Reaction

From: Kevin & Ali tautau at earthlink.net> on 1999.11.12 at 15:34:40(3826) Here's a new one, as far as I can tell... I LOVE Aroids and have been growing them for quite some time. Recently, I have discovered that I get a severe attack of dermatitis from the sap of Philodendron scandens. All I have to do is touch a broken leaf or stem and I get a raised bump like a nasty mosquito bite and it itches like %&*^! I know, poor me. Well, here's my question...P.scandens is the ONLY aroid, so far that does this to me. No Dieffenbachia, no Aglaonema, no Monstera, and I can practically eat Epipremnum. I know this because I self-inflicted test patches across my stomach to figure out who the culprit was! (Why the stomach? It seemed the only place left unscathed that was appropriate to scratch in public!) ;) Returning, does anyone know if P.scandens has an unusually high oxalic acid content? Does anyone know if P.scandens possesses any chemicals particular to its genus/tribe/sub-this or that? Does anyone else know that they have reactions to any specific aroids? Thanks! Any info anyone could scratch out would be interesting. Kevin +More tautau@earthlink.net

From: Betsytrips at aol.com on 1999.11.12 at 16:28:35(3828) In a message dated 11/12/99 9:34:42 AM Central Standard Time, tautau@earthlink.net writes: << Does anyone else know that they have reactions to any specific aroids? +More >> In recent years when I work in the greenhouse, I almost always come across a similar reaction when I cut philodendrums. I have come to accept the malady and yes, it does itch like &^%$##! I never went so far as to check out the multiple sources because I would have no skin left and the mapping would become more of a chore than the itch. Good luck, wear gloves, don't inhale, long sleeves, hat, long pants, socks, boots and cover your face. Wonder how much fun it will be then to play with your plants? Betsy

From: Stacy Holtzman sholtzma at sunflower.bio.indiana.edu> on 1999.11.13 at 15:59:03(3830) Well Kevin, if nothing else comes from this self-testing it at least made me chuckle for the day. I could just imagine you putting these substance on your belly to check for toxicity! haha Only an aroid fan would do something like this. Stacy +More Stacy Holtzman Howard Hughes Medical Institute Bloomington, Indiana Z5b

From: "Bonaventure W Magrys" magrysbo at shu.edu> on 1999.11.13 at 16:04:26(3831) Are you sure that vine is not mislabeled? Phil. scandens? Leaves of three, let it be.... Ha ha, just joking. Bonaventure +More Kevin & Ali on 11/12/99 10:36:13 AM Please respond to aroid-l@mobot.org To: Bonaventure W Magrys/ADM/SHU@SHU cc: Subject: Reaction Here's a new one, as far as I can tell... I LOVE Aroids and have been growing them for quite some time. Recently, I have discovered that I get a severe attack of dermatitis from the sap of Philodendron scandens. All I have to do is touch a broken leaf or stem and I get a raised bump like a nasty mosquito bite and it itches like %&*^! I know, poor me. Well, here's my question...P.scandens is the ONLY aroid, so far that does this to me. No Dieffenbachia, no Aglaonema, no Monstera, and I can practically eat Epipremnum. I know this because I self-inflicted test patches across my stomach to figure out who the culprit was! (Why the stomach? It seemed the only place left unscathed that was appropriate to scratch in public!) ;) Returning, does anyone know if P.scandens has an unusually high oxalic acid content? Does anyone know if P.scandens possesses any chemicals particular to its genus/tribe/sub-this or that? Does anyone else know that they have reactions to any specific aroids? Thanks! Any info anyone could scratch out would be interesting. Kevin tautau@earthlink.net

From: Aloe1023 at aol.com on 1999.11.13 at 16:09:17(3832) Philodendrons don't bother me a bit, but Dieffenbachia sap is awful on my skin, to say nothing of getting it in eyes. Euphorbias are the worst to me. Russ.

From: Lucy kukui at flash.net> on 1999.11.14 at 17:08:03(3834) Stacy It would be Kevin who would think of something like this and he is known for a sense of humor! Lucy +More Holtzman wrote: > > Well Kevin, if nothing else comes from this self-testing it at least made > me chuckle for the day. I could just imagine you putting these substance > on your belly to check for toxicity! haha > > Only an aroid fan would do something like this. > Stacy > > Stacy Holtzman > Howard Hughes Medical Institute > Bloomington, Indiana Z5b

From: Betsytrips at aol.com on 1999.11.14 at 17:12:56(3835) Yes, to the Dieffenbachias and yes to the Euphorbias. Wonder how far this will go? Betsy +More

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