fbpx
Wikipedia

List of poisonous plants

Plants that produce toxins and/or cause irritation on contact are referred to as poisonous plants.[1]

Australia, 1907: Cattlemen survey 700 cattle that were killed overnight by poisonous plants.

The toxins in poisonous plants affect herbivores, and deter them from consuming the plants. Plants cannot move to escape their predators, so they must have other means of protecting themselves from herbivorous animals. Some plants have physical defenses such as thorns, spines and prickles, but by far the most common type of protection is chemical.[2]

Over millennia, through the process of natural selection, plants have evolved the means to produce a vast and complicated array of chemical compounds to deter herbivores. Tannin, for example, is a defensive compound that emerged relatively early in the evolutionary history of plants, while more complex molecules such as polyacetylenes are found in younger groups of plants such as the Asterales. Many of the known plant defense compounds primarily defend against consumption by insects, though other animals, including humans, that consume such plants may also experience negative effects, ranging from mild discomfort to death.

Many of these poisonous compounds also have important medicinal benefits.[3] The varieties of phytochemical defenses in plants are so numerous that many questions about them remain unanswered, including:

  1. Which plants have which types of defense?
  2. Which herbivores, specifically, are the plants defended against?
  3. What chemical structures and mechanisms of toxicity are involved in the compounds that provide defense?
  4. What are the potential medical uses of these compounds?

These questions and others constitute an active area of research in modern botany, with important implications for understanding plant evolution and medical science.

Below is an extensive, if incomplete, list of plants containing one or more poisonous parts that pose a serious risk of illness, injury, or death to humans or domestic animals. There is significant overlap between plants considered poisonous and those with psychotropic properties, some of which are toxic enough to present serious health risks at recreational doses. There is a distinction between plants that are poisonous because they naturally produce dangerous phytochemicals, and those that may become dangerous for other reasons, including but not limited to infection by bacterial, viral, or fungal parasites; the uptake of toxic compounds through contaminated soil or groundwater; and/or the ordinary processes of decay after the plant has died; this list deals exclusively with plants that produce phytochemicals. Many plants, such as peanuts, produce compounds that are only dangerous to people who have developed an allergic reaction to them, and with a few exceptions, those plants are not included here (see list of allergens instead). Despite the wide variety of plants considered poisonous, human fatalities caused by poisonous plants – especially resulting from accidental ingestion – are rare in the developed world.[4]

Poisonous plants that are food edit

Many plants commonly used as food possess toxic parts, are toxic unless processed, or are toxic at certain stages of their lives. Some only pose a serious threat to certain animals (such as cats, dogs, or livestock) or certain types of people (such as infants, the elderly, or individuals with pathological vulnerabilities). Most of these food plants are safe for the average adult to eat in modest quantities. Notable examples include:

Scientific name Common name Description Picture
Allium spp. Onion, garlic, leek, and chive Many members of the genus Allium contain thiosulphate, which in high doses is toxic to dogs, cats, and some types of livestock. Cats are more sensitive.[5]  
Asparagus officinalis Asparagus Several species including Asparagus officinalis and Asparagus densiflorus. Though asparagus plants cultivated for food are typically harvested before they reach reproductive maturity, the berries of the mature plant are poisonous, containing furostanol and spirostanol saponins. Rapid ingestion of more than five to seven ripe berries can induce abdominal pain and vomiting. Sulfur compounds in the young shoots are also considered at least partially responsible for mild skin reactions in some people who handle the plant.[6]  
Citrus limon Lemon Most citrus fruits, including lemon, lime, and orange, among others, are known to contain aromatic oils and compounds of Psoralen, which is toxic to dogs, cats, and other animals.[citation needed] The compound is found all over the entire plant. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and photosensitivity.[citation needed]  
Lathyrus sativus Indian pea A legume grown in Asia and East Africa as an insurance crop for use during famines. Like other grain legumes, L. sativus produces a high-protein seed. The seeds contain variable amounts of β-N-Oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid or ODAP, a neurotoxic amino acid.[7] ODAP causes wasting and paralysis if eaten over a long period, and is considered the cause of the disease neurolathyrism, a neurodegenerative disease that causes paralysis of the lower body and emaciation of gluteal muscle (buttocks). The disease has been seen to occur after famines in Europe (France, Spain, Germany), North Africa and South Asia, and is still prevalent in Eritrea, Ethiopia and parts of Afghanistan when Lathyrus seed is the exclusive or main source of nutrients for extended periods.  
Malus domestica Apple The seeds are mildly poisonous, containing a small amount of amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside.[citation needed] The quantity contained in the seeds of a single apple is usually not enough to be dangerous to humans, but it is possible to ingest enough seeds to provide a fatal dose.[citation needed]  
Mangifera indica Mango tree Mango leaves, stems, peels, and sap contain urushiol, an allergen also present in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac that can cause urushiol-induced contact dermatitis in susceptible people.[citation needed] Cross-reactions between mango contact allergens and urushiol have been observed. Those with a history of poison ivy or poison oak contact dermatitis may be most at risk for such an allergic reaction. During mango's primary ripening season, it is the most common source of plant dermatitis in Hawaii.  
Manihot esculenta Cassava Roots and leaves contain two cyanogenic glycosides, linamarin and lotaustralin. These are decomposed by linamarase, a naturally occurring enzyme in cassava, liberating hydrogen cyanide.[8] Cassava varieties are often categorized as either sweet or bitter, respectively signifying the absence or presence of toxic levels of cyanogenic glycosides. The 'sweet' cultivars can produce as little as 20 milligrams of cyanide per kilogram of fresh roots, whereas bitter ones may produce more than 50 times as much (1 g/kg). Cassavas grown during drought are especially high in these toxins.[9][10] A dose of 40 mg of pure cassava cyanogenic glycoside is sufficient to kill a cow. It can also cause severe calcific pancreatitis in humans, leading to chronic pancreatitis. Processing (soaking, cooking, fermentation, etc.) of cassava root is necessary to remove the toxins and avoid getting sick. In the tropics, where cassava farming is a major industry, "Chronic, low-level cyanide exposure is associated with the development of goiter and with tropical ataxic neuropathy, a nerve-damaging disorder that renders a person unsteady and uncoordinated. Severe cyanide poisoning, particularly during famines, is associated with outbreaks of a debilitating, irreversible paralytic disorder called konzo and, in some cases, death. The incidence of konzo and tropical ataxic neuropathy can be as high as 3 percent in some areas."[11] For some smaller-rooted sweet varieties, cooking is sufficient to eliminate all toxicity. The cyanide is carried away in the processing water and the amounts produced in domestic consumption are too small to have an environmental impact.[8] The larger-rooted, bitter varieties used for the production of flour or starch must be processed to remove the cyanogenic glycosides.[12] Industrial production of cassava flour, even at the cottage level, may generate enough cyanide and cyanogenic glycosides in the effluvia to have a severe environmental impact.[8]  
