Acacia georginae

Fluorine can be acccumulated and metabolised by a number of plant species, in particular the African Dichapetalum species and the Australian Acacia georginae. These plants all contain fluoroacetate which may be up to 50 mg kg-1 dry weight. High concentrations of up to 1 % F in dry plant tissues have been found in plants growing on fluorite-rich spoil (Cooke et al., 1976) as compared with normal values of around 30 mg kg 1 (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias, 1984). 

Oerlichs, P.B., McEwan, T. (1961). Isolation of the toxic principle of Acacia georginae. Nature (Land.) 190 808-9. 

Fluoroacetate (3), the sodium salt of monofluoroacetic acid, is also a substance of vegetable origin, reported to poison sheep and cattle repeatedly. It is the toxic substance of a South African plant called gifblaar (Dichapetalum cymostm) and of the Australian plant Acacia georginae (Marais, 1944). The compound is readily soluble in water and is very toxic. Its acute oral lDj for rats is 0.2-2 mg/kg. The compound is converted via the citrate cycle into fluorocitrate and this blocks the citrate cycle. 

Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, 183, 255 Eluoroacetate accumulator plants Acacia georginae, 783, 795 Dichapetalum spp., 783, 795 Giffblaar, Dichapetalum cymosium, 783, 795 Oxylobium spp., 798 Palicourea spp., 783... 

ITO, K., and L. Fowden New characterizations of amino acids and y-glutamyl peptides from Acacia georginae seed. Phytochemistry 11, 2541 (1972). 

Oelrichs P B, McEwan T 1962 The toxic principle of Acacia georginae. Queensland J Agr Sci 19 1-16... 

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