OK, we’re a blog about flowers (the name Flower Blog kinda hints at that). Normally we post happy fun stuff celebrating the beauty of flowers in their many forms, but with help from Fun Flower Facts, we’re showing the deadly truth behind some of these beautiful buds. Please note: the following plants and flowers listed below are poisonous to humans, but can also be poisonous to animals too.
Angel Trumpet (Datura innoxia)
- Toxic parts: all parts of this plant are toxic, including leaves and seeds.
- Toxins: tropane alkaloids including atropine, hyoscine, and hyoscyamine.
- Symptoms of poisoning: agitation, choreiform movement, coma, drowsiness, hallucination and an elevated temperature.
Belladonna (Atropa Belladonna)
- Toxic parts: All parts are poisonous if ingested but the black berries are the most toxic part.
- Toxins: Tropane alkaloids and atropine
- Symptoms of poisoning: fever, rapid pulse, dilation of pupils, hot and dry flushed skin, headache, dry mouth, difficulty in swallowing, burning of the throat, hallucinations and convulsions.
Caster Bean (Ricinus communis)
Credit: Hubert J Steed
- Toxic parts: The seeds (and to a much lesser extent the leaves) contain ricin, a protein, which is highly toxic in small quantities. Swallowing a seed without chewing prevents the release of the toxin because of the hard seed coat. However, chewing the seed allows release of the water- soluble chemical, and poisoning can occur. PLEASE NOTE: ingestion of 2-4 seeds can kill a child. Do NOT plant this plant in your yard if you have small animals or children.
- Toxins: the protein Ricin, a toxalbumin, and ricinus agglutinin (or ricin), which causes coagulation of the red blood cells.
- Symptoms of poisoning: abdominal pains, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, drowsiness, dehydration, discoordination, and hematuria. In cases of acute toxicity, symptoms appear after several hours to a few days, although they can occur quickly.
Jimson Weed (Datura Stramonium)
Credit: Heliweb
- Toxic parts: All parts of this plant are poisonous including flowers, leaves, mature fruit, seeds and stems.
- Toxins: tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine, hyoscine (also called scopolamine), and traces of atropine are found in the plant
- Symptoms of poisoning: agitation, babinski reflex, choreiform movement, confusion, convulsions, death, dizziness, drowsiness, faintness, unsteady gait, hallucination , elevated heart rate, inebriation, memory loss, dry mouth, nausea, pupil dilation, reflex excitability, dry skin, flushed skin, slurred speech, elevated temperature, thirsty, unconsciousness, absent urination and impaired vision.
Monkshood (Aconitum napellus)
- Toxic parts: All parts are toxic including leaves and roots.
- Toxins: Aconitine.
- Symptoms of poisoning: agitation, faintness, muscle weakness, nausea, salivation, cold and moist skin, throat constriction, tingling sensation and vomiting.
Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)
Credit: Ohio State University
- Toxic parts: the mature fruit.
- Toxins: alkaloids, specifics unknown.
- Symptoms of poisoning: convulsions and death.
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Credit: Kiran Niranjan
- Toxic parts: All parts of this plant are toxic including flowers, leaves, stems and young shoots. Smoke from burning twigs is also said to be toxic.
- Toxins: Oleandrin, a cardiac glycoside, is found throughout the plant, including the nectar of the flowers.
- Symptoms of poisoning: dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, unconsciousness, bloody stools, and light and rapid pulse. Death has occurred in some cases.
Precatory-Pea (Abrus precatorius)
Credit: Plants of Brazil
- Toxic parts: Seeds contain a chemical called abrin, which is highly toxic.
- Toxins: Abrin it is a lectin of Abrus precatorius and is a ribosome-inactivating protein. This chemical is regarded as one of the most deadly plant toxins known.
- Symptoms of poisoning: abdominal pains, red and inflamed cecum, cerebral edema, death, diarrhea, purple gastric mucosa, nausea, gray mucous stomach and vomiting.
Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola)
Credit: Washington University
- Toxic parts: All parts are toxic including bark, leaves, flowers and mature fruit.
- Toxins: Daphnetoxin, dihydroxycoumarin and mezerein.
- Symptoms of poisoning: Abdominal pains, diarrhea, dysphagia, irritation of mouth, salivation and thirst.
Western Water Hemlock (Cicuta douglasii)
- Toxic parts: The toxins are concentrated in the chambered rootstock but also occur in the leaves, stems and young shoots as well.
- Toxins: Cicutoxin.
- Symptoms of poisoning: Coma followed by death.
**A word of caution to all our bloggers for all these plants, please reconsider planting these in your yard and seek immediate medical attention if you come into contact with any of the poisonous parts of these plants.**
Love,