Myristica fragrans Nutmeg Contains myristicin, a naturally occurring insecticide and acaricide with possible neurotoxic effects on neuroblastoma cells.[13] It has psychoactive properties at doses much higher than used in cooking. Raw nutmeg produces anticholinergic-like symptoms, attributed to myristicin and elemicin.[14] The intoxicating effects of myristicin can lead to a physical state somewhere between waking and dreaming; euphoria is reported and nausea is often experienced. Users also report bloodshot eyes and memory disturbances.[15] Myristicin is also known to induce hallucinogenic effects, such as visual distortions. Nutmeg intoxication has an extremely long delay before peak is reached, sometimes taking up to seven hours, and effects can be felt for 24 hours, with lingering effects lasting up to 72 hours.[16][17]  
Phaseolus lunatus Lima bean or butter bean Raw beans contain dangerous amounts of linamarin, a cyanogenic glycoside.[citation needed]  
Phaseolus vulgaris Kidney bean or common bean Phytohaemagglutinin, a toxic lectin, is present in many varieties of common bean but is especially concentrated in red kidney beans. The lectin has several effects on cell metabolism; it induces mitosis and affects the cell membrane regarding transport and permeability to proteins. It agglutinates most mammalian red blood cell types. Consumption of as few as four or five raw kidney beans may be sufficient to trigger symptoms, which include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Onset is from one to three hours after consumption of improperly prepared beans, and symptoms typically resolve within a few hours.[18] Phytohaemagglutinin can be deactivated by cooking beans at 100 °C (212 °F) for ten minutes, which is required to degrade the toxin and is much shorter than the hours required to fully cook the beans themselves. For dry beans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also recommends an initial soak of at least five hours in water, after which the soaking water should be discarded.[18] However, lower cooking temperatures may have the paradoxical effect of potentiating the toxic effect of haemagglutinin. Beans cooked at 80 °C (176 °F) are reported to be up to five times as toxic as raw beans.[18] Outbreaks of poisoning have been associated with the use of slow cookers, the low cooking temperatures of which may be unable to degrade the toxin.  
Prunus cerasus Cherry Leaves and seeds contain amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside. Many other Prunus species, such as peach (Prunus persica), plum (Prunus domestica), almond (Prunus dulcis), and apricot (Prunus armeniaca), also possess poisonous parts.[citation needed]  
Rheum rhaponticum Rhubarb The leaf stalks (petioles) are edible, but the leaves themselves contain notable quantities of oxalic acid, which is a nephrotoxic and corrosive acid present in many plants. Symptoms of poisoning include kidney disorders, convulsions and coma, though it is rarely fatal. The LD50 (median lethal dose) for pure oxalic acid in rats is about 375 mg/kg body weight,[19] or about 25 grams for a 65 kg (~140 lb) human. Although the oxalic acid content of rhubarb leaves can vary, a typical value is about 0.5%,[20] so almost 5 kg of the extremely sour leaves would have to be consumed to reach the LD50. Cooking the leaves with soda can make them more poisonous by producing soluble oxalates.[21] However, the leaves are believed to also contain an additional, unidentified toxin,[22] which might be an anthraquinone glycoside (also known as senna glycosides).[23] In the edible leaf stalks, the concentration of oxalic acid is much lower, contributing only about 2–2.5% of the total acidity, which is dominated by malic acid.[24] This means that even the raw stalks may not be hazardous (though they are generally thought to be in the US). However, the tart taste of the raw stalks is so strong as to be unpalatable to most consumers.  
Solanum lycopersicum Tomato Like many other members of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), tomato leaves and stems contain solanine that is toxic if ingested, causing digestive upset and nervous excitement. Use of tomato leaves as an herbal tea (infusion) has been responsible for at least one death.[25] Leaves, stems, and green unripe fruit of the tomato plant also contain small amounts of the poisonous alkaloid tomatine,[26] although levels are generally too small to be dangerous.[26][27] Ripe tomatoes do not contain any detectable tomatine.[26] Tomato plants can be toxic to dogs if they eat large amounts of the fruit or chew the plant material.[28]  
Solanum tuberosum Potato Potatoes contain toxic compounds known as glycoalkaloids, of which the most prevalent are solanine and chaconine. Solanine is also found in other members of the Solanaceae plant family, which includes Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade) and Hyoscyamus niger (henbane) (see entries below). The concentration of glycoalkaloid in wild potatoes is sufficient to produce toxic effects in humans. The toxin affects the nervous system, causing headaches, diarrhea and intense digestive disturbances, cramps, weakness and confusion, and in severe cases coma and death. Poisoning from cultivated potatoes occurs very rarely, however, as toxic compounds in the potato plant are generally concentrated in the green portions of the plant and in the fruits, and cultivated varieties contain smaller concentrations than wild plants.[29][30] Cooking at high temperatures (over 170 °C or 340 °F) also partly destroys the toxin. However, exposure to light, physical damage, and age can increase glycoalkaloid content within the tuber,[31] the highest concentrations occurring just underneath the skin. Tubers that are exposed to light turn green from chlorophyll synthesis, thus giving a visual clue as to areas of the tuber that may have become more toxic; however, this does not provide a definitive guide, as greening and glycoalkaloid accumulation can occur independently of each other. Some varieties of potato contain greater glycoalkaloid concentrations than others; breeders developing new cultivars try to keep solanine levels below 200 mg/kg (200 ppmw). However, when these commercial varieties turn green, even they can approach solanine concentrations of 1000 mg/kg (1000 ppmw). The U.S. National Toxicology Program suggests that the average American consume no more than 12.5 mg/day of solanine from potatoes (the toxic dose is several times this, depending on body weight).  
Vitis spp. Grape Potentially toxic to dogs, although the precise mechanism is not fully understood.[citation needed] See grape and raisin toxicity in dogs.  

