Boxelder (Acer negundo) is a hardy and fast-growing, small to medium-sized tree which is often planted for shade. It is distinguishable by its reddish coloring. The red coloration is due to a pigment found in a fungus (Fusarium negundi) that commonly afflicts the tree. Boxelder has been called 'poison-ivy tree' because its 3-parted leaves resemble those of poison ivy.
Boxelder's leaves turn yellow before falling off in the fall. It produces brown fruits which matures in September or October and often remains hanging in clusters on the branches throughout the winter. Boxelder is the most widely distributed of all the North American maples, ranging from coast to coast and from Canada to Guatemala.
Toxic components
The seeds of the boxelder tree contain the toxin hypoglycin A.
- weakness
- stiffness
- reluctance to move
- red-brown urine
- rapid respiratory rate
- difficulty breathing
MECHANICAL CONTROL: hand-pull or use a trowel or shovel to loosen up the soil and dig up the roots. It is important to remove the entire root system or re-sprouting may occur. If the plant is a small sapling, cut the stems close to the ground and remove all stems and stalks from the area.
CHEMICAL CONTROL: Boxelder is highly sensitive to 2,4-D.
- Valberg SJ, Sponseller BT, Hegeman AD, Earing J, Bender JB, Martinson KL, Patterson SE, Sweetman L. Seasonal pasture myopathy/atypical myopathy in North America associated with ingestion of hypoglycin A within seeds of the box elder tree Equine Veterinary Journal (2013)
- Rosario, Lynn C. SPECIES: Acer negundo U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (1988)
- Stoilis, E.; Brikas, P.; Calaboukas, C. [Poisonous and noxious plants of Greece.] Hellenike Kteniatrike, 10 149-167 (1967)
- Reynard, G. B.; Norton, J. B. S Poisonous plants of Maryland in relation to livestock. Maryland Agric Exp Sta Tech Bull, #A10(May), 249-312C (1942)
