Plants of Oklahoma and Texas Capable of Producing Cyanogenic Compounds

We have surveyed the distribution of cyanogenic compounds in plants from Oklahoma and Texas. Approximately 135 species of plants from 46 families are known to contain compounds capable of liberating hydrogen cyanide upon hydrolysis. These are primarily found in the Gramineae, Rosaceae, Leguminosae, Polypodiaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. The chemical structures of the cyanogens have been studied in only a small number of the species included and investigation of the biology and chemistry of these plants should prove profitable.