Other poisonous plants edit

Countless other plants not commonly used in food or drink are also poisonous, and care should be taken to avoid accidentally contacting or ingesting them. Some of these are popular ornamental plants or are cultivated for purposes other than consumption.

Scientific name Common name(s) Description Picture
Abrus precatorius Known commonly as jequirity, crab's eye, rosary pea, 'John Crow' bead, precatory bean, Indian licorice, akar saga, giddee giddee, jumbie bead, ruti, and weather plant. The attractive seeds (usually about the size of a ladybug, glossy red with one black dot) contain abrin, an extremely toxic ribosome-inactivating protein related to ricin.[citation needed] Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, convulsions, liver failure, and death, usually after several days. Ingesting a single seed can kill an adult human.[citation needed] The seeds have been used as beads in jewelry, which is dangerous; inhaled dust is toxic and pinpricks can be fatal.[citation needed] The seeds are unfortunately attractive to children.  
Aconitum spp. Several species commonly called aconite, wolfsbane, and monkshood. All parts are poisonous, containing an alkaloid called aconitine, which disables nerves, lowers blood pressure, and can stop the heart. Even casual skin contact should be avoided. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and cardiac irregularity. It has been used as a poison for bullets (by German forces during World War II), as a bait and arrow poison (ancient Greece), and to poison water supplies (reports from ancient Asia).[citation needed] If ingested, it usually causes burning, tingling, and numbness in the mouth, followed by vomiting and nervous excitement. It is usually a quick-acting poison and has been used in the past for killing wolves (hence one of the common names).  
Actaea pachypoda Also known as doll's eyes or white baneberry. All parts are poisonous, especially the berries, the consumption of which has a sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue and can cause cardiac arrest.[citation needed]  
Adenium obesum Also known as sabi star, kudu, or desert-rose. The plant exudes a highly toxic sap which is used by the Meridian High and Hadza in Tanzania to coat arrow-tips for hunting.[citation needed]  
Adonis vernalis Known variously as pheasant's eye and false hellebore. The plant is poisonous, containing cardiostimulant compounds such as adonidin and aconitic acid.[citation needed]  
Aesculus hippocastanum Commonly known as horse-chestnut. All parts of the plant are poisonous, causing nausea, muscle twitches, and sometimes paralysis.[citation needed]  
Agave spp. Also known as century plant and maguey The juice of several species causes acute contact dermatitis, with blistering lasting several weeks and recurring itching for several years thereafter.[citation needed]  
Ageratina altissima Commonly known as white snakeroot. All parts contain a toxic oil known as tremetol, which causes nausea and vomiting and is often fatal. Milk sickness is caused by drinking milk from cattle that have eaten white snakeroot, which can sicken or kill humans.[citation needed]  
Agrostemma githago Commonly known as corn cockle. Contains the saponins githagin and agrostemmic acid. All parts of the plant are reported to be poisonous and may produce chronic or acute, potentially fatal poisoning, although it has been used in folk medicine to treat a range of ills, from parasites to cancer. There are no known recent clinical studies of corn cockle which provide a basis for dosage recommendations; however, doses higher than 3 g (of seeds) are considered toxic.[32]  
Anemone nemorosa Common names include wood anemone, windflower, and thimbleweed. The plant contains chemicals that are toxic to animals including humans, but it has also been used as a medicine. All parts of the plant contain protoanemonin, which can cause severe skin and gastrointestinal irritation, bitter taste and burning in the mouth and throat, mouth ulcers, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and hematemesis.[33]  
Anthurium spp. Common names include anthurium, tailflower, and flamingo flower. Anthurium plants are poisonous due to calcium oxalate crystals. The sap is irritating to the skin and eyes.[34]  
Aquilegia spp. Many species commonly known as columbine. Seeds and roots contain cardiogenic toxins which cause both severe gastroenteritis and heart palpitations if consumed. The flowers of various species were consumed in moderation by Native Americans as a condiment with other fresh greens, and are reported to be very sweet and safe if consumed in small quantities. Native Americans also used very small amounts of the root as an effective treatment for peptic ulcers. However, medical use of this plant is difficult due to its high toxicity; columbine poisonings are easily fatal.[35]  
Areca catechu Commonly known as betel nut palm and pinyang. The nut contains arecoline, an alkaloid related to nicotine which is addictive. It produces a mild high, some stimulation, and much red saliva, which cannot be swallowed as it causes nausea. Withdrawal causes headache and sweats. Use is correlated with mouth cancer, and to a lesser extent asthma and heart disease.[citation needed]  
Argemone mexicana Common names include Mexican poppy, flowering thistle, cardo, and cardosanto. A. mexicana seeds contain 22–36% of a pale yellow non-edible oil called argemone oil or katkar oil, which contains the toxic alkaloids sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine. Katkar oil poisoning causes epidemic dropsy, with symptoms including extreme swelling, particularly of the legs.[citation needed]  
Arnica montana Also known as mountain arnica. It contains the toxin helenalin, which can be poisonous if large amounts of the plant are eaten or small amounts of concentrated Arnica are used. Consumption of A. montana can produce severe gastroenteritis, internal bleeding of the digestive tract, raised liver enzymes (which can indicate inflammation of the liver), nervousness, accelerated heart rate, muscular weakness, and death if enough is ingested.[36][37] Contact with the plant can also cause skin irritation.[38][39] In the Ames test, an extract of A. montana was found to be mutagenic.[37] The plant's toxicity has led to the USFDA officially declaring it to be unsafe.  
Arum maculatum Commonly known as cuckoo-pint, lords and ladies, jack-in-the-pulpit, wake robin, wild arum, devils and angels, cows and bulls, Adam and Eve, bobbins, and starch-root. All parts of the plant can produce allergic reactions. The bright red berries contain oxalates of saponins and can cause skin, mouth, and throat irritation, resulting in swelling, burning pain, breathing difficulties, and stomach upset. One of the most common causes of plant poisoning.[citation needed]  
Atropa belladonna Commonly known as deadly nightshade, belladonna, devil's cherry, and dwale. One of the most toxic plants found in the Western Hemisphere, all parts of the plant contain tropane alkaloids[40] – as do those of its equally deadly sister species A. baetica, A. pallidiflora and A. acuminata. The active agents are atropine, hyoscine (scopolamine), and hyoscyamine, which have anticholinergic properties.[41][42] The symptoms of poisoning include dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, tachycardia, loss of balance, staggering, headache, rash, flushing, dry mouth and throat, slurred speech, urinary retention, constipation, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, and convulsions.[41][43][44] The root of the plant is generally the most toxic part, though this can vary from one specimen to another. Ingestion of a single leaf of the plant can be fatal to an adult.[40] Casual contact with the leaves can cause skin pustules. The berries pose the greatest danger to children because they look attractive and have a somewhat sweet taste.[45] The consumption of two to five berries by children and ten to twenty berries by adults can be lethal. In 2009, a case of A. belladonna being mistaken for blueberries, with six berries ingested by an adult woman, was documented to result in severe anticholinergic syndrome.[46] The plant's deadly symptoms are caused by atropine's disruption of the parasympathetic nervous system's ability to regulate involuntary activities such as sweating, breathing, and heart rate. The antidote for atropine poisoning is physostigmine or pilocarpine.[47] A. belladonna is also toxic to many domestic animals, causing narcosis and paralysis.[48] However, cattle and rabbits eat the plant seemingly without any harmful effects.[44] In humans, its anticholinergic properties will cause the disruption of cognitive capacities like memory and learning.[42]  
Brugmansia spp. Commonly known as angel's trumpet. All parts of all plants in this genus contain the tropane alkaloids scopolamine and atropine; often fatal. These plants are closely related to and were once grouped with members of the genus Datura, which contain the same deadly alkaloids. Effects of ingestion may include losing connection with reality and hallucinations. An unfortunate case has been reported in the neuroscience literature about a young man performing self-amputation with pruning shears after intentionally ingesting Brugmansia tea, boiled from just two flowers.[49]  
Caladium spp. Commonly known as angel wings, elephant ear, and heart of Jesus. All parts of all plants in this genus are poisonous. Symptoms are generally irritation, pain, and swelling of tissues. If the mouth or tongue swell, breathing may be fatally blocked.[citation needed]  
Calla palustris Also known as marsh calla, wild calla, and water-arum. The plant is very poisonous when fresh due to its high oxalic acid content, but the rhizome (like that of Caladium, Colocasia, and Arum) is edible after drying, grinding, leaching, and boiling.[50][failed verification]  
Caltha palustris Commonly known as marsh-marigold and kingcup. It contains several active substances of which the most important from a toxicological point of view is protoanemonin. Ingesting large quantities of the plant may cause convulsions, burning of the throat, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dizziness, and fainting. Contact of the skin or mucous membranes with the juices can cause blistering or inflammation, and gastric illness if ingested. Younger parts seem to contain lower toxin concentrations and heating breaks these substances down. Small amounts of Caltha in hay do not cause problems when fed to livestock, but larger quantities can lead to gastric illness.[51]  
Cascabela thevetia Also known as yellow oleander. All parts of the plant are toxic to most vertebrates as they contain cardiac glycosides. Many cases of intentional and accidental poisoning of humans are known.[52]  
Cephalanthus occidentalis Commonly called buttonbush. It has several historical medicinal uses, but it is also toxic due to the presence of cephalathin.[53]  
