The Dangers of Poisonous Plants

Today you’ll find more than 700 plants have been identified as producing physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals.

Symptoms produced by toxic plants range from very mild stomach cramps, rashes and pains to very serious and even life-threatening conditions. While most cause illness if ingested, some can make you ill by contact. Strangely, some parts of a plant may be edible while others parts of the same plant are poisonous. In some cases, a toxic plant may be poisonous only to a certain animal species.

Types of Poisonous Plants

• Oleander is a common houseplant that has poisonous leaves and branches. Ingestion of oleander can cause problems with the heart or digestive system and can be fatal.
• Rosary Pea is another particularly dangerous houseplant that can be fatal if ingested.
• Hyacinth, a houseplant with white or purple flowers, has poisonous bulbs that may cause vomiting, nausea can even be fatal if ingested.
• Dieffenbachia, a tropical houseplant with colorful leaves, is especially poisonous. Contact with any part of dieffenbachia can cause serious burning and irritation of the mouth and the tongue.
• Larkspur, a common garden plant, can be a dangerous flowering plant, causing digestive upset, nervous excitement and depression.
• Monkshood, another common garden flower, has poisonous fleshy roots that can cause digestive problems and nervous excitement.

Avoiding Poisonous Plants

• Don’t eat wild plants or mushrooms.
• Keep plants, seeds and bulbs out of the reach of children.
• Don't allow children to handle unfamiliar wildflowers.
• Avoid the smoke of burning plants.
• Don't attempt to make homemade medicine from plants.