Chinaberry leaves?

[philothea]

I know the berries are poisonous but what about the leaves? I want to let my rabbits out to graze a bit but the leaves are falling and since they are small it is hard to rake them up before putting the rabbits out. Also, what about Cottonwood leaves?

Thanks!

 

[MaggieJ]

I know nothing about chinaberry, so I can't help you there, but if what you call cottonwood is Populus deltoises then it is excellent forage for rabbits.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/orna ... ardelt.htm

 

[Miss M]

I find two plants called "Chinaberry": Melia azedarach and Actaea rubra.

Actaea rubra is rather highly poisonous. The entire plant is toxic.

Melia azedarach is a drupe -- it bears fruit with a fleshy exterior and a single pit or seed at the middle. Peaches, apricots, etc. are drupes. I don't know the reason, but nothing from drupes is supposed to be fed, whether fruit, seed, wood, or leaves. For this plant, it says the berries are toxic, and the leaves are very toxic.

 

[philothea]

Bummer, guess I will have to rake the leaves before I can let them graze. They usually leave the berries alone but I think the leaves will be much more tempting. I have huge trees and they do provide alot of shade in the summer but the berries and leaves are a pain.
I think it is Melia azedarach.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Toxic Agent
Meliatoxins A1, A2 and A3 are responsible for the toxicity of these plants. They are found in highest concentration in the fruit, but the bark, leaves and flowers are also poisonous.

Many species—including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, poultry and humans— have been poisoned by chinaberry. Pigs and dogs are poisoned most frequently, usually by ingesting fallen fruits. They show clinical signs within 2 to 4 hours of consumption.
http://essmextension.tamu.edu/plants/plant/chinaberry/