The Tutu Plant

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 22, 26 July 1893, Page 2

The Tutu Plant

As several of our settlers haye lost valuable stock, poisoned by this deadly plant, we publish the followiug extract from Professor Kirk's book on New Zealand forest trees. It is well kuown among old settlers that well fed stock may eat of the plant with very little danger, but cattle which have been shut up all night in a stockyard, or bare paddock, and are j turned out in the morning ravenously hungery, rush to it the moment they see it. The end is nearly always fatal in such cases. Pro. Kirk says : — Tutu of the south, known ns Tupakihi in the north, possesses special interest on account of its poisonous properties which are far more deadly than any other plant in the colony. It is valuable on account of the largo per-ceutage of tannin contained in the bark and wood is not yet appreciated. To grow it for this purpose would be far more profitable than any of the wattles. The wood affords a useful dye, and delicious wine is made by those who know how to eliminate the poison. Dr Acheeon recommends lime as an antidote to the poison. A common practice with stock is to bleed iv the roof of the mouth, aud administer vinegar or dilute acetic acid Horses rarely eat it, and rabbits are unfortunately proof against its effects.