Scientific Name
Cestrum spp.
Common Name
Jessamine, night blooming jessamine, cestrum

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Solanaceae
Plant Description
Sprawling, evergreen shrubs; leaves alternate, simple, smooth-margined; flowers tubular, greenish white, greenish yellow, or cream, aromatic during day or night; fruit a small, purple or white berry.
Origin
South America.
Where Found
Houseplant or interiorscape; landscape in flower garden cultivated as herbaceous annual or perennial.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Unripe berries.
Symptoms
Headache, dizziness, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, muscular spasms and nervousness, high temperature, salivation and sweating, paralysis and coma.
Toxic Principle
Solanine-type glyco-alkaloids and atropine-like alkaloids.
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.

Previous Species, Home, Next Species