Cerbera odollam Commonly known as the suicide tree. The seeds contain cerberin, a potent toxin related to digoxin. The poison blocks the calcium ion channels in heart muscle, causing disruption of the heartbeat. This is typically fatal and can result from ingesting a single seed. Cerberin is difficult to detect in autopsies and its taste can be masked with strong spices, such as a curry. It is often used in homicide and suicide in India; Kerala's suicide rate is about three times the Indian average. In 2004, a team led by Yvan Gaillard of the Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology in La Voulte-sur-Rhône, France, documented more than 500 cases of fatal Cerbera poisoning between 1989 and 1999 in Kerala. They said "To the best of our knowledge, no plant in the world is responsible for as many deaths by suicide as the odollam tree."[54] A related species is Cerbera tanghin, the seeds of which are known as tanghin poison nut and have been used as an 'ordeal poison'.  
Chelidonium majus Also known as greater celandine. The whole plant is toxic in moderate doses as it contains a range of isoquinoline alkaloids, but there are claimed to be therapeutic uses when used at the correct dosage.[55] The main alkaloid present in the herb and root is coptisine, with berberine, chelidonine, sanguinarine, and chelerythrine also present. Sanguinarine is particularly toxic with an LD50 of only 18 mg per kg body weight.[56] The effect of the fresh herb is analgesic, cholagogic, antimicrobial, and oncostatic,[57] with action as a central nervous system sedative. In animal tests, Chelidonium majus is shown to be cytostatic. Early studies showed that the latex causes contact dermatitis and eye irritation. Stains on skin of the fingers are sometimes reported to cause eye irritation after rubbing the eyes or handling contact lenses. The characteristic latex also contains proteolytic enzymes and the phytocystatin chelidostatin, a cysteine protease inhibitor.[58]  
Cicuta spp. Commonly known as water hemlock, cowbane, wild carrot, snakeweed, poison parsnip, false parsley, children's bane, and death-of-man. The root, when freshly pulled out of the ground, is extremely poisonous and contains cicutoxin, a central nervous system stimulant that induces seizures.[citation needed] When dried, the poisonous effect is reduced. The most common species is C. maculata; one of the species found in the Western United States, C. douglasii, often found in pastures and swamps, has especially thick stems and very large and sturdy flowers which are sometimes harvested for flower displays. This is inadvisable as the sap is also toxic.  
Cleistanthus collinus Ingestion of its leaves or a dicoction of its leaves causes hypokalemia (kaliuresis and cardiac arrhythmias),[59] metabolic acidosis, hypotension, and hypoxia.[60]  
Clivia miniata Commonly known as Natal lily, bush lily, and Kaffir lily. It contains small amounts of lycorine, making it poisonous.[citation needed]  
Codiaeum variegatum Also known as garden croton or variegated croton. As with many of the Euphorbiaceae, the sap can cause skin eczema in some people. The bark, roots, latex, and leaves are poisonous.[61]  
Colchicum autumnale Commonly known as autumn crocus and meadow saffron. The bulbs contain colchicine. Colchicine poisoning has been compared to arsenic poisoning; symptoms typically start two to five hours after a toxic dose has been ingested but may take up to 24 hours to appear, and include burning in the mouth and throat, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and kidney failure. Onset of multiple-system organ failure may occur within 24 to 72 hours. This includes hypovolemic shock due to extreme vascular damage and fluid loss through the GI tract, which may result in death. Additionally, those affected may experience kidney damage resulting in low urine output and bloody urine, low white blood cell counts (persisting for several days), anemia, muscular weakness, and respiratory failure. Recovery may begin within 6 to 8 days. There is no specific antidote for colchicine poisoning, although various treatments do exist.[62] Despite dosing issues concerning its toxicity, colchicine is also a popular medicine at low doses, prescribed in the treatment of gout,[63] familial Mediterranean fever, pericarditis, and Behçet's disease. It is also being investigated for use as an anti-cancer drug.  
Conium maculatum Commonly known as hemlock, poison hemlock, spotted parsley, spotted cowbane, bad-man's oatmeal, poison snakeweed, and beaver poison. All parts of the plant contain the alkaloid coniine which causes stomach pains, vomiting, and progressive paralysis of the central nervous system; can be fatal.[citation needed] It should not be confused with the trees commonly called hemlock (Tsuga spp.), which, while not edible, are not nearly as toxic as the herbaceous plant. An infusion of poison hemlock is said to have killed Socrates in 399 BC.  
Consolida spp. Commonly known as larkspur. Young plants and seeds are poisonous, causing nausea, muscle twitches, and paralysis; often fatal. Other plants in the parent genus Delphinium are also poisonous and commonly called larkspur.[64]  
Convallaria majalis Commonly known as lily of the valley. Contains 38 different cardiac glycosides.[citation needed]  
Coriaria myrtifolia Commonly known as redoul. A Mediterranean plant containing the toxin coriamyrtin, ingestion of which produces digestive, neurological, and respiratory problems. The poisonous fruits superficially resemble blackberries and may mistakenly be eaten as such. Can be fatal in children.[citation needed]  
Cytisus scoparius Commonly known as broom or common broom. Contains toxic alkaloids that depress the heart and nervous system.[65] The alkaloid sparteine is a class 1a antiarrhythmic agent, a sodium channel blocker. It is not FDA-approved for human use as an antiarrhythmic agent and it is not included in the Vaughn Williams classification of antiarrhythmic drugs.  
Daphne spp. The berries (either red or yellow) are poisonous, causing burns to the mouth and digestive tract, followed by coma; often fatal.[citation needed]  
Datura spp. Several species commonly known as jimson weed, thorn apple, stinkweed, Jamestown weed, angel's trumpets, moonflower, and sacred datura. Containing the tropane alkaloids scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and atropine, all parts of these plants are poisonous, especially the seeds and flowers. Ingestion causes abnormal thirst, hyperthermia, severe delirium and incoherence, visual distortions, bizarre and possibly violent behavior, memory loss, coma, and often death; it is a significant poison to grazing livestock in North America. Datura has been used as an entheogenic drug by the indigenous peoples of the Americas and others for centuries, though the extreme variability in a given plant's toxicity depending on its age and growing environment make such usage an exceptionally hazardous practice; the difference between a recreational dose and a lethal dose is minuscule,[66] and incorrect dosage often results in death. For this same reason, Datura has also been a popular poison for suicide and murder, particularly in parts of Europe and India. Reports of recreational usage are overwhelmingly negative; the majority of those who describe their use of Datura find their experiences extremely unpleasant and often physically dangerous.[67]  
Daucus carota Commonly known as wild carrot. It can be dangerously toxic to humans.[68] Daucus carota has been reported to contain acetone, asarone, choline, ethanol, formic acid, HCN, isobutyric acid, limonene, malic acid, maltose, oxalic acid, palmitic acid, pyrrolidine, and quinic acid.[69] When in contact with wet Daucus carota, skin irritation and vesication may occur.  
Deathcamas Various genera in the family Melanthieae have species whose common names include "deathcamas", including Amianthium, Anticlea, Stenanthium, Toxicoscordion, and Zigadenus. All parts of these plants are toxic, due to the presence of alkaloids. Grazing animals, such as sheep and cattle, may be affected and human fatalities have occurred.[70]  
Delphinium spp. Also known as larkspur. Contains the alkaloid delsoline. Young plants and seeds are poisonous, causing nausea, muscle twitches, paralysis, and often death.[citation needed]  
Dendrocnide moroides Known also as stinging tree and gympie gympie. Capable of inflicting a painful sting when touched. The stinging may last for several days and is exacerbated by touching, rubbing, and cold temperatures; can be fatal.[citation needed]  
Dicentra cucullaria Also known as bleeding heart and Dutchman's breeches. Leaves and roots are poisonous and cause convulsions and other nervous symptoms.[citation needed]  
Dichapetalum cymosum Also known as gifblaar. Well known as a livestock poison in South Africa, this plant contains the metabolic poison fluoroacetic acid.[citation needed]  
Dieffenbachia spp. Commonly known as dumbcane. All parts are poisonous; the culprits are needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate called raphides, which can cause intense burning, reddening of the skin, irritation, and immobility of the tongue, mouth, and throat if ingested.[citation needed] Swelling can be severe enough to block breathing, leading to death, though this is rare; in most cases, symptoms are mild and can be successfully treated with basic analgesics, antihistamines, or charcoal.[citation needed]  
Digitalis purpurea Commonly known as foxglove. The leaves, seeds, and flowers are poisonous, containing cardiac or other steroid glycosides. These cause irregular heartbeat, general digestive upset, and confusion; can be fatal.[citation needed]  
Dioscorea communis Also known as black bryony. All components of the plant, including the tubers, are poisonous due to saponin content, therefore it is not typically used internally. However, it has been used as a poultice for bruises and inflamed joints. It has been suggested that black bryony be used topically with caution, due to a tendency for the plant to cause painful blisters. Studies have isolated calcium oxalate deposits and histamines in the berry juice and rhizomes, which may contribute to skin irritation and contact dermatitis.[citation needed]  
Dryopteridaceae Also known as wood ferns, buckler ferns, or male ferns. The rhizomes of this family are known to contain phloroglucinol derived compounds, previously used to treat nematode infections. Dryopteris filix-mas poisonings consist of vomiting, diarrhea, vertigo, headache, tremor, cold sweats, dyspnea, cyanosis, convulsions, mental disturbances, vision impairment of blindness which may be temporary or permanent. There is some record of Rumohra adiantiformis formerly Arachnoides adiantiformis, causing contact dermatitis.[71]
Duranta erecta Common names include golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, and skyflower. The leaves and berries of the plant are toxic and are confirmed to have killed children, dogs, and cats.[72]  
Erysimum cheiri Also known as wallflower. It contains constituents that may affect the heart.[73]  
