Poisonous plants - The University of California Botanical Garden ...

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
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Friends of the Botanical Garden vol. 1,no.4 Spfing l-e78
Plant sale
The 4th Annual Spring Plant Sale,
sponsored by the botanical garden's docents,
will be held Saturday, May 13.
The sale will take place in the rim section
of the UC Memorial Stadium (at the
junction of Rimway Drive and Centennial
Drive) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Members of the Friends of the Botanical
Garden are also invited to a special
pre-plant sale on Saturday, May 6, from
I to 4 p.m. ar the Botanical Garden. If
you are not yet a member of the Friends
of the Botanical Garden, you will be
able to join on the day of the sale. l\Vo
extra will be added to the prices for this
privilege of buying plants prior to the
main sale.
Poisonous plants
By Laurianne L. Hannan, Educational Coordinator
An impressive selection
The sale will be divided into sections
to aid you in finding your special plant.
Several of the larger sections include
"California natives," "trees and
shrubs," "cacti and succulents," and
"perennials. " Interesting natives which
will be available include Matillija
poppy (Romneya coulteri), pitcher sage
(Salaia spathacea), and yerba de selva
(Whipplea modesta). In the "trees and
shrubs" section, the empress tree
(P aulownia glabrata), camellia (Camellia
sasanqua), many conifers, numerous
sages, and several barberries will be for
sale. For the succulent buffs, many
species and varieties of Agaae, Aloe,
Crassula, Dudleya, Echeaeria, Kalanchoe,
Senecio and Haworthin will be offered. as
well as numerous species of euphorbias
and cacti. Also, many perennials, including
Pelargonium, Erysimum, and Hel-
Ieborus will be available.
Other smaller sections of plants include
"herbs," "orchids," "fuchsias,"
"ferns," "rhododendrons," "rock garden
plants," "fruits and vegetables,"
and "vines." Prices will be reasonable
and the selection impressive. Make a
note to attend this event.
The evolving plant sale
The plant sale had its beginning in
1974 when a group of the garden's docents,
led by Mrs. Jeanne Vogt, decided
that a small plant sale might be a way of
bringing funds into the garden as well
continued on Page 2
The leaves of the oleander (Nerrum
oleander) are poisonous.
illustration by Laurian.t. A".riin-
Spring is a glorious time to visit the
botanical garden as many areas arp in
full bloom. Spring is also the best time
of the year to familiarize yourself with
some of the many poisonous plants
commonly found in the garden. There
are five major categories of poisonotrs
plants and -one can-find representative
plants of each category to study.
Nerve poisons
Nerve poisons are the deadliest, as
they may paralyze the central nervous
system, causing loss of breath control,
heart failure, and death before help can
be summoned. Poison hemlock (Conium
maculatum), commonly found in Strawberry
Creek, is a deadly nerve poison
which will paralyze the entire body.
Death results from heart failure. The
Greek philosopher Socrates was condemned
to death by poisoning, and the
poison he was given was poilon hemlock.
Even small doses of hemlock can
be lethal. Hemlock can be easily recognized
and readily avoided. It is a
member of the carrot family and has the
finely-divided leaves and flat umbels or
flowers heads commonly associated
with that family. It also has conspicuous
purple blotches on the stem.
Bel ladonn a (,4tropa bella"d,onna), found
in the Herb Garden, is a nerve poison if
taken in large doses. The roots and
fruits are particularly poisonous, as
they are rich in the poisonous agent,
atropine.
The seeds of apples, peaches, almonds,
apricots, and cherries are
loaded with cyanide and are quite
deadly if eaten in quantity. Death folcontinued
on page 4

2
i{uny Califbrnia nitive plants will be
available at the plant sale.
l_
illustration,by Laurianne Flannan
Edible tropical plants
By Bruce Bartholomew, Curator
Plant sale
continued frorn Page I
as advertising the garden as a community
resource. They collected cuttings,
seeds and surplus material from the
garden and propagated these plants
with loving care and determination.
The result of their efforts was the ex
tremely successful lst Annual Docent
Plant Sale held in May 1975 at the Ox,
ford Tract in Berkeley. Despite a cold
rainy day, every plant was sold within a
few hours and the docents netted about
$10,000.
