Throughout history, plants have provided us with a great deal of resources. They have given us food, home, warmth, medicine, textiles, entertainment, and beauty. When we talk about plants today, toxic plants are a very important topic, especially when it comes to the plants that you have in your own home.
So, here’s a list of common toxic plants that you probably didn’t know were. Read on to find out what they are.
1. Christmas Eve
Scientific name: Euphorbia pulcherrima
To begin with, we have perhaps one of the best-known ornamental plants, the poinsettia or poinsettia. This is a plant native to the tropical deciduous forests of Mexico, but has long been used as a symbol of Christmas.
As you may have guessed, this is due to their distinctive combinations of red and green leaves, although poinsettias can be grown to have a wide range of colors, from blue to pink. It is wrong to think that this plant is incredibly poisonous. This is not true. This, presumably, comes from the fact that most other plants in the genus Euphorbia are dangerous toxic plants.
Ingestion can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and contact can cause temporary skin eczema. Also, contact with the eyes can cause temporary blindness, but this is not always the case.
2. English ivy
Scientific name: Hedera helix
English ivy is one of the most common toxic plants and is labeled an invasive species in the United States. Even its sale and distribution are prohibited in the state of Oregon. This ivy is also known to climb the canopy of trees, causing them to fall.
Young children are often victims of the poison of this plant, probably due to their great curiosity. Ingestion can cause delirium, stupor, seizures, hallucinations and fever. And contact with its leaves can cause skin irritation, itching, rash and blisters.
3. Easter lily
Scientific name: Lilium longform
Easter lilies are a very common species in the Liliaceae family. Although native to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan and Taiwan, this lily is found in gardens around the world. Easter lilies, while beautiful, are also highly poisonous toxic plants, especially to cats.
It is also poisonous to humans due to the alkaloid Lycorine, which is found in the bulbs and stems. Symptoms of poisoning from ingesting Easter lily include abdominal pain, salivation, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
4. Larkspur
Scientific name: Consolida Ajacis
The larkspur, consolida ajacis is a member of the buttercup family and is native to North America. It usually grows at higher elevations and is often found in the mountains. Almost all species are toxic. Despite their toxicity, Delphinium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some species of moths.
All parts of larkspur are poisonous. Due to its height, cattle are frequently poisoned by ingesting it.
Symptoms of poisoning include burning of the lips and mouth, throat numbness, severe vomiting and diarrhea, muscle weakness and spasms, paralysis of the respiratory system, and seizures, which usually lead to death. Although it is a really attractive plant to look at, it is better to stay away from it.
5. Azalea
Scientific name: Rhododendron
Azaleas are a very common plant found in gardens around the world. Its evergreen leaves and bright flowers make it an exceptionally attractive plant to many gardeners. Despite its popularity, this plant is known to be toxic.
All parts of the rhododendron are highly toxic and can be fatal if eaten. Symptoms from ingestion include excessive salivation, watery eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression. Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, shortness of breath, progressive paralysis of the arms and legs and coma, which generally leads to death….
6. Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia is an extremely common houseplant, and you’ve probably been in many homes where there is one. You could even have it in your house yourself and not even know about its toxicity. Dieffenbachia contains oxalic acid, a bitter acid that is also found in clover (oxalis). It also contains tiny needle-shaped crystals called calcium oxalate.
If a leaf is chewed, these crystals cause an extreme burning sensation in the mouth, throat and tongue. It is also known to cause temporary vocal cord paralysis. While ingestion is not always fatal, victims describe it as excruciatingly painful and debilitating.
7. Oleander
Scientific name: Nerium oleander
Oleander is a small but showy plant, and its flowers are known to come in a wide variety of colors. One aspect (perhaps already known) of the plant is its high level of toxicity. Consuming a single leaf by a baby or child can be fatal.
The symptoms experienced from ingesting this plant can be terrifying. These include nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness, poor circulation in the extremities, seizures. Tremors, collapse, slow pulse, irregular heartbeat, dilated pupils, bloody diarrhea, coma, death, and suicidal depression.
Yes … you read it correctly. In South India, countless cases of suicide are reported after consuming crushed oleander seeds.
8. Foxglove
Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea
Foxglove is a beautiful plant that is common in many colorful gardens. Its scientific name, digitalis, means “Like a finger” and refers to the ease with which the flower can be placed on the tip of a human finger.
This plant looks beautiful, but sinister, and it also has unrivaled toxicity. It was initially highly regarded for its medicinal efficacy in treating heart conditions, epilepsy, and other seizure disorders. Many of its uses are now considered inappropriate due to its wide variety of adverse reactions.
The entire plant itself is toxic, although the leaves on the upper stem are particularly powerful. Just one bite has the potential to cause death. The first symptoms of ingestion include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, extreme hallucinations, delirium, and severe headache.
9. Datura Stramonium
Finally, we have the Datura Stramonium. One of the most dangerous toxic plants out there. This is a very common and very attractive plant. It grows almost anywhere there is soil. It can sometimes lie dormant underground for years and germinate suddenly when the soil is disturbed. The plant is known for its trumpet-shaped flower, which is white to pink or purple, and its seed pod that is covered in many sharp thorns.
It secretes a foul odor when any part of the plant is disturbed or broken. Draw your own conclusions when you hear the many names by which it is known: devil’s trumpet, devil’s weed, hell’s bells, stink weed, etc.
Datura was used as a mystical sacrament in North America by natives, and in South Asia, where Hindus believe that Shiva was often seen smoking Datura. It causes intense hallucinations and delusions.
It is often fatal when ingested by humans and animals, including livestock and pets. Datura poisoning typically results in a total inability to differentiate reality from fantasy. Other reported symptoms include hyperthermia, tachycardia, strange and violent behavior, and severe mydriasis with painful photophobia that can last for several days.
Pronounced amnesia is another commonly reported effect. Due to the fine line between dose and overdose, recreational use of datura stramonium is NOT recommended. Overdose, most of the time, leads to death.