Euonymus europaeus Commonly known as spindle, European spindle, or spindle tree. The fruit is poisonous, containing among other substances the alkaloids theobromine and caffeine, as well as an extremely bitter terpene. Poisonings are more common in young children, who are enticed by the brightly coloured fruits. Ingestion can result in liver and kidney damage and even death.[citation needed] There are many other species of Euonymus, many of which are also poisonous.  
Euphorbia pulcherrima Known as poinsettia. Its latex can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.[74] It is also mildly irritating to the skin or stomach[75] and may sometimes cause diarrhea and vomiting if eaten.[76] Sap introduced into the human eye may cause temporary blindness.[77] It is known to be mildly toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.[78]  
Excoecaria agallocha Commonly known as milky mangrove, blind-your-eye mangrove, and river poison tree. Contact with latex can cause skin irritation and blistering; eye contact can cause temporary blindness.[citation needed]  
Galanthus nivalis Known as snowdrop. The plant contains an active lectin or agglutinin named GNA for Galanthus nivalis agglutinin, which is toxic.[citation needed]  
Gelsemium sempervirens Commonly known as yellow jessamine. All parts are poisonous, causing nausea and vomiting. Often fatal. It is possible to become ill from ingesting honey made from jessamine nectar.[citation needed]  
Gloriosa superba Common names include flame lily, climbing lily, gloriosa lily, and fire lily. The plant is toxic enough to cause human and animal fatalities if ingested. Every part of the plant is poisonous, especially the tuberous rhizomes. As with other members of the Colchicaceae, this plant contains high levels of colchicine, a toxic alkaloid. It also contains the alkaloid gloriocine. Within a few hours of the ingestion of a toxic amount of plant material, a victim may experience nausea, vomiting, numbness and tingling around the mouth, burning in the throat, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea. As the toxic syndrome progresses, rhabdomyolysis, ileus, respiratory depression, hypotension, coagulopathy, haematuria, altered mental status, seizures, coma, and ascending polyneuropathy may occur.[79]  
Grevillea spp. Commonly known as silky oak and spiderflower. A few species such as Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon', G. robusta, G. banksii, G. bipinnatifida, and others can cause severe contact dermatitis.[80]  
Hedera helix Also known as common ivy. The leaves and berries are poisonous, causing stomach pains, labored breathing, and possible coma.[citation needed]  
Heliotropium indicum Commonly known as Indian heliotrope. It contains tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.[81]  
Helleborus niger Also known as Christmas rose. Contains protoanemonin,[82] or ranunculin,[83] which has an acrid taste and can cause burning of the eyes, mouth, and throat, oral ulceration, gastroenteritis, and hematemesis.[84]  
Heracleum mantegazzianum Also known as giant hogweed. The sap is phototoxic, causing phytophotodermatitis (severe skin inflammations) when affected skin is exposed to sunlight or to UV rays. Initially the skin becomes red and starts itching. Then blisters form as the reaction continues over 48 hours. They form black or purplish scars, which can last several years.[citation needed] Hospitalization may become necessary.  
Heracleum sosnowskyi Commonly known as Sosnowsky's Hogweed. Plant has toxic sap and causes skin inflammation on contact.[citation needed]  
Hippomane mancinella Commonly known as manchineel. All parts of this tree, including the fruit, contain toxic phorbol esters typical of the Euphorbiaceae plant family. Specifically the tree contains 12-deoxy-5-hydroxyphorbol-6gamma, 7alpha-oxide, hippomanins, mancinellin, sapogenin, phloracetophenone-2, 4-dimethylether is present in the leaves, while the fruits possess physostigmine.[85] Contact with the milky white latex produces strong allergic dermatitis.[86] Standing beneath the tree during rain will cause blistering of the skin from even slight contact with this liquid (even a small drop of rain with the milky substance in it will cause the skin to blister). Burning tree parts may cause blindness if the smoke reaches the eyes. The fruit can also be fatal if eaten. Many trees carry a warning sign, while others have been marked with a red "X" on the trunk to indicate danger. In the French Antilles the trees are often marked with a painted red band a few feet above the ground.[87] The Caribs used the latex of this tree to poison their arrows and would tie captives to the trunk of the tree, ensuring a slow and painful death. A poultice of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) was used by the Arawaks and Taíno as an antidote against such arrow poisons.[88] The Caribs were also known to poison the water supply of their enemies with the leaves.[citation needed] Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León was struck by an arrow that had been poisoned with manchineel sap during battle with the Calusa in Florida, dying shortly thereafter.[89]  
Hyacinthus orientalis Commonly known as hyacinth. The bulbs are poisonous, causing nausea, vomiting, gasping, convulsions, and possibly death.[citation needed] Even handling the bulbs can cause skin irritation.  
Hydrangea spp. Known commonly as hydrangea or hortensia. Hydrangeas are moderately toxic if eaten, with all parts of the plant containing cyanogenic glycosides.[90]  
Hyoscyamus niger Commonly known as henbane. Seeds and foliage contain hyoscyamine, scopolamine and other tropane alkaloids. Can produce dilated pupils, hallucinations, increased heart rate, convulsions, vomiting, hypertension and ataxia.[citation needed]  
Ilex aquifolium Commonly known as European holly. The berries cause gastroenteritis, resulting in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.[citation needed]  
Iris sibirica Also known as Siberian iris or Siberian flag. Most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.[91]  
Jacobaea vulgaris Commonly known as ragwort. Contains many different alkaloids, including jacobine, jaconine, jacozine, otosenine, retrorsine, seneciphylline, senecionine, and senkirkine.[92] Poisonous to livestock and hence of concern to people who keep horses and cattle. Horses do not normally eat fresh ragwort due to its bitter taste, however it loses this taste when dried, and becomes dangerous in hay. The result, if sufficient quantity is consumed, can be irreversible cirrhosis of the liver. Signs that a horse has been poisoned include yellow mucus membranes, depression, and lack of coordination. The danger is that the toxin can have a cumulative effect; the alkaloid does not accumulate in the liver but a breakdown product can damage DNA and progressively kills cells. Jacobaea vulgaris is also theoretically poisonous to humans, although poisoning is unlikely as it is distasteful and not used as a food. However, some sensitive individuals can develop an allergic skin reaction after handling the plant because, like many members of the family Compositae, it contains sesquiterpine lactones (which are different from the pyrrolizidine alkaloids responsible for the toxic effects), which can cause compositae dermatitis.  
Kalanchoe delagoensis Commonly known as mother of millions. Contains bufadienolide cardiac glycosides[93] which can cause cardiac poisoning, particularly in grazing animals.[94] During 1997, 125 head of cattle died after eating mother-of-millions on a travelling stock reserve near Moree, New South Wales, Australia.[95]  
Kalmia latifolia Commonly known as mountain laurel. Contains andromedotoxin and arbutin. The green parts of the plant, flowers, twigs, and pollen are all toxic, and symptoms of toxicity begin to appear about six hours following ingestion. Poisoning produces anorexia, repeated swallowing, profuse salivation, depression, uncoordination, vomiting, frequent defecation, watering of the eyes, irregular or difficult breathing, weakness, cardiac distress, convulsions, coma, and eventually death. Autopsy will show gastrointestinal irritation and hemorrhage.  
Laburnum spp. Known as golden chain. All parts of the plant and especially the seeds are poisonous and can be lethal if consumed in excess. The main toxin is cytisine, a nicotinic receptor agonist. Symptoms of poisoning may include intense sleepiness, vomiting, excitement, staggering, convulsive movements, slight frothing at the mouth, unequally dilated pupils, coma and death.[citation needed] In some cases, diarrhea is very severe and at times the convulsions are markedly tetanic.  
Lamprocapnos spectabilis Known commonly as bleeding heart. Contact with the plant can cause skin irritation in some people from isoquinoline-like alkaloids.[96]  
Lantana camara Also known as big-sage, wild-sage, and tickberry. The toxicity of L. camara to humans is undetermined, with several studies suggesting that ingesting unripe berries can be toxic to humans.[97] Other studies have found evidence which suggests that ingestion of L. camara fruit poses no risk to humans and are in fact edible when ripe.[98]  
Ligustrum spp. Several species, commonly known as privet. Berries and leaves are poisonous. Berries contain syringin, which causes digestive disturbances and nervous symptoms; can be fatal.[citation needed] Privet is one of several plants which are poisonous to horses. Privet pollen is known to cause asthma and eczema in patients. It is banned from sale or cultivation in New Zealand due to the effects of its pollen on people with asthma.  
Lilium spp. Commonly known as lily. Most have an unidentified water-soluble toxin found in all parts of the plant. Extremely poisonous, yet attractive, to cats, causing acute renal failure; as few as two petals of the flowers can kill.[citation needed]  
Lolium temulentum Commonly called darnel or poison ryegrass. The seeds and seed heads of this common garden weed may contain the alkaloids temuline and loliine. Some experts also point to the fungus ergot or fungi of the genus Endoconidium, both of which grow on the seed heads of rye grasses, as an additional source of toxicity.[99]  
Lupinus spp. Commonly known as lupin or lupine. Some varieties have edible seeds. Sweet lupines have less and bitter lupines more of the toxic alkaloids lupinine and sparteine.[citation needed]  
Malus florentina Commonly known as Florentine crabapple. All members of this genus contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide in their seeds and possibly also in their leaves.[100]  
Mandragora officinarum Commonly called mandrake. Alkaloids present in the fresh plant or the dried root included atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine (hyoscine), scopine, cuscohygrine, apoatropine, 3-alpha-tigloyloxytropane, 3-alpha,6-beta-ditigloyloxytropane and belladonnines. Non-alkaloid constituents included sitosterol and beta-methylesculetin (scopoletin).[citation needed]