The 2nd Annual Plant Sale, held at
the UC stadium in May 1976, rvas
another smashing success, yielding
over $12,000,. The docents held another
mini-plant sale at the UC campu.s in
November 1976. Yet another success
went on the record as all the plants were
sold within an hour and a half. The 3rd
Annual Plant Sale, held at the stadium
in May 1977, did not measure up to previous
years' successes as the drought
and an ironic rainy day kept many plant
buyers away. The sale yielded only
$8,000. The most recent mini-sale, held
November 1977. did reassure the docents
that there was still an interest in
plant buying, as all but a few plants
were sold lvithin a few hours.
Funds for the garden
The proceeds from all these sales
have gone back into the garden and
were used for a number of purposes.
Suggestions made by staff members and
docents have determined how the plant
sale money should be apportioned. One
of the earliest projects was the refurbishing
of the docent plant work area.
$3,000 went into building a docent potting
shed, lath house, and holding area
for the sale materials.
Other funds have been given to the
garden for improvement of existing
areas, including $ 1,500 for railroad
ties which have been used to improve
walkways and retaining walls: $1,300
for gravel; $500 for pruning a damaged
oak tree; $500 to restore the Pygmy
Forest; $2,000 for the development of
the Himalayan Area; and $400 for
further developing the two garden
ponds.
Also, the garden's education program
has benefited from $2,300 for a tour
scheduler, $2,000 for clerical and plant
sale supplies, and $l;100 to develop
booklets. The educational committee of'
the docents also received $2,000
- part
of which was used to pay the educational
assistant rvho trained the docents
in botany and helped design the 7 outdoor
display tables.
Docent money has been allotted to
other important garden functions:
grants of $2,000 were given to fund expeditions
to gather seeds and cuttings
in Kenya, Peru and the Amazon; and
$1,500 was given to buy new books and
repair damaged ones in the garden's
library.
The largest and most itnportant Project
that the docents have funded to date
is the development of an information
center, The docents contributed $5,000
for the new building, and with assistance
from the Chancellor's Office, the
construction bid of $13,800 was met.
The information center will now be the
focal point for public education at the
garden.
The proceeds from the coming May
l3 sale will also go back into the garden
to help fund new creative endeavors.
The docents are hoping for an enthusiastic
crowd at the sale, so plan to be
there and help the garden while satisfying
yourself with a new plant.
The main emphasis in the Tropical
House is on plants of economic importance.
The large size of the Tropical
House allows us to plant rnaterial directly
in the ground, although the 40 feet high
ceiling presents problems for growing
' very large trees which, if allowed to attain
their full size, would push through
the roof. Much of the material in this
greenhouse is used for courses such as
economic botany offered by the Botany
Departmerit as well as for tours given by
the botanical garden's educational program.
The Tropical House contains approximately
200 species of plants, of
which about 50 are of economic importance.
A few of the highlights are discussed
below.
Pepper plant
As you enter the front door, one of the
first plants on your left is Piper nigrum,
the source of both black and white pepper.
This South Asian plant is a sprawling
vine with attractive heart-shaped
dark green leaves. The difference between
black and white pepper is a matter
of when the berries are picked and how
they are processed. Black pepper is produced
if the berries are picked green,
since as thev drv the o.uter skins turn
black. With white pepper, the berries are
allowed to ripen to a deep red, and after
soaking, the skin is rubbed off to reveal
the white seed.
Cinnamon from bark
To the right of the pepper is a tree of
Cinnamomum zeylanicum which is the
source of Ceylonese cinnamon (a pale
tan cinnamon not popular in America).
The bark of several other species of the
genus Cinnamomum is also used for the
spice. The smooth bark is peeled off and
rolled into long slender "quills" or cinnamon
sticks. A much stronger tasting
cinnamon produced from a Southeast
Asian species, C. Cassia, is extensively
used in the U.S.
