POISONOUS PHILIPPINE PLANTS 



By William H. Brown 



A large number of wild Philippine plants have been used for 

 poisoning fish, others yield arrow poisons, and still others are 

 used for poisoning dogs. The use of fish poisons is prohibited 

 by law, so that these plants are of more scientific than practical 

 interest. The use of arrow poisons is confined to a very few 

 people belonging to wild tribes, and is also of little practical 

 importance. For these reasons, local names and descriptions 

 have not been given for these plants. The following account 

 is little more than a list of poisonous plants known to have 

 been used in the Philippines. 



Family MENISPERMACEAE 



Genus ANAMIRTA 

 ANAMIRTA COCCULUS (L.) W. & A. 



The powdered fruits of this species are put in water to kill 

 fish. In preparing the poison, the fruit is heated until dry and 

 then crushed and powdered. The fruits are poisonous not only 

 to fish, but also to other animals. 



Family CONNARACEAE 



Genus ROUREA 

 ROUREA E RECTA (Blanco) Merr. 



The wood of Rourea erecta is poisonous. It is pounded, boiled, 

 and mixed with the food of dogs in order to kill them. 

 ROUREA VOLUBILIS (Blanco) Merr. 



The fruits of this vine are used for poisoning dogs. 



Family LEGUMINOSAE 



Genus DERRIS 

 DERRIS ELLIPTICA (Roxb.) Benth. 



The roots of this species are used to poison fish. Cattle have 

 died from eating this plant. 



DERRIS PHILIPPINENSIS Merr. 



The roots of this plant are used as a fish poison. Cattle have 

 died from eating this plant. 



79 



