Hi welcome to Taiga Bonzai, we continue our journey through the alphabet discussing the toxicity of trees and shrubs, some of which are used in bonsai horticulture.

Introduction – some of the species mentioned here are endemic to tropical and sub-tropical regions, others are found in the northern hemisphere.

Umbrella tree – Schefflera arboricola. (syn. Heptapleurum arboricolum) also a member of the Araliaceae family is native to Taiwan, but can be found world-wide as a house plant and also in bonsai. S. arboricola should not be mistaken for S. actinophylla, because of the height difference.

Moreover, S. arboricola has different leaf colour and patterns, some variegated with cream to white flowers with yellow edges or centres. Although much depends on the individual cultivar. S. arboricola is poisonous and carries the same toxins as S. actinophylla. Leaf consumption can cause mouth tingling and numbness, vomiting and abdominal pain and sap when in contact with skin can cause irritation and rash.

Viburnum – Lantana. family Adoxaceae. Also known as the ‘wayfaring tree’ is a deciduous shrub native to Europe, but can be found in Asia and northern Africa and is a relatively common specimen in bonsai.

It’s oval dark green leaves have a downy or hair like covering on the underside and flowers that are creamy white in colour and green fruit. These ripen to a bright red eventually turning black when mature. The berries if consumed although mildly toxic can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain if ingested in large quantities.

Viburnum – Opulus. family Adoxaceae. Is often referred to by its common name the ‘Guelder rose’ and is native to Europe, northern Africa and central Asia. This deciduous shrub has three lobed leaves that are opposite to each other having an appearance similar to maples.

The flowers in clusters are white in colour with their centre being fertile surrounded by an infertile ring that are produced in early summer; the fruit that is bright red. The berries if consumed although mildly toxic can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain if ingested in large quantities.

Virginia creeper – Parthenocissus quinquefolia. family Vitaceae. Is native to north America, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala and Europe. It is a prolific deciduous climbing vine reaching heights of over 30m. (100ft) It attaches itself to smooth surfaces by small adhesive pads.

This plant normally seen growing on the sides of buildings has striking colours throughout the seasons. The leaves change from various greens to yellow to orange to red and purple and this colour change makes the species attractive to bonsai.

The flowers are small and greenish white in colour, which change into purple/black berries in the autumn. The sap, leaves and berries are poisonous because they contain the toxin oxalic acid. Prolonged skin contact can be dangerous and ingesting any part even small amounts can cause kidney damage and death to humans.

White cedar – Spp. family Cupressaceae. Include Chamaecyparis thyoides – Atlantic white cypress, Cupressus lusitanica – Mexican white cedar, Thuja occidentalis – Northern white cedar, Thuja plicata – western red cedar and Cryptomeria japonica – Japanese cedar. Cedars are conifers and are found in many parts of the world, from northern climes to temperate zones.

They have many uses for example, grown as barriers, wind breaks, dense hedging in parks and gardens and are a common species in bonsai. However, all cedars carry toxins the primary irritant being plicatic acid and some are more potent than others for example.

The western red cedar and Japanese cedar have the highest content of plicatic acid and exposure to it can cause severe asthma, rhinitis or conjunctivitis, that can be progressive. In addition, plicatic acid in contact with skin can cause a hypersensitivity reaction, a type of response seen in tuberculin skin tests.

Willow – Salix alba. family Salicaceae. Is a species native to Europe, but is also found in western and central Asia. Within this genus are: Salix alba Vitellina – a willow with yellow shoots and Salix alba var. Britzensis, Cardinal and Chermesina having orange to red shoots.

The willow a medium sized deciduous tree can be in a weeping form or with a dome shaped crown with long thin leaves pointed at the end. (5–10cm long x 0.5–1.5cm wide) It is often found in bonsai in designs that include slanting (Shakan) and (Fukinagashi) wind swept.

Male and female trees each produce their own flowers in the form of catkins that appear in the spring and when mature are wind pollinated. However, the willow contains salicylate toxins in the bark that if ingested can cause the following. Ulcers, nausea, vomiting, stomach bleeding, kidney inflammation, tinnitus and skin rash.

Wisteria – Spp. family Fabaceae. Includes various species of climbing vines. (Plants that climb by their shoots) Wisteria brachybotrys, Wisteria brevidentata, Wisteria floribunda, Wisteria frutescens, Wisteria macrostachya, Wisteria sinesis, Wisteria venusta and Wisteria villosa.

These Wisteria types are predominantly native to the eastern north America, China, Japan and Korea. Although these species are found in bonsai, arguably the most common is the Wisteria sinesis that when in bloom has a striking floral display for example.

The great wisteria at the Ashikaga flower park in Tochigi, Japan, which covers more than 1,990 square meters over half an acre. Wisteria flowers are between 10 to 80cm in length and produced in pendulous racemes and are either purple, violet, pink or white.