Coffee plants
Near the cinnamon tree is one of the
garden's three coffee plants. Two plants
are fbrms of the most commonly cultivated
species, Coffea arabica, which
supplies the largest quantity and the best
quality coffee beans. One of the plants is
a compact form, and the other is a more
standard form. Several other species of
Coffea are cultivated for beans. One is the
large leaved tree C. liberica which produces
lower quality beans, and is generally
grown for local consumption in a few
continued on Page
7

Spring plants highlights
By Mary Schroter, Docent
3
Babiana patersonae, or baboon flower
illustration by Mary Schroter
Baboon flower
African Hill is alive with a splendid
profusion of bulbs in bloom. Many of
these bulbous plants are members of the
Iris family, including such representative
genera as Homeria*, Glad,iolus, Ixia,
Sparaxis, He.sperantha, Lapeyrausia, and
Babiana. One of these. the Babiana
species or baboon flower, is particularly
attractive due to the fragrant l-inch, yellow,
pink, lavendar or red flowers which
arb borne on 3- l2-inch stems. The leaves
are strongly ribbed, usually quite hairy,
and are set edgewise to the stem. The
garden is growing about twelve different
species of Babiana, which are commonly
called baboon flower since baboons
enjoy eating the corms. All the species
except one (8. socotrana from an island
off Somalia) are native to South Africa.
You can see specimens ofB. patersonae,as
well as B. pulchra (both with pale purple
flowers) along the main path in Bed l3 l.
Rhododendron
In the Rhododendron Dell, from China's
Yunnan Province, there are three
very fine specimens of Rhodod,endron
uernicosum*. This plant is an evergreen
shrub from 6 to 26 feet tall which bears
umbels of about l0 funnel-shaped 2Yzinch
white to bright rose flowers. These
beautiful flowers are sometimes fragrant,
and as they turn outward, they are
considered especially attractive. This
species usually grows in open areas in
forests which are at an altitude of 9,000
to I1,500 feet. In the botanical garden,
the specimen easiest to find is beneath
two Monterey pines in Bed 235, along
the main path. It was collected as seed in
a spruce forest in China at 11,500 feet.
The flowers are a rich pink color. The
other two sepcimens are in the adjacent
Bed 236. They are considerably taller
and also have pink flowers. These were
collected as seed in pine forests of the
Likiang Snow Range. All three were collected
in the 1930s on the expedition led
by Dr. Jooseph Rock.
Australian plants
Australian mint bushes (Prostanthera
species) are widely distributed throughout
Australia and Tasmania. All are
evergreen shrubs, and all flower prolifically.
Most have aromatic leaves and are
included along the true mints (Mentha
spp.) in the mint family, I abiatae. Inland
forms found growing on barren, rocky
hills typically have small leaves. Large
leaved forms are characteristic of more
southern adaptations. The round-leaf
mint bush, P. rotundifolia, from New
' South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, ts
easily spotted in Bed 5l I along the main
path. Its lVz-inch long flowers of
bluish-purple are trumpet shaped, and
are lavishly carried in short terminal
clusters. The leaves are very small and
strongly mint scented. P. rotundifoLia
grows rather quickly, forming a dense
rounded shrub 4 to 10 feet high. It is also
somewhat drought tolerant.
Sage
Hummingbirds and bees are particularlv
attracted bv the abundant nectar
produced by i native Californian
member of the mint familY, Saluia
spatheca*, which is also known as.pitcher
sage, crimson sage, or hummingbird
sa[e. Look for it in the California Area,
in Bed l3 just opposite the Mendocino
Dwarf Forest. It is a coarse perennial
herb with large, deeply veined leaves and
purplish-red flowers more than an inch
. long. The long trumpet-shaped flor'r'ers
are arranged in whorls about the stems
which grow to a height of l Yz to 3 feet.
Tiers of these whorls -
ssrnslimes as
many as nine -
mount the stems. Both
the leaves and bracts are quite sticky and
may have a slightly unpleasant odor. S.
spathecea is found on open and shady
slopes below 2,000 feet, and ranges from
Sonoma County to Orange CountY.
Mountain PaPaYa
Moutain papaya, or Carica pubescens,
can be seen in fruit growing in the South
American Area (Bed 602). This plant is
found in the Andes of Ecuador and Colombia
at elevations of 8,000 or 9,000
feet. It is smaller than the paPaya traditionally
grown for fruit production (C.
papaya), but it is hardier and more appropriate
as a landscape plant. It usually
ieaches a height of 8-10 feet, with 12-13
inch wide fanlike leaves in clusters at the
tops of the multiple trunks. It reportedly
withstands temperatures down to 28oF,
although here in the garden it has occasionally
lost its leaves to frost. Nevertheless,
the trunk has remained uninjured.
