Dianella ensifolia 山菅蘭

POISONOUS PARTS

Whole plant.^3,4

TOXICITY

• Toxic Constituents

  Not identified.

• Poisoning Features

  Nausea, hiccups, dyspnoea and even death.⁵

• Poisoning Events

  The plant has been used traditionally as a rodenticide; however, there is no human poisoning case documented.⁶

CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Supportive treatment.

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Perennial evergreen herbs, with creeping rhizomes. Stems erect, 0.7–1.5(–2) m tall. Leaves basal and distichous; leaf blades leathery, 30–70 × 1–3.5 cm, midveins abaxially and margin scabrous. Panicles 10–40 cm long, usually arcuate. Perianth segments 6, 7–8 × 3–4 mm. Stamens 6, stamens and styles about 6 mm long. Berries 7–10 mm in diameter, deep blue. Seeds about 3 × 4.5 mm, black and shining.⁷

MEDICINAL USES

Rhizomes or whole plant used in TCM: draw out toxin, disperse swelling, dissipate stasis and relieve pain. For external use only.^2,4