Spring Adonis / Summer Adonis
Adonis vernalis / Adonis aestivalis
Horse
Severe
Any suspected ingestion is an immediate veterinary emergency. 20 to 30 grams of dried plant in hay are sufficient to trigger severe disorders.
Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.
What to do now
- Antidote
- No specific antidote. Intensive symptomatic treatment (anti-arrhythmics, cardiac support).
- Time to signs
- A few hours to 24 hours
- Prognosis
- Grave if arrhythmia has started. Death is sudden.
- Immediate veterinary emergency.
- Remove all suspect forage immediately.
- Intensive cardiac stabilization.
- Administer activated charcoal if recent ingestion.
Its ID card
- Height
- 10-30 cm
- Flowering
- April to June
- Toxic parts
- Entire plant (flowers, leaves, stems).
- Toxin
- Cardiotonic glycosides (Adonitoxin, cymarin).
- Habitat
- Dry calcareous lawns, rockeries, steppes, cereal fields (A. aestivalis).
- Soil indicator
- Very dry, poor, sunny, purely calcareous soils.
- Regions
- Eastern and Central Europe, Mediterranean Basin, Causses (France)
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Very low when growing (bitter); intoxication is almost exclusively linked to the ingestion of contaminated hay.
When the risk rises
All year round in alpine/plateau hay. April-May when growing.
Spotting it in the field
Anemone (less abundant flowers), Poppy (for the blood-red variety, but leaves are very different). — smell : odorless or slight herbaceous smell.
- Small plant (10-30 cm).
- Extremely dissected, very fine leaves (like dill or fennel).
- Solitary flowers with numerous petals (10-20).
- Bright yellow (Spring Adonis) or blood red with a black center (Summer Adonis, 'Blood Drop').
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity.
Dose : Approximately 20-30g of dried plant in hay for a horse.
- Severe cardiac disorders (irregular and violent pulse, then very weak)
- Colic and severe diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
- Breathing difficulties and panting
- Tremors, dizziness, horse staggers
- Cardiac arrest and death
Who is affected
Other species : Lethal to all herbivores (sheep often decimated).
In pregnant mares : fatal for the mare.
Getting rid of it
Method : Manually pull the entire plant before flowering, wearing gloves. Destroy uprooted plants by burning.
- Meticulously inspect hay before feeding, especially if it comes from known Adonis-infested areas.
- Avoid grazing in areas where Adonis is present, particularly in spring.
- Manually identify and remove plants before they are mown with the forage.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Spring Adonis / Summer Adonis from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Spring Adonis / Summer Adonis dangerous in hay?
This entry flags hay vigilance. Isolate suspicious forage and ask for professional advice if exposure is possible.
This page is informational. If ingestion is likely, if signs appear, or if the horse is fragile, contact a veterinarian immediately.