The aromatic, deep yellow to orange
fruit is considered inferior to that of C.
papaya and is eaten only when cooked
with sugar. In the Bogota area of Colombia,
mountain papaya is extensively
cultivated. Papaya species are usually
dioecious (flowers of each sex on separate
plants). In contrast, the garden's
mountain papaya from Colombia has
perfect flowers although populations
in Chile are dioecious. -
*available at the May l3 pant sale

4
PLANT
POISONOUS
PARTS
SYMPTOMS
PLANT
POISONOUS
PARTS
SYMPTOMS
APPLE
CRABAPPLE
Seeds
Rapid respirations, gasping,
convulsions, coma.
AZALEA All parts Anorexia, salivation, vomiting,
weakness, dyspnea, ataxia.
BIRD OF PARADISE Seeds and
pods
Vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness,
drowsiness.
BUTTERCUP Leaves Severe vomiting, diarrhea, muscular
weakness, weak pulse, respiratory
BUCKTHORN
Leaves,
berries
paralysis, convulsions.
Severe diarrhea
CASTOR BEAN Seed Severe vomiting and diarrhea,
CHERRY
Twigs,
leaves,
bark, seed
convulsions, kidney damage.
Stupor, vocal cord paralysis, twitching,
convulsions.
CROWN OF Sap Swelling of tongue, mouth, and throat;
THORNS
vomiting and diarrhea.
DEADLY NIGHT- Berries, Fever, rapid heartbeat, dilation of
SHADE
leaves and pupils, dry mouth, flushing.
roots
EGGPLANT Ali parts Fever, flushing, dry mouth, dilation of
except
pupils.
fruit
FOXGLOVE Leaves Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain,
severe headache, irregular heartbeat,
tremors, convulsions.
HYACINTH Bulb Severe vomiting and diarrhea.
HYDRANGEA
Leaves and
buds
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gasping,
rapid breathing.
IVY, ENGLISH Berries Diarrhea, labored breathing,
excitement.
JIMSON WEED All parts Thirst, pupillary dilation, dry mouth,
flushing, hallucinations, headache,
nausea, high blood pressure.
LANTANA Green berries Vomiting and diarrhea, muscular
weakness, circulatory collapse.
LUPINE
MANGO
Foliage and
seeds
Fruit skin,
tree sap,
flower,
pedicel.
Labored breathing, depression,
trembling, convulsions.
Vomiting and diarrhea, skin irritation.
MISTLETOE Berries Vomiting and diarrhea, cardiovascular
MUSTARD
All parts,
especially
root.
collapse.
Vomiting, diarrhea, kidney damage.
PEA, SWEET Seeds Paralysis, weak pulse, shallow
breathing, convulsions.
PHILODENDRON Leaves Burning of mouth, vomiting, and
diarrhea.
POINSETTIA Leaves, sap Vomiting, collapse
(controversial)
PRIVET Leaves and Vomiting and diarrhea, decreased blood
berries
pressure, kidney damage.
RANUNCULUS Leaves Vomiting and diarrhea, muscular
weakness, weak pulse, respiratory
paralysis, convulsions.
TOMATO Leaves Hemolysis, apathy, drowsiness,
salivation, labored respiration,
paralysis
TULIP Bulb Vomiting, diarrhea, CNS depression
WISTERIA
Pods and
Seveve vomiting and diarrhea, collapse.
seeds
OLEANDER All parts Vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness,
slow and irregular heartbeat, dilation of
pupils, bloody diarrhea, respiratory
paralysis.
continued from page 1
lows nausea, convulsions, and coma.
Other nerve poisons come from the
opium poppy (Papayer sommtlerum) and
certain parts of potatoes (Solanum
tuberosum). Never eat the leaves of the
potato and always cut out the green
blotches on the potato tuber, as these
parts are rich in poisonous alkaloids.
Internal poisons
Internal poisons affect such organs as
the stomach, liver, and kidneys. The effects
of some of these poisons are mild
and rarely fatal, but do cause some discomfort.
The worst of the internal
poisons is the death angel (Amanita phalloides).
These mushrooms are common
in California and can be found at the
botanical garden. The victim first suffers
intense stomach cramps, vomiting,
and diarrhea, followed by rapid failure
of the liver and kidneys. The victim
then slips into a coma and dies. Even as
little as a forkful is a lethal dose.
