Nandina domestica Thunb. Berberidaceae. Heavenly bamboo. Distribution: Asia. It contains cyanogenic glycosides which liberate hydrogen cyanide when damaged. Nothing eats it. Pharmacists have also found a chemical in the sap, called nantenine, which is a potential antidote to poisoning by ecstasy with which it shares the same molecular shape. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
- Dr Henry Oakeley
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: Nandina domestica Thunb. Berberidaceae. Heavenly bamboo. Distribution: Asia. It contains cyanogenic glycosides which liberate hydrogen cyanide when damaged. Nothing eats it. Pharmacists have also found a chemical in the sap, called nantenine, which is a potential antidote to poisoning by ecstasy with which it shares the same molecular shape. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London. Dr Henry Oakeley. Source: Wellcome Collection.
