Suspected packalacca (Phytolacca dioica) poisoning of cattle and chickens

Abstract

Packalacca (Phytoluccu dioku) is a tree, native to South America, which is cultivated for shade and drought fodder in south-eastem Australia (Everist 1981; Stanley and Ross 19W. Hewson 1984). The trees grow to 15 m high with dense leafy crowns. The leaves are oval or elliptical and resemble those of native figs. Male and female flowers occur on separate trees and are clustered on spikes. The fruits are thick disc-shaped berries resembling miniature pumpkins (Figure 1). This paper reports 2 occurrences of disease associated with consumptionof P dioica There are field reports of pigs and humans Wig affected previously (Everist 1981).