All parts of the iris can cause internal
poisoning with the victim suffering
from vomiting and diarrhea. Death is
not common, though. The leaves of
oleanders (Nerium oleander) will also
cause vomiting and stomach pain, and
may lead to death. All parts of
rhododendrons will cause vomiting
and diarrhea if consumed, and the berries
of the yew will cause immediate
vomiting. Daffodil bulbs are quite
Poisonous plants
poisonous and when eaten cause severe -
stomach cramps.
Irritants
A number of plants contain irritating
chemicals that produce a burning sensation
on contact with the skin or eyes.
All members of the genus Euphorbia, a
conspicuous group in the succulent
house and on African Hill, contain an
irritating milky sap which can even
cause blindness if it gets into one's eyes.
Calla lilies contain irritating chemicals
in their underground portions which if
eaten may produce a severe burning sensation
in the mouth and throat. Rhubarb
leaves are loaded with crystals of oxalic
acid. Eating uncooked rhubarb leaves
may result in a painful burning sensation
in the mouth and throat, and the irritating
crystals may even cause ulcers.
Allergenics
The most familiar poisonous plants
are such allergy-producers as poison
oak (Rhus diversiloba) and poison ivy
(Rhus radicans). All parts of these plants
produce blistering oils which react immediately
with the skin to produce intense
swelling that takes weeks to heal.
Reactions to these plants vary from individual
to individual, with some
people being completely immune to the
effects of these plants.
Other allergy-producing plants are
those that produce pollens which
plague hayfever victims each spring.
Any plant which produces copious
amounts of pollen is a likely source of
hayfever, but such plants as ragweed
(Ambrosia spp.), goldenrod (Sol idago
spp.), acacias, and most grasses are par
ticularly irritating, Not everyone is sensitive
to pollen, but those who are will attest
to the misery this form of poisoning
can cause.
Avoiding poisonous plants
Although plant poisoning is very
common, most cases are not fatal. If you
become familiar with the most common
poisonous plants, you can reduce your
chances of self-poisoning. Ov er 12,000
cases of human poisoning were reported
to the National Poison Center in
1977 and many more probably went unreported.
Pass up the temptation to eat
the leaves, roots, or fruit of an unfamiliar
plant until you are sure it is edible.
Make sure that any plant you are about
to eat is in fact an edible variety and not
a poisonous look-alike. Remember that
poisonous hemlock looks like the wild
carrot. If you need to know about antidotes,
or want to find out more about
plant poisoning, you can call the "poisoning
accidents" number at 415-431-2800.
If you find a plant and wish to know
whether or not it is a poisonous species,
why not bring it to the UC Herbarium
(Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley)
and let us identify it for you.

Fascinating herbs
5
Lavandula species, or lavenders, are used
as perfume and medicine.
illustration by Sharon Smorsten
By Marvin Schmid, Docent
Herbs, those fragrant delights which
have captivated people through the ages,
are among the most pleasing and versatile
groups of plants utilized by man.
Given well-drained soil, they will thrive
nearly anywhere. Even on my heavy clay
soil, and tended by a purple-thumb gardener,
they thrive.
What exactly is an herb? A botanist
would describe an herb as a seed plant
(usually annual or biennial) that does not
develop woody tissue. Most herbs are
fairly small plants which die back to the
ground at the end of their growing season.
However, in common usage, the
term "herb" has come to refer to any
plant used as a flavoring, fragrance, or
medicine.
The botanical graden's herb display
(near the lawn) is divided into plots according
to the uses of the herbs, which
include the following categories: culinary
herbs, fragrances, medicinal herbs,
flavorings for liqueurs and beers, teas,
dye plants, and pot (edible) herbs.
Chamomiles
A favorite herb group, the
chamomiles, can be found in four separate
plots (fragrance, medicinal herbs,
flavorings for liqueurs, and teas). Two of
the most well known are Roman
chamomile, A nthemis nobilis, and German
chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla. Both
are low-growing, ranging in height from
4 inches to 2 feet, and have fine, lacy
foliage. The dried daisy-flower heads
are steeped to produce an aromatic tea
which is a popular folk remedy for various
ills ranging from earache to indigestion.
Also, Roman chamomile is used as a
flavoring in some French liqueurs.
Chamomiles also make attractive
aromatic ground covers. It is delightful
to walk along a chamomile-covered path
since the plants give off a pleasant scent
when crushed. Even a small garden can
provide scented steps. Space plants
about 12 inches apart, and they will cover
the path within about two months if kept
fairly moist. Another two months and
the path will need its first trim. After
that, chamomile does not require either
as much mowing or as much water as
grass does.