All parts of the wisteria are poisonous, they contain the toxin saponin and if ingested the symptoms are: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, severe gastroenteritis, dizziness, confusion, speech problems and collapse.

In the next article on ‘Toxicity’ we conclude our journey through the alphabet with ‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘Z’. Until next time, BW, Nik.

Hi, and welcome to Taiga Bonzai, in this article we continue trying to make sense of mankind’s actions both past and present and the consequences that have happened. Those that will inevitably occur at some future juncture is not a question of if, it is a question of when.

Introduction – the Microbe as we have stated can exist in a single-cell form or a colony like bacteria and fungi and although they are often associated with dirt and disease, most are beneficial. But as we are aware there exist those microbes, fungi and pathogens that have lethal potential. The result is human infectious diseases, mayhem and death. Evidence shows that mankind has shaped the world in his own volition, but the outcome is questionable.

The stowaways – on December 7th 1941 at 7:55 a.m. (Hawaii time) the Imperial Japanese Navy, under the command of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto attacked the American naval base at Pearl harbour.

According to Gill, G. Hermon (Royal Australian Navy 1939–1942. ‘Australia in the War of 1939–1945’. Series 2) “Over the course of seven hours there were coordinated attacks on the U.S. held Philippines, Guam and Wake islands and on the British territories in Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong.” This prompted the Americans and British to step up military armament production as further confrontation on the territories of Australia and New Zealand was deemed imminent.

As armament production increased, it was packed in wooden crates and transported to the docks where it stayed prior to being loaded on to transport ships. During this inactive period many insect species entered the crates possibly to find shelter and or hibernate.

Once the crates reached their destinations and were unloaded the insects (those that had survived the journey) were free to wander. In 1945, the first wasp Vespula germanica endemic to the Northern Hemisphere was discovered at an air force base near Hamilton in New Zealand, it has been suggested that a hibernating queen had arrived in a crate containing aircraft parts from Europe.

V. germanica was also found in Tasmania in 1959 and by 1978 had crossed the Tasman Sea and entered Australia. Now countless colonies are common place in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia. V. germanica nest in cavities that include holes in the ground, spaces under homes, wall crevices, eaves and rafters.

This predator having no known enemies attacks bee hives, killing bees at will -a major problem for the Australian and New Zealand honey industry. V. germanica needs no provocation and will attack all including humans with devastating results.

According to Elle Hunt in her article for ‘The Guardian’ (Jan 17th 2017) analysis shows that “Australia’s bees and wasps revealed to be as dangerous as its snakes, more than half of deaths from bites and stings between 2000 and 2013 were the result of anaphylactic shock.”

Was the introduction of V. germanica to Australia and New Zealand a simple mistake or a blatant error of judgement? Whatever the arguments the consequences are dire, these two countries have a major problem on their hands. Similarly much can be said of other nations whom transport their merchandise around the globe with the same complacent attitude.

The wasp solution – scientists have devised a plan to eradicate wasp colonies by introducing a parasite into the nests that will destroy all within, including eggs, larvae and adults. In the short term the plan might work, but in the long term it is doubtful given the vast areas that V. germanica has colonised in Australia. Moreover, how do you control the parasites? As we have stated for every action there is a reaction.

Another example of stowaway invasion is the ‘Brazilian Wandering’ spider also known as the (Banana spider) Phoneutria a genus of arachnids in the family Ctenidae. They are mainly found in northern South America, with one species in Central America. P. nigriventer a member of Ctenidae is a large arachnid and has a leg span of 13 to 18 cm (5 to 7 in). Their body length ranges from 17 to 48 mm. (⁴³⁄₆₄ to 1+⁵⁷⁄₆₄ in) 

The genus Phoneutria include a few species of spiders known to present a threat to humans. In densely populated areas, Phoneutria usually search for cover and dark places to hide during daytime. Leading them to hide in houses, clothes, cars, boots, boxes, log piles and in banana plantations their preferred hunting ground.

These arachnids will bite if accidentally disturbed injecting venom with serous consequences. There are many reports of humans being bitten when in contact with these creatures. For further reading on this arachnid visit the link below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneutria

A few years ago we were making a film on aquatic creatures for the Vaasa Natural History museum in West Finland. Visiting the entomology section we noticed that on display was the ‘Brazilian Wandering’ spider P. nigriventer. We asked the curator where did it come from, because they are not found in Scandinavia. The reply was that the arachnid was discovered in a box of bananas at the local supermarket. Fortunately for the member of staff who discovered it, the spider had not survived it’s journey.

As we stated previously due to the lapse in concentration and due diligence, creatures including pests and disease are everywhere. In the next article on ‘Unseen invasion’ we look at the devastation pests and disease are able to create, starting with the borers. Until next time, BW, Nik.