Scientific Name
Armoracia rusticana
Common Name
Red cole, horseradish

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Brassicaceae
Plant Description
Perennial herb with deep taproot; leaves alternate, simple, the margin toothed; flowers small, white, 4-parted.
Origin
Europe.
Where Found
Houseplant or interiorscape; landscape in vegetable garden.
Mode
Ingestion of more than small amount of ground root.
Poisonous Part
Roots.
Symptoms
Profuse sweating, irritation of the stomach and intestines, loss of strength, disorientation.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Roots, used as a condiment, but only in small amounts, and leaves, as expand in the spring, may be boiled in salted water until tender, then eaten with butter or margarine. SOURCE: Angier, B. 1974. Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA, 255 pp.
Toxic Principle
Glucosinolates.
Severity
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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