Några blandade citat som kan ge slutledningar om giftinnehållet:
"The leaves of R. maximum L. are made into a decoction to treat rheumatism, however the leaves of most of the species of this genus contain phenolics compound which has poisonous properties
causing slow pulse, lowering of blood pressure, progressive paralysis, and death""According to common belief, a sip of the juice of the Laliguras (R. arboreum) flower
dissolves fish bones stuck in the throat. Some people keep this flower at home for such an emergency"
"Leaves of R. campanulatum are exported to the plain, where these are grouped up with tobacco and
used as snuff, which is said to be useful in cold and hermicrania.
Leaves and pollen of R. cinnabarinum and R. grande are poisonous to grazing animals."
"However Sain reports that
the corolla is used for making jams by the head Lamas and Tibetan
aristocrats. We also noted in Lachung, that the local children eat the corolla of R. cinnabarinum and the people also fry the corolla to a tasty delicacy. The trees of R. fulgens, R. falconeri and R. hodgsonii have manifold uses in North Sikkim. The rough leaves are used in
packaging apples, lighting fires, its unsplitting wood is used to make cups, spoons and ladles and also Khukri (a local arm used by Lepachas) handles"
"Watt mentions the medicinal properties in R. lepidotum. The tiny leaves of R. nivale have the
fragrance that can be used for aesthetics. R. setosum emits a strong heady
aroma that causes painful headaches at high altitudes. The leaves could be distilled for
aromatic oils with possible uses in perfumery and cosmetics.
The vegetative parts of R. thomsonii were found to be highly poisonous. The boiled extract is used as natural insecticides in the Lachung of North Sikkim (personal communication). This may be due to the concentration of the poisonous phenolics compounds.
This compound may be toxic to humans, can cause depression of blood pressure, shock and death".Källa till alla ovanstående citat:
http://tinyurl.com/6y422n4"Xenophon mentions that Greek soldiers in Asia Minor were poisoned by honey made from the flowers of Rhododendron ponticum, as well as Pompey's armies during the Third Mithridatic War, with lethal result.[citation needed]"
Källa: Wikipedia.
Också Wikipedia:"Honey produced with pollen from the flowers of this plant has been known to be poisonous to humans if consumed in sufficient quantities.[citation needed]"
(Faktafel?: pollenet anses enligt flera källor inte vara giftigt, det är nektarn)
Här står det litet om R. ponticum:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron_ponticumDom verkar dock strunta i eventuella giftigheten hos rhododendron:
"Forest planners should take into consideration the aesthetic value, tourism importance and economic upliftment of the people while planting rhododendrons."
Här omnämns giftverkan hos får när de ätit rhododendronart som är inhemsk i Norra Amerika, USA:
http://www.cbif.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.info?p_psn=47&p_type=all&p_sci=sci&p_x=pxMera info, annan Nordamerikansk art:
Får: "
Death has occurred in some cases (Casteel and Wagstaff 1989). Poisoning usually occurs when animals gain
access to clippings or when little other forage is available, as in the winter. Rhododendrons retain their leaves over the winter. Goats and cattle have been poisoned as well. "
Källa:
http://tinyurl.com/3o4gaqnFinns ett tiotal vetenskapliga rapporter som citeras ofta kring det här, men ingen av dem går att hämta hem gratis för läsning.
Litet kortfattat om växtgifters inverkan (på engelska):
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/816548-differential
