78 MISC. PUB. 882, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
make oleander popular in border plantings. It is attractive when 
grown as a trimmed hedge or when grown as a specimen, either singly 
or in a group. 
Toxtciry AND Symptoms.—All parts of oleander are poisonous to 
humans and to all classes of farm animals (61). Two extremely 
poisonous glucosides—nerioside and oleanderoside—have been isolated 
from the plant (60). One leaf of oleander is sufficient to kill a mature 
cow or horse. A number of picnickers have suffered severe poisoning 
after eating frankfurters roasted over a fire of oleander stems. Poi- 
soning in horses, cattle, and sheep causes general weakness, slow pulse, 
and profuse sweating, followed by death. In humans, symptoms in- 
clude nausea, vomiting, dizziness, bloody diarrhea, unconsciousness, 
and death. 
MANAGEMENT AND Controu.—Because of their toxicity, extreme cau- 
tion should be constantly exercised in handling the plants. Gloves 
should be worn when trimming the plants or when making cuttings 
for propagation. Washing the hands thoroughly with hot soapy 
water is recommended after handling the plants. The branches and 
leaves should not be used in a fire for cooking food, nor should the 
smoke be inhaled when the plant trimmings are burned. The branches 
and leaves, which must be discarded, should be either burned with 
proper caution or buried. Plants should never be left where they will 
be available to livestock, since they are more likely to eat dry, dead 
plants than green, live ones. Children should not be allowed to play 
with the plants under any circumstances. ‘They should be warned 
against chewing the leaves, twigs, flowers, and fruiting pods. They 
should be cautioned against playing with or around the stumps of 
freshly cut plants, to prevent their coming in contact with the exuded 
plant sap. 
Removal of plants by grubbing out the roots is a more effective 
control measure than is cutting because cut plants form regrowth. 
Oleander is susceptible to selective herbicides. Care should be used 
in applying herbicides because they are potentially dangerous to other 
close-growing ornamentals. Herbicides may be applied as a basal 
spray or by the basal pour method to plants under certain circum- 
stances. Their copious production of seeds, which are windborne, 
constitutes a constant challenge to adequate control measures. Deny- 
ing livestock access to the plants is recommended. 
Euphorbiaceae, or Spurge, Family 
Pedilanthus latifolius Millsp. & Britton (fig. 43) 
DescrieTion.—This branched, fleshy, ornamental shrub often 
reaches a height of 4 to 8 feet or more when left unpruned. The young © 
twigs grow in a zigzag manner and bear alternate leaves. The entire 
plant is green and smooth throughout; its stems are round. The green, 
fleshy leaves borne on very short, stout stems are rounded at the base 
and have a small sharp point at their tips; they reach 3 inches in 
length and 244 inches in width. The midvein is not flanged beneath — 
as 1s that of Christmas candle. The small flowers, borne in compact 
clusters at the tips of the branches, are surrounded by a thick, salmon- 
red, shoe-shaped tube. The fruiting capsule measures about 14 inch 
in length and width and contains several small seeds. A1l parts of the 
