Cotyledon and Kalanchoe spp ‘Pigs ear’ ‘Vark oor’ ‘Plakkie’
By Dr Mackie Hobson BSc(Agric),BVSc

1. Poisoning

SEE ‘Krimpsiekte’ https://www.angoras.co.za/article/krimpsiekte-cardiac-glycosides#126

The majority of cases occur in hilly areas, on the shady side.  The plants are eaten by livestock in the dry season when other grazing is unpalatable.

The flowers are more toxic than the leaves and the toxicity of plants differ both within and between localities.  Plants growing on black clay is less toxic than those plants growing on sandy soils.

Cotyledon orbiculata ‘Pigs ear’ ‘Vark oor’

Cotyledon papillaris ‘Sprawling pig’s ears’ 

Cotyledon velutina ‘ Velvet cotyledon’

Kalanchoe rotundifolia ‘Plakkie, nentabos’