About Echium plantagineum L.
Echium plantagineum L. is a winter annual plant that grows 20 to 60 centimeters tall. It has rough, hairy, lanceolate leaves that can reach up to 14 centimeters in length. Its purple flowers measure 15 to 20 millimeters long, have all stamens protruding, and grow on a branched spike. This species is commonly known as Paterson's curse, and the condition it causes is referred to as pyrrolizidinosis in veterinary medicine. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are poisonous to grazing animals, especially nonruminants. When consumed in large quantities, it causes reduced livestock weight gain; severe cases result in death due to liver damage. Paterson's curse can kill horses, irritate the udders of dairy cows, and cause skin irritation in humans. After the 2003 Canberra bushfires, a large bloom of this plant grew on burned land, and many horses became ill and died after grazing on it. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids can also be present in the nectar of Paterson's curse, so any honey produced from this nectar should be blended with other honeys to dilute the toxins.
