Scientific Name
Malus sylvestris (M. pumila)
Common Name
Apple

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Rosaceae
Plant Description
Small tree with alternate, simple, toothed leaves; flowers showy, white to pinkish, 5-parted; fruit fleshy, green, yellow, or red.
Origin
Eurasia.
Where Found
Landscape in fruit garden or yard, cultivated for the fruit.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Seeds, in quantity.
Symptoms
Difficult breathing, trembling, spasms, coma of short duration.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Apples, but discard the seeds. HARVEST TIME: Only collect fruit from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Wash fruit thoroughly with warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Wild apples are generally quite a bit smaller than cultivated varieties. They also tend to be somewhat harder and definitely more tart. Crab-apples can be used in place of domestic apples in many cooked recipes.
Toxic Principle
Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin.
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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