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Tutu Toxicity and Coriaria arborea

Description

Coriaria arborea is a species of Coriaria that grows in New Zealand. Ingestion of the berries or other plant parts can result in a serious poisoning. The Maori call the plant tutu and have found a way to safely extract a sweetening agent from the berries.


Plant: Coriari arborea

Growth: shrub or small tree

 

Toxin: tutin

 

Clinical features:

(1) tonic-clonic seizures, which can be fatal

(2) loss of memory

 

Recommended duration of observation: 12-24 hours

 

Tutu poisoning can also occur after ingestion of honey contaminated with tutin. This occurs when bees collect honeydew secreted by the passionvine hopper insect that has fed on the Coriaria (Wikipedia).


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