Cestrum jessamine, Cestrum nocturnum, Cestrum aurantiacum, Cestrum parqui
Jessamine
A shrub up to 4m tall with narrow alternate leaves. The flowers are red, yellow, greenish or white and often very fragrant and tubular. The fruit is a red or black berry.
There are lots of other plants called jasmine or jessamine, amny of which are grown in gardens. Most are not thought to be poisonous.
Cultivated in gardens but has become a garden escape in Auckland, Northland, the Coromandel peninsula and Bay of Plenty. It is also found in Westland.
Nicotine and nornicotine and other tobacco alkaloids, but it is believed that its toxicity is due to the presence of saponins or glycosides. Green cestrum, C. parqui seems to be particularly toxic and there are a number of cases of livestock death associated with this species over the years in NZ.
Sheep and cattle.
severe gastroenteritis and pain. Animals have been known to become aggressive.
History of exposure and clinical signs.
Remove from plants, symptomatic.
Connor, HE, The Poisonous plants in New Zealand, 2nd ed.,1977, Government Publications Ltd., Wellington
Parton K, Bruere A.N. and Chambers J.P. Veterinary Clinical Toxicology, 3rd ed. 2006. Veterinary Continuing Education Publication No. 249