et al., Kalmia polifolia contains a grayanotoxin, which when ingested lowers blood pressure, and may cause respiratory problems, dizziness, vomiting, or diarrhea. According to Lewis and Elvin-Lewis, the active compounds within Kalmia polifolia include andromedotoxin and arbutin. These compounds cause a slowing of pulse, a lowering of blood pressure, progressive paralysis and death. Kalmia polifolia has poisoned cattle, goats and sheep. For poisoning to occur, the animal must consume 0.3% of its body weight, while a dosage of 2% of an would cause severe sickness. Symptoms for affected goats include depression, nausea, salivation, vomiting, and grating of teeth. Symptoms for affected sheep include depression, staggering, nausea, recubency, salivation, and vomiting. As food While caribou do not have specialized food habits, they can eat most plants - preferring fungi, green leaves of deciduous shrubs, and new spring growth of sedges. They often eat Kalmia polifolia in the spring and summer; the plant comprises 11% of their dietary dry-matter protein. For aesthetics Kalmia polifolia was planted in Montreal's First Nation Garden, among another 300 species planted. Gallery References External links USDA Plants Profile for Kalmia polifolia Jepson Manual Treatment UC CalPhotos gallery of Kalmia polifolia polifolia Flora of Eastern Canada Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the North-Central United States Flora of the Great Lakes region (North America) Flora of Saint Pierre and Miquelon Flora of the United States Flora without expected TNC conservation status