Poisonous Plants of Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

Abstract The focus of this chapter is the indigenous flora of Australia and New Zealand that has been noted to produce significant livestock losses. The arid climate of Australia and the long biogeographic isolation of New Zealand have resulted in a series of unique plant toxidromes. Important indigenous plant toxidromes in Australia, such as walkabout disease, McKenzie River disease, swainsona poisoning, Birdsville disease, bitter bark poisoning, floodplain staggers (Stewart Range syndrome), wamps, zamia staggers and related toxidromes, finger cherry poisoning, blind grass poisoning, Gympie stinger poisoning, plant-related fluoroacetate poisoning, billy button poisoning, pimelea poisoning, and a number of others are discussed in this chapter. Economically important introduced plant toxidromes, such as Paterson’s curse poisoning and heliotrope poisoning, are also discussed. In relation to New Zealand, important indigenous plant poisonings, such as Strathmore poisoning, tutu poisoning, ngaio toxicity, karaka poisoning, tree nettle toxicity (ongaonga poisoning), poroporo toxicity, and rangiora toxicity are discussed.