The alkaloids make the plant, in particular the root and leaves, poisonous, via anticholinergic, hallucinogenic, and hypnotic effects. Anticholinergic properties can lead to asphyxiation.[citation needed]

 
Melia azedarach Known commonly as Chinaberry tree, Cape lilac, and syringa berrytree. Fruits are poisonous to humans if eaten in quantity.[101] The toxins are neurotoxins and unidentified resins found mainly in the fruits. The first symptoms of poisoning appear a few hours after ingestion. They may include loss of appetite, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, bloody faeces, stomach pain, pulmonary congestion, cardiac arrest, rigidity, lack of coordination and general weakness. Death may take place after about 24 hours.  
Melianthus major Also called honeybush. All parts of the plant are toxic.[citation needed]  
Menispermum spp. Commonly known as moonseed. The fruits and seeds are poisonous, causing nausea and vomiting; often fatal.[citation needed]  
Mentha pulegium Known commonly as pennyroyal or pennyrile. It is toxic to humans and has differing effects dependent on the volume and concentration ingested. The most concentrated and toxic form of the pennyroyal plant is pennyroyal oil. The oil contains 80% to 92% of cyclohexanone pulegone. Pulegone is the molecule in highest concentration, causes a variety of ailments in those who ingest it and is what causes the plant to have its peppermint flavor.[102] Symptoms that may persist after ingesting a small dose (<10 mL) of pennyroyal oil are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and dizziness. Larger volumes may result in multiorgan failure that could lead to death.  
Narcissus spp. Various species and garden cultivars commonly known as daffodil. The bulbs are poisonous and cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; can be fatal.[citation needed] Stems also cause headaches, vomiting, and blurred vision.  
Nerium oleander Commonly known as oleander. All parts are toxic, the leaves and woody stems in particular. Contains nerioside, oleandroside, saponins and cardiac glycosides. Causes severe digestive upset, heart trouble and contact dermatitis.[citation needed] The smoke of burning oleander can cause reactions in the lungs, and can be fatal.  
Nicandra physalodes Also known as apple-of-Peru and shoo-fly plant. The whole plant is said to be toxic (according to some sources, very toxic)[103] and to be used medicinally as a diuretic, sedative and cough medicine.  
Nicotiana glauca Known commonly as tree tobacco. It contains the toxic alkaloid anabasine. Ingestion of the leaves can be fatal.[104]  
Oenanthe crocata Commonly known as hemlock water dropwort. Contains oenanthotoxin. The leaves may be eaten safely by livestock, but the stems and especially the carbohydrate-rich roots are much more poisonous. Animals familiar with eating the leaves may eat the roots when these are exposed during ditch clearance – one root is sufficient to kill a cow, and human fatalities are also known in these circumstances. Scientists at the University of Eastern Piedmont in Italy claimed to have identified this as the plant responsible for producing the sardonic grin,[105][106] and it is the most-likely candidate for the "sardonic herb," which was a neurotoxic plant used for the ritual killing of elderly people in Phoenician Sardinia. When these people were unable to support themselves, they were intoxicated with this herb and then dropped from a high rock or beaten to death. Criminals were also executed in this way.[107]  
Paris quadrifolia Commonly known as herb-paris. Each plant only produces one blueberry-like berry, which is poisonous, as are other tissues of the plant.[108] Paris quadrifolia poisonings are rare, because the plant's solitary berry and its repulsive taste make it difficult to mistake it for a blueberry.  
Passiflora caerulea Also known as the blue passion flower or the common passion flower. The leaves contain cyanogenic glycoside, which breaks down into cyanide.[citation needed]  
Peucedanum galbanum Commonly known as blister bush. All parts are poisonous, causing painful blistering upon contact that is intensified with exposure to sunlight.[citation needed]  
Phoradendron spp. Commonly known as American mistletoe; see also the related genus Viscum. Mistletoe is a common hemiparasite of trees and shrubs. Toxicity varies by species, but all parts of the plant, especially the leaves and berries, contain an array of dangerous chemicals, including proteins called phoratoxins and toxic alkaloids. Symptoms are very similar to those produced by Viscum species and may include acute gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, weak pulse and/or slow heart rate, and even seizures; it is rarely lethal to adult humans, however, and many wild animals are adapted to eating its fruit.  
Physostigma venenosum Commonly known as calabar beans and ordeal beans. The toxin in the seeds is the parasympathomimetic alkaloid physostigmine, a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor. Symptoms of poisoning include copious saliva, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, dizziness, headache, stomach pain, sweating, dyspepsia and seizures.,[109] and can lead to cholinergic syndrome or "SLUDGE syndrome". Medicinal uses of physostigmine include the treatment of myasthenia gravis, glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease and delayed gastric emptying.
Phytolacca spp. Commonly known as pokeweed. Leaves, berries, and roots contain phytolaccatoxin and phytolaccigenin. The toxicity of young leaves can be reduced with repeated boiling and draining. Ingestion of poisonous parts of the plant may cause severe stomach cramping, persistent diarrhea, nausea, vomiting (sometimes bloody), slow and difficult breathing, weakness, spasms, hypertension, severe convulsions, and death. The poisonous principles are found in highest concentrations in the rootstock, then in leaves and stems and then in the ripe fruit. The plant generally gets more toxic with maturity, with the exception of the berries (which have significant toxicity even while green).[110]  
Pieris japonica Also known as Japanese pieris. The plant is poisonous if consumed by people or animals.[111]  
Plumeria spp. Commonly known as frangipani. Contact with the milky latex may irritate eyes and skin.[citation needed]  
Podophyllum peltatum Commonly known as mayapple. Green portions of the plant, unripe fruit, and especially the rhizome contain the non-alkaloid toxin podophyllotoxin, which causes diarrhea and severe digestive upset.[citation needed]  
Prunus laurocerasus Also known as cherry laurel, common laurel, and sometimes English laurel. Leaves, fruits, and seeds may cause severe discomfort to humans if ingested.[112] The seeds contained within the cherries are poisonous like the rest of the plant, containing cyanogenic glycosides and amygdalin.[113] This chemical composition is what gives the smell of almonds when the leaves are crushed. Laurel water, a distillation made from the plant, contains prussic acid and other compounds and is toxic.  
Prunus padus Known as bird cherry, hackberry, or Mayday tree. The glycosides prulaurasin and amygdalin, which can be poisonous, are present in some parts of P. padus, including the leaves, stems, and fruits.[114]  
Pteridium aquilinum Commonly known as bracken. Carcinogenic to humans and animals such as mice, rats, horses, and cattle when ingested. The carcinogenic compound is ptaquiloside or PTQ, which can leach from the plant into the water supply, which may explain an increase in the incidence of gastric and oesophageal cancers in humans in bracken-rich areas.[115]  
Pulsatilla cernua Common names include pasque flower, wind flower, prairie crocus, and meadow anemone. It is highly toxic, and produces cardiogenic toxins and oxytoxins which slow the heart in humans. Excess use can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and convulsions,[116] hypotension and coma.[117]  
Quercus spp. Several species, commonly known as oak. The leaves and acorns of oak species are poisonous in large amounts to humans and livestock, including cattle, horses, sheep and goats, but not pigs. Poisoning is caused by the toxin tannic acid, which causes gastroenteritis, heart trouble, contact dermatitis and kidney damage. Symptoms of poisoning include lack of appetite, depression, constipation, diarrhea (which may contain blood), blood in urine, and colic; it is rarely fatal, however, and in fact after proper processing acorns are consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world.  
Rhamnus cathartica Commonly called buckthorn. The seeds and leaves are mildly poisonous for people and animals, but are readily eaten by birds.[118]  
Rhododendron spp. Several species including those known as azalea. All parts are poisonous and cause nausea, vomiting, depression, breathing difficulties, and coma, though it is rarely fatal. The primary source of toxicity is a group of closely related compounds called grayanotoxins, which block sodium ion channels in cellular membranes and prevent electrical repolarization during action potentials. Honey made from the nectar of Rhododendron plants may contain dangerous concentrations of grayanotoxins, and has been historically used as a poison and in alcoholic drinks.  
Rhododendron ferrugineum Commonly called alpenrose, snow-rose, or rusty-leaved alpenrose. It is moderately toxic, containing arbutin, arecoline and rhodoxanthin, and can cause vomiting, and difficulties of the digestive, nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems.[citation needed]  
Rhododendron luteum Also known as yellow azalea or honeysuckle azalea. Despite the sweet perfume of the flowers, the nectar is toxic, containing grayanotoxin; records of poisoning of people eating the honey date back to the 4th century BC in Classical Greece.[citation needed]  
Rhododendron tomentosum Commonly known as marsh Labrador tea or wild rosemary. All parts of the plant contain poisonous terpenes that affect the central nervous system. First symptoms of overdose are dizziness and disturbances in movement, followed by spasms, nausea, and unconsciousness. The mere smell of the plant may cause headache to some people.[citation needed]  
Rhus spp. Certain species commonly known as African sumac. Formerly grouped with poison ivy and the rest of the Toxicodendron genus, all parts of this tree contain low levels of a highly irritating oil with urushiol. Skin reactions can include blisters and rashes. The oil spreads readily to clothes and back again, and has a very long life. Infections can follow scratching. As urushiol is not a poison but an allergen, it will not affect certain people. The smoke of burning Rhus lancia can cause reactions in the lungs, and can be fatal.[citation needed]
Ricinus communis Commonly known as castor oil plant, castor bean, and Palma Christi. The seeds contain ricin, an extremely toxic and water-soluble ribosome-inactivating protein; it is also present in lower concentrations in other parts of the plant. Also present are ricinine, an alkaloid, and an irritant oil. According to the 2007 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, the castor oil plant is the most poisonous in the world, though its cousin abrin, found in the seeds of the jequirity plant, is arguably more lethal. Castor oil, long used as a laxative, muscle rub, and in cosmetics, is made from the seeds, but the ricin protein is denatured during processing. Ricin quickly and irreversibly inhibits ribosomes, the molecular machines responsible for producing proteins in all cells.[119] The LD50 in adults is only about 22 μg/kg when injected or inhaled; ingested ricin is much less toxic due to the digestive activity of peptidases, although a dose of 20 to 30 mg/kg, or about 4 to 8 seeds, can still cause death via this route. Reports of actual poisoning are relatively rare.[120] If ingested, symptoms may be delayed by up to 36 hours but commonly begin within 2–4 hours. These include a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, abdominal pain, purging, and bloody diarrhea. Within several days there is severe dehydration, a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in urine. Unless treated, death can be expected to occur within 3–5 days; if they have not died by this time, they often recover.[121] Toxicity varies among animal species: 4 seeds will kill a rabbit, 5 a sheep, 6 an ox or horse, 7 a pig, and 11 a dog. Ducks have shown substantial resistance to the seeds: it takes an average of 80 to kill them. Poisoning occurs when animals ingest broken seeds or break the seed by chewing; intact seeds may pass through the digestive tract without releasing the toxin.[122]  
