Name: Stephen L.
Status: student
Age: 16
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 12/9/2004
Question:
Why is the loco plant not poisonous to itself?
Replies:
Plants produce different poisons that defend themselves against insects
and other creatures that would eat them or microbes that would infect
them. Some of these compounds are poisons to the plants themself. The
poisons are stored in special places where they will not poison the
plant. Other compounds are not poisons of the plants but are poisonous
to other creatures. For example, plants do not have nerves so they can
make poisons that attack nerves and any creature that has a nervous
system will be poisoned.
Jim Tokuhisa
Locoweed is poisonous to animals that ingest it. The toxin it produces is
an alkaloid that is not toxic to plants but very toxic to animals,
particularly in neurological (brain) pathways.
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