaria): - Stinging Spurge (Jatropha urens) : - Tree Nettle (Laportea spp.) : - Ligas (Semecarpus spp.): - Bull Nettle (Cnidoscolus stimulosus): - Giant Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide excelsa): - Nettle Tree (Urera baccifera): - Rainbow Leaf (Smodingium argutum) : - Blinding Tree (Excoecaria agallocha): - Gympie (Dendrocnide moroides): - Cashew Nut Tree: (Anacardium occidentale) : - Western/Eastern Poision Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum / Toxicodendron pubescens) : - Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans): - Japanese Laquer Tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) : - Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix): - Any other Toxicodendron Species (poisonous species): Thanks very much for your time. Your help would be greatly appreciated, and I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Brodie Sanderson
Hi Brodie, Have a look through our collections database. From what I recall, though, the only plant we (used to) have in our collections is an arborescent Toxicodendron. The main tree was removed, but I think a seedling or rootstock was discovered this year - unfortunately, I think, that was also removed just a few weeks ago.