Robinia spp. Also known as black locust and false acacia. All species produce toxic lectins.[123] The poison is a complex mix of lectins with the highest concentration in the fruits and seeds, followed by the root bark and the flowers. There is little poison in the leaves.[124] The lectins, generally called robin, are less toxic than those of e.g. Abrus (abrin) or Ricinus (ricin), and in non-fatal cases the toxic effects tend to be temporary.[125]  
Sambucus spp. Commonly known as elder or elderberry. The roots, twigs, leaves, and unripe fruit are considered poisonous and cause nausea and digestive upset.[citation needed] Ripe berries must be cooked before consumption.  
Sanguinaria canadensis Commonly known as bloodroot. The rhizome contains morphine-like benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, primarily the toxin sanguinarine. Sanguinarine kills animal cells by blocking the action of Na+/K+-ATPase transmembrane proteins. As a result, applying S. canadensis to the skin may destroy tissue and lead to the formation of a large scab called an eschar. Although applying escharotic agents, including S. canadensis, to the skin is sometimes suggested as a home treatment for skin cancer, these attempts can be severely disfiguring,[126] as well as unsuccessful. Case reports have shown that in such instances tumors have recurred and/or metastasized.[127] The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the inclusion of sanguinarine in toothpastes as an antibacterial or anti-plaque agent,[128][129][130][131] although it is believed that this use may cause leukoplakia, a premalignant oral lesion.[132] The safe level of sanguinarine in such products is subject to regulation and debate.[133][134] S. canadensis extracts have also been promoted by some supplement companies as a treatment or cure for cancer, but the FDA has listed some of these products among its "187 Fake Cancer 'Cures' Consumers Should Avoid".[135] Bloodroot is a popular red natural dye used by Native American artists, especially among rivercane basketmakers in the Southeastern United States.[136] However, in spite of supposed curative properties and historical use by Native Americans as an emetic, due to its toxicity internal use is not advisable (sanguinarine has an LD50 of only 18 mg per kg body weight).[56]  
Scopolia carniolica Known as European scopolia or henbane bell. Its toxicity derives from its high levels of tropane alkaloids, particularly atropine. The quantity of atropine is the highest in the root.[citation needed]  
Solanum dulcamara Commonly known as bittersweet nightshade. All parts are poisonous, containing solanine and causing fatigue, paralysis, convulsions, and diarrhea. Rarely fatal.[137]  
Solanum nigrum Commonly known as black nightshade. All parts of the plant except the ripe fruit contain the toxic glycoalkaloid solanine. Solanine poisoning is primarily displayed by gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, burning of the throat, cardiac dysrhythmia, headache and dizziness. In more severe cases, hallucinations, loss of sensation, paralysis, fever, jaundice, dilated pupils and hypothermia can result. In large quantities, solanine poisoning can be fatal.  
Solanum pseudocapsicum Commonly known as Jerusalem cherry, Madeira winter cherry, and winter cherry. All parts, especially the berries, are poisonous, causing nausea and vomiting. It is occasionally fatal, especially to children.[citation needed]  
Sophora secundiflora Commonly known as mescal bean and Texas mountain laurel.  
Strophanthus gratus The ripe seeds of this African plant contain ouabain, a potent cardiac glycoside that, when sufficiently concentrated, can induce cardiac arrest by binding to and inhibiting the action of the sodium-potassium pump and thereby drastically slowing the contraction of cardiac muscle cells. It was once used medicinally in small doses to treat congestive heart failure and other heart conditions, but has largely been replaced by the structurally related digoxin. Extracts from Strophanthus gratus and the bark of Acokanthera species have long been used by Somali tribesmen to poison hunting arrows; if the concentration is high enough, an arrow poisoned with ouabain can kill an adult hippopotamus.[citation needed]  
Strychnos nux-vomica Commonly known as the strychnine tree. The seeds usually contain about 1.5% strychnine, an extremely bitter and deadly alkaloid. This substance throws a human into intense muscle convulsions and usually kills within three hours. The bark of the tree may also contain brucine, another dangerous chemical.[citation needed]  
Taxus baccata Commonly known as English yew, common yew, and graveyard tree. Nearly all parts contain toxic taxanes (except the red, fleshy, and slightly sweet aril surrounding the toxic seeds).[138][139] The seeds themselves are particularly toxic if chewed.[140] Several people have committed suicide by ingesting leaves and seeds, including Catuvolcus, king of a tribe in what is now Belgium.  
Toxicodendron spp. Several species, including Toxicodendron radicans (commonly known as poison ivy), Toxicodendron diversilobum (commonly known as poison-oak), and Toxicodendron vernix (commonly known as poison sumac). All parts of these plants contain a highly irritating oil with urushiol. Skin reactions can include blisters and rashes. The oil spreads readily to clothes and back again, and has a very long life. Infections can follow scratching. Despite the common names, urushiol is not a poison but an allergen, and because of this it will not affect certain people. The smoke of burning poison ivy can cause reactions in the lungs, and can be fatal. The allergic reaction caused by contact with poison ivy affects more than 70% of the human population, with as many as 350,000 cases reported annually in the United States alone  
Urtica ferox Commonly known as ongaonga. Even the lightest touch can result in a painful sting that lasts several days.[citation needed]  
Veratrum spp. Commonly known as false hellebore and corn lily. Several species, containing highly toxic steroidal alkaloids (e.g. veratridine) that activate sodium ion channels and cause rapid cardiac failure and death if ingested.[141] All parts of the plant are poisonous, with the root and rhizomes being the most toxic.[141] Symptoms typically occur between 30 minutes and 4 hours after ingestion and include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, numbness, headache, sweating, muscle weakness, bradycardia, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia, and seizures.[141] Treatment for poisoning includes gastrointestinal decontamination with activated charcoal followed by supportive care including fluid replacement, antiemetics for persistent nausea and vomiting, atropine for treatment of bradycardia, and vasopressors for the treatment of hypotension.[141] Native Americans used the juice pressed from the roots to poison arrows before combat. The dried powdered root of this plant was also used as an insecticide.[116] The plants' teratogenic properties and ability to induce severe birth defects were well known to Native Americans,[116] although they also used minute amounts of the winter-harvested root (combined with Salvia dorii to potentiate its effects and reduce the toxicity of the herb) to treat cancerous tumors. The toxic steroidal alkaloids are produced only when the plants are in active growth, so herbalists and Native Americans who used this plant for medicinal purposes harvested the roots during the winter months when the levels of toxic constituents were at their lowest. The roots of V. nigrum and V. schindleri have been used in Chinese herbalism (where plants of this genus are known as "li lu" (藜蘆). Li lu is used internally as a powerful emetic of last resort, and topically to kill external parasites, treat tinea and scabies, and stop itching.[142] However some herbalists refuse to prescribe li lu internally, citing the extreme difficulty in preparing a safe and effective dosage, and that death has occurred at a dosage of 0.6 grams.[142] During the 1930s Veratrum extracts were investigated in the treatment of high blood pressure in humans. However patients often had side effects due to the narrow therapeutic index of these products. Due to its toxicity, the use of Veratrum as a treatment for high blood pressure in humans was discontinued.[141]  
Vernicia fordii Known as the tung tree. It is poisonous in all of its parts, including the fruit and the seeds, although some parts of the tree have been used for medicinal purposes in the past. According to one university website, just one seed from the fruit can be fatal, and other symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, and slowed breathing. The leaves can also give a rash similar to that from poison ivy.[143]  
Viscum spp. Commonly known as European mistletoe; see also the related genus Phoradendron. Mistletoe is a common hemiparasite of trees and shrubs. Toxicity varies by species, but all parts of the plant, especially the leaves and berries, contain an array of toxic chemicals, including several different viscotoxins, the alkaloid tyramine, and a ribosome-inactivating lectin called viscumin. Symptoms may include acute gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, weak pulse and/or slow heart rate, and even seizures; it is rarely lethal to adult humans, however, and many wild animals are adapted to eating its fruit.[144][145]  
Voacanga africana The bark and seeds of this tropical tree contain a complex mixture of iboga alkaloids, including voacangine and voacamine. These compounds have been variously used as stimulants, psychedelic drugs, and poisons.[citation needed]  
Wisteria sinensis Also known as Chinese wisteria. All parts of the plant contain a glycoside called wisterin which is toxic if ingested and may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, and diarrhea. Wisterias have caused poisoning in children of many countries, producing mild to severe gastroenteritis.  
Xanthium spp. Several species commonly known as cocklebur. The common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), a native of North America, can be poisonous to livestock, including horses, cattle, and sheep. Some domestic animals will avoid consuming the plant if other forage is present, but less discriminating animals, such as pigs, will consume the plants and then sicken and die. The seedlings and seeds are the most toxic parts of the plants. Symptoms usually occur within a few hours, producing unsteadiness and weakness, depression, nausea and vomiting, twisting of the neck muscles, rapid and weak pulse, difficulty breathing, and eventually death. Xanthium has also been used for its medicinal properties and for making yellow dye, as indicated by its name (Greek xanthos = 'yellow').  
Zantedeschia aethiopica Known as calla lily or arum lily. All parts of the plant are toxic, containing calcium oxalate, which induces irritation and swelling of the mouth and throat, acute vomiting and diarrhea.[146] Can be fatal.  
Zigadenus glaberrimus Commonly known as death camas. All parts of Z. glaberrimus are toxic, due to the presence of alkaloids. This or related species have caused human fatalities.[147]  