Feverfew
Another attractive herb which bears a
superficial resemblance to the
chamomiles is the medicinal feverfew,
Chrysanthemum parthenium . Although
feverfew is in the genus Chrysanthemum,
its foliage is delicately fragrant in contrast
to the sharp pungent odor of its
more widely cultivated relatives. The
plant can grow up to 21/2 feet, and has
1-inch daisy-like flower-heads. Plants
spread readily from basal roots and
freely self-sow.
A tea made from the flowers is purported
to cure headaches, nervousness,
and painful menstruation. In medieval
times feverfew was mixed with wine and
honey to cure persons suffering from
depression or "them such as be melancholike."
The plant is said to contain active
principles which have a healing effect
on wounds and sores.
Lavender
Lavender (Lavandula spp.) has been
used as a fragrance, and a medicine for
centuries. Romans scented their bath
with it, and the botanical name is thought
to come from the Latin &ware , to wash.
The botanical garden has specimens of
English lavendar (L. offic nails), French
lavendar (L. sto e ch as), and broadleaf
lavendar (L. lattfalia).
The flowers of English and French lavender
are popular sources of an aromatic
oil used in perfumery. In the Middle
Ages, linens were spread over lavender
bushes to be perfumed as they dried.
And the oil from broadleaf lavender is
purported to alleviate "faintness" and
"giddiness" when taken in milk, but it
can be poisonous in large doses.
In the home garden, lavender shrubs
can form an attractive grey-leafed hedge
(3 or 4 feet high) with showy purple
flowers which grow in clusters on erect
stems. Gently brushing the hedge will
release a pleasing camphorous fragrance.
mints
The genus Mentha contains so many
species, subspecies, and varieties (which
tend to interbreed freely) that it is often
difficult to distinguish among them.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is thought
to be a hybrid between water mint (M.
aquatica) and garden mint (M. viridis) or
spearmint (M. .spicata). Many different
kinds of mint can be seen in the herb
garden, in the sections labeled culinary,
medicinal, flavorings for liqueurs, and
teas. All members of the genus Mentha
abound in a volatile oil which is contained
in resinous dots in the leaves and
stems.
Peppermint is particularly appropriate
for a cool moist spot in the home
garden, since it thrives in partial shade.
Unless it gets plenty of water, peppermint
does not show to best advantage in
full sun. In its native haunts it frequents
the edges of streams and lakes.
Generally, herbs require well-drained
soil, plenty of sun, and not too much
water. Herbs which originated in central
Europe such as rhymes (Thymus spp.) and
savories (S (nitre spp.) need more water
than most herbs. The remarkable qualities
of herbs touch all of our senses in
such a pleasing way that growing and
using them is habit-forming. A visit to
the botanical garden for the springtime
show of herbs is a good way to be introduced
to these delightful plants, and
some herbs will be available at the plant
sale on May 13 (for details, see page I).

6
architectural drawing by Jim Novosel
• GP-MTVIMIAt.
VIM
mirmrrtiocrm
itOg
ISOMETRIC VIEW
New information center opens
Report by Margaret Mitchell, Docent
Council President:
The docents are pleased to report the
recent completion of the new information
center in the botanical garden.
When the docents started giving tours of
the garden five years ago, we soon
realized that a well-located and attractive
building would be desireable where
tours could begin, pamphlets sold and
information about the garden made a-
vailable to the public.
We learned that the site of the old
tropical house might be used for such an
information center. With that site in
mind, the docents allocated $5,000 from
past plant sales for the project. Jim
Novosel prepared preliminary plans for
an attractive center which were presented
to the University administration.
The Chancellor's office apparently has
been pleased with our past efforts, liked
the building plans, and offered to match
our $5,000 in funds
The information center now serves as
a docent meeting place to start tours. We
also have display space for books, pamphlets,
plants of interest, and information
on current lectures, special tours
and other events for the garden.
Volunteers interested in manning the
new center should contact Mrs.
Laurianne Hannan, Education Coordinator,
by writing or phoning the garden
(642-3352).
