Poisonous Anacardiaceae of South America

Abstract

Relatively few poisonous Anacardiaceae have been described in South America. Their number, however, is likely to increase as the exploration of new territory progresses and the inventory of plant species becomes more complete.The majority of the poisonous South American Anacardiaceae, which comprise the genera Toxicodendron, Lithraea, Mauria, Tapirira and Loxopterigium, are confined to well-defined geographic or climatic areas. The native populations are aware of the dangers involved in handling or even approaching them. Toxicodendron striatum is a highly poisonous tree from northern South America which extends into Central America as far north as Mexico.1–5Toxicodendron succedaneum, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, and Toxicodendron radicans, which have been reported from Brazil,6–8 and Toxicodendron diversilobum from Argentina, 9 are all exotic.Lithraea is a genus from the temperate south with three species: Lithraea caustica, which grows in Chile and Argentina9,10; Lithraea brasiliensis and Lithraea molleoides in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.6,9,11Mauria puberula and Mauria heteropylla, indigenous to the Andes, are little known outside Venezuela and Colombia2,4,5 (Pedraza Y. Personal communication, 1985). Loxopterigium sagotii is probably confined to the Guianas and eastern Venezuela.12,13Tapirira guianensis grows in Venezuela, Brazil, and Suriname.2,4,8,13In contrast to the species listed above which the natives recognize and fear for their poisonous properties, there are others that they seem able to handle without overly noxious effects: Anacardium occidentale, Schinus terebenthifolius, and Mangifera indica; the two former indigenous, the latter an exotic tree. These three species are widespread and abundant in South America. They can be found in almost every inhabited land, from Colombia and Venezuela in the north to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil in the south. The dermatitis they cause, which has been described in the northern temperate zone,14–16 is virtually unknown in South America.