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Other Poisonous Plants". U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Consumer Updates. 9 June 2021 [Originally posted c. June 2009, since updated but advice unchanged]. from the original on 5 June 2009.
  2. ^ Keddy, P.A. 2007. Plants and Vegetation: Origins, Processes, Consequences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, Chapter 7.
  3. ^ Lewis, W.H. and M.P.F. Elvin-Lewis. 1977. Medical Botany. Plants Affecting Man's Health. Wiley, New York. 515 p. pp. 123–124.[ISBN missing]
  4. ^ Krenzelok EP, Mrvos R.,"Friends and foes in the plant world: A profile of plant ingestions and fatalities." Clin Toxicol. 2011 Mar;49(3):142–149
  5. ^ Cope RB. Toxicology Brief: Allium species poisoning in dogs and cats. Veterinary Medicine 2005
  6. ^ "Growing Asparagus". gardengrow.co.nz. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  7. ^ Rao SL, Adiga PR, Sarma PS (1964). "The Isolation and Characterization of β-N-Oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid: A Neurotoxin from the Seeds of Lathyrus sativus". Biochemistry. 3 (3): 432–436. doi:10.1021/bi00891a022. PMID 14155110.
  8. ^ a b c Cereda, M. P.; Mattos, M. C. Y. (1996). "Linamarin: the Toxic Compound of Cassava". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins. 2: 06–12. doi:10.1590/S0104-79301996000100002.
  9. ^ Aregheore EM, Agunbiade OO (1991). "The toxic effects of cassava (manihot esculenta grantz) diets on humans: a review". Vet. Hum. Toxicol. 33 (3): 274–275. PMID 1650055.
  10. ^ White WL, Arias-Garzon DI, McMahon JM, Sayre RT (1998). "Cyanogenesis in Cassava : The Role of Hydroxynitrile Lyase in Root Cyanide Production". Plant Physiol. 116 (4): 1219–1225. doi:10.1104/pp.116.4.1219. PMC 35028. PMID 9536038.
  11. ^ Wagner, Holly. "Cassava's Cyanide-Producing Abilities Can Cause Neuropathy …". Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  12. ^ Padmaja G (1995). "Cyanide detoxification in cassava for food and feed uses". Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 35 (4): 299–339. doi:10.1080/10408399509527703. PMID 7576161.
  13. ^ Lee BK, Kim JH, Jung JW, Choi JW, Han ES, Lee SH, Ko KH, Ryu JH (2005). "Myristicin-induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells". Toxicol. Lett. 157 (1): 49–56. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2005.01.012. PMID 15795093.
  14. ^ McKenna A, Nordt SP, Ryan J (August 2004). "Acute nutmeg poisoning". European Journal of Emergency Medicine. 11 (4): 240–241. doi:10.1097/01.mej.0000127649.69328.a5. PMID 15249817. S2CID 21133983.
  15. ^ See Erowid: Nutmeg for various primary and secondary sources related to nutmeg/myristicin intoxication.
  16. ^ "Erowid Nutmeg Vault: Basics". www.erowid.org.
  17. ^ "Erowid Experience Vaults: Nutmeg (also Myristica fragrans) Main Index". www.erowid.org.
  18. ^ a b c "Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook: Phytohaemagglutinin". Bad Bug Book. United States Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  19. ^ . Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  20. ^ GW Pucher, AJ Wakeman, HB Vickery. "The Organic Acids of Rhubarb (Rheum Hybridum). III. The Behavior of the Organic Acids During Culture of Excised Leaves 29 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine". Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1938
  21. ^ Everist, Selwyn L., Poisonous Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Melbourne, 1974, p. 583
  22. ^ "Rhubarb leaves poisoning". Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia.
  23. ^ . Cbif.gc.ca. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  24. ^ McGee, Harold. On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen. New York: Scribner, 2004. p. 367
  25. ^ Pittenger, Dennis R. (2002). "Vegetables That Contain Natural Toxins". California Master Gardener Handbook. ANR Publications. pp. 643–644. ISBN 978-1-879906-54-9.
  26. ^ a b c Barceloux DG (June 2009). "Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Solanine Toxicity (Solanum tuberosum L., Solanum lycopersicum L.)". Disease-a-Month. 55 (6): 391–402. doi:10.1016/j.disamonth.2009.03.009. PMID 19446683.
  27. ^ Mcgee, Harold (29 July 2009). "Accused, Yes, but Probably Not a Killer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  28. ^ Hound health handbook: the definitive guide to keeping your dog happy By Betsy Brevitz p. 404
  29. ^ . Iowa State University. Archived from the original on 16 July 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  30. ^ Glycoalkaloid and calystegine contents of eight potato cultivarsJ-Agric-Food-Chem. 2003 May 7; 51(10): 2964–73 11 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ . Food Science Australia. 2005. Archived from the original on 24 February 1999. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
  32. ^ "Corn Cockle professional information from". Drugs.com. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  33. ^ Symptoms of Plant poisoning – Protoanemonin. RightDiagnosis.com
  34. ^ Anthurium spp. 3 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Poisonous Plants of North Carolina. North Carolina State University.
  35. ^ Tilford, Gregory L. (1997): Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. Mountain Press Pub., Missoula, Montana. ISBN 0-87842-359-1
  36. ^ Gregory L. Tilford (1997). Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. Mountain Press. ISBN 978-0-87842-359-0.
  37. ^ a b "Final report on the safety assessment of Arnica montana extract and Arnica montana". International Journal of Toxicology. 20 Suppl 2 (2): 1–11. 2001. doi:10.1080/10915810160233712. PMID 11558636.
  38. ^ . North Carolina State University. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  39. ^ Rudzki E; Grzywa Z (October 1977). "Dermatitis from Arnica montana". Contact Dermatitis. 3 (5): 281–282. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1977.tb03682.x. PMID 145351. S2CID 46223008.
  40. ^ a b (PDF). The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products. 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2006. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  41. ^ a b "Belladonna". Medline Plus. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  42. ^ a b Giancarlo Pepeu; Maria Grazia Giovannini (2004). "Acetylcholine: I. Muscarinic Receptors". In Gernot Riedel; Bettina Platt (eds.). From messengers to molecules: memories are made of these (illustrated ed.). Springer. ISBN 978-0-306-47862-8.
  43. ^ Mallinson T (2010). . Focus on First Aid (15): 5. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010.
  44. ^ a b Lee MR (March 2007). "Solanaceae IV: Atropa belladonna, deadly nightshade" (PDF). J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 37 (1): 77–84. PMID 17575737.
  45. ^ Grieve, Margaret; Leyel C.F (1971). Modern Herbal. Courier Dover Publications. p. 584. ISBN 978-0-486-22799-3. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  46. ^ Mateo Montoya A, Mavrakanas N, Schutz JS (