Family:
Lauraceae
Toxic Parts:
all
Toxins:
persin
Flower Color:
  • flower color
  • flower color
Found:
agricultural, gardens, ornamental

Time of Greatest Risk

JFMAMJJASOND

Geographical Distribution

Avocado distribution - United States

Avocado

Persea americana

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Avocado tree toxic components horses
Persea americana also known as the avocado tree, is a large dark green evergreen tree with a low-branching open canopy. It is often grown for the production of pear-shaped avocado fruits, which are edible to humans, and found in most grocery stores around the world. Each tree produces between 100 - 500 fruits per year. There are several different species of avocado trees which can be tall and upright or low and spreading. They blossom small greenish-yellow flowers that grow where the leaves join the branch.

Toxic components
Consumption of the fruit, seeds, leaves, or stems of avocado can be toxic to horses. The main toxic component in avocado is persin. 30g leaves per kg of the horse's body weight can be fatal to an average sized horse. Lower doses can cause colic.