Jim Choate[SMTP:ravage@einstein.ssz.com] On Thu, 22 Mar 2001, Trei, Peter wrote:
I fell awfully tempted NOT to inform Jim that potato leaves are poisonous :-)
Clearly not personal experience talking.
Of course not! I try to learn from *other* peoples mistakes. http://www.life.umd.edu/classroom/BSCI124/lec30.html LECTURE 30 - POISONOUS AND ALLERGENIC PLANTS [...] 2. Saponins (e.g. tomatine in tomato, solanine in potato) a. Natural soaps (as in century plants (Agave))- develop bubbles but poke holes in membranes (by aggregating cholesterol) b. Causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea c. Solanine present in potato (Solanum tuberosum) - most of plant except tubers is poisonous. Tuber contains solanine too, but toxic dose is about 100 potatoes. Green potatoes (which turn green after exposure to sunlight) can cause fatal poisonings. Green and damaged potatoes are even more toxic. [...]