Report by Jim Novosel, Chairman, Docent
Planning Committee:
Designing the new information center
for the botanical garden presented an
enjoyable challenge. At an informal
meeting (attended by garden staff, docents,
and Friends/BG) in August, 1977,
it was decided that the information
center should be fairly small and inexpensive,
yet serve several vital functions,
and be an attractive addition to the garden.
The present site for the center was
chosen for its visibility from the garden
and its flat terrain. It also does not encroach
on precious garden ground, and
contains some of the finest views in the
garden.
The building has been structured to
blend in with adjacent buildings, yet still
be attractive and eye-catching so visitors
are naturally drawn to it. The gable roof
and redwood siding match the features
of the nearly staff building. A redwood
lattice overhang is cantilevered out on
the north side to signal the entrance.
The building has been designed to
serve four basic functions. First, the
center is the public's threshold for
gathering maps and literature before
beginning exploration of the garden.
Secondly it provides a display and sales
room for hooks, prints, and photos of a
botanical nature. The building has
enough room inside for comfortable
browsing, or visitors may view the display
material and purchase it at the window
next to the entry.
The building's third major function is
to serve as a focal point for large tours.
The Friends of the Botanical Garden
have donated $1,500 for constructing 6
linear feet of redwood benches around
the center. Not only will the benches be
the finishing touch, they are also a fitting
laureate to the union of the docents arid
the Friends of the Botanical Garden.
And fourth, the center has been constructed
to accomodate small groups of
docents or Friends/BG who desire to
meet, or work on special projects.
Contractor John Capurso has been
especially helpful in keeping the project
within its financial limits while achieving
all the desired elements. The garden also
appreciates the aid that the Chancellor's
Office and the Architects and Engineers
Office have given by contributing an
extra $2,900 to complete the project.
The new center now serves many diverse
functions, including garden store,
office, library and club house. Yet there
is one important point to remember.
This building is more than the result of
any one individual's efforts; its creation
laurels many years of highly successful
docent tours and plant sales. Its construction
is a tribute to continued strong
docent involvement in the growth of the
garden.

7
FRIENDS OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN NOTES
BOTANISTS TO CHINA
The Botanical Society of America has
arranged for an exchange of delegations
with the People's Republic of China. Dr.
Bartholomew, Curator of the UC Botanical
Garden, has been selected as one of
ten botanists who will visit China for one
month this May. This delegation will be
the first oriented toward basic botanical
studies to visit mainland China. It is
hoped that this exchange will lead to an
expansion of contacts and exchange between
botanical institutions in the U.S.
and China. During the past few years,
the University of California Botanical
Garden has initiated exchange of seeds
with seven botanical gardens in China,
and Dr. Bartholomew's participation in
this delegation will no doubt lead to even
greater contact between the UC garden
and botanical gardens in China.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Would you care to volunteer for work
at the botanical garden? We are looking
for volunteers to staff our new information
center, to help prepare plants for
the plant sales, to work on materials for
Edible tropical plants
the gardens displays, and the help with
garden-sponsored events. A short training
class will be given in late May to those
interested in doing volunteer work in the
categories listed. Please phone 642-3352,
or write to Mrs. Laurianne Hannan, Botanical
Garden, University of California,
Berkeley, CA 94720 for an application
for volunteer work. The application
deadline for this training class is May 12,
1978, so please write or call for your application
soon.
SELF-GUIDED TOURS
Now you can explore the seasonal
plant highlights in the botanical garden
through free self-guided tours. The first
issue, for Spring, describes 14 interesting
and noteworthy plants, and provides
an enjoyable way to learn more about the
major areas of the garden. Plant descriptions
are accompanied by a new updated
map for easy location. These tour
guides, which are written on a quarterly
basis, emphasize plants in bloom and
plants of particular interest during the
changing seasons. You can pick up a
copy of the latest issue at the main office
in the garden.
Friends of the Botanical Garden
University of California, Berkele
CA 94720
Officers:
Jerome E. Carlin, President
Mary Lee Jefferds, Vice-President
Nancy R. Wilson, Secretary
Gene Opton, Treasurer
Board (y- Trustees:
August Fruge
Michael Gerba
Elizabeth Hammond
Pat Haynes
Alice Howard
Carol Kusmierski
Mary Moffatt
Jim Novosel
Robin Parer
Marvin Schmid
Jean Vogt
George Wasson
- Ex-officio:
Albert H. Bowker, Chancellor
O'Neil R. Collins, Chairman Botany
Department
Lincoln Constance, Acting Director
Margaret Mitchell, President Docent
Council
continued from page 2
countries such as Malaysia and Guyana.
These coffee species all originally came
from the mountains of tropical Africa
although the New World tropics (especially
Brazil and Colombia) now is the
most important coffee producing area.
The foul-smelling durian
Just beyond the compact Coffea a ra bic a
is one of the most unusual fruit trees in
the Tropical House. This is a small plant
of durian, Durio zibethinus, which can
eventually grow into a large tree up to
100 feet tall. The spiny green fruit is
large (weighing up to 8 pounds), and
inside is the edible pulp consisting of
several rows of fleshy brown arils which
surround the seeds. The pulp has an oily
texture of ripe avocado mixed with library
paste, and a fecal smell combined
with the smell of garlic and turpentine.
This fruit is highly esteemed in Southeast
Asia although it is definitely an acquired
taste.
The peculiar cashew
In the back left hand corner of the
Tropical House is a cashew
tree, Anacardium occidental e, which is a
large tree native to tropical America but
now extensively cultivated in the Old
World tropics (particularly India and
eastern Africa). The plant is in the same
family as poison oak, and contact with it
causes a smiliar reaction. Each cashew
nut hangs in a rather peculiar manner
from the bottom of a fleshy red pedicel
that looks much like an apple. In effect,
the single cashew seed appears to be
stuck to the bottom of the fleshy "apple."
The garden's tree has flowered but it has
not yet produced fruit.
The chewing gum tree
On the right hand side of the Tropical
House entrance is a sapodilla tree, Manilkara
zapota (Achras zapota), which is native
to Central America. The milky latex,
which flows when incisions are made in
the bark, is the source of chicle gum used
for making chewing gum. The tree is
also grown for the egg sized fruit that has
a translucent brown pulp with a brown
sugar taste.
Cocoa trees
Behind the sapodilla tree is a cocoa
tree, Theobroma cacao, which is the source
of chocolate. The tree is native to the
New World tropics, but now almost 80%
of commercial chocolate comes from
West Africa. Depending on the variety,
the large football shaped pods turn yellow
or purple when ripe. The flowers
and pods are borne on the trunk arid
large branches, and each pod contains
several rows of large seeds covered with a
mucilagenous pulp. After harvesting the
pods, the seeds and pulp are fermented
for several days and then dried. The
dried seeds are shelled and roasted.
After this, the seeds are ground and
pressed to produce cocoa butter and
powdered cocoa.
Botamcal Garden Quarterly
published by
Friends of the Botanical Garden
Editor: Sharon Smorsten
Publication Committee:
Bruce Bartholomew
Jerry Carlin
Anton Christ
Lincoln Constance
Laurianne L. Hannan
Mary Lee Jefferds
Robert Ornduff
University of California, Berkeley
Botanical Garden
Lincoln Constance, Acting Director
Robert Ornduff, Directo-
(on sabbatical leave)

clip and mail to:
Friends of the Botanical Garden, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720
Please print clearly:
Mr./Mrs./Ms.
Address
Zip
Day phone
Evening phone
Enclosed is my check for the following membership:
— $5 Student —$25 Contributing — $250 Patron
— $10 Individual $50 Supporting — $500 Sustaining
$15 Family $100 Sponsor $1,000 Benefactor
Please make checks payable to: Friends of the Botanical Garden
Join Friends of the Botanical Garden
You are invited to become a member of
the Friends of the Botanical Garden.
This organization was developed to provide
assistance to the botanical garden in
improving and extending the plant collection,
enriching the education program,
and meeting general capital requirements.
Members, in return, are offered special
programs on plants and gardening, a
25% discount on selected UC Press
books (such as California Spring Wildflowers
by Munz), preview priviledges for the
annual sale of unique plants from the
garden, and a quarterly publication
which covers topics of general interest to
plant enthusiasts as well as news of the
garden.
Student and Senior Citizen memberships
are discounted to $5. Standard
dues are $10 for an individual, $15 for a
family. The Friends of the Botanical
Garden function as a support group
under the auspices of the UC Berkeley
Foundation, and dues and gifts are tax
deductible.
UC Berkeley Foundation
Friends of the Botanical Garden
University of California
Berkeley, California 94720
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
Berkeley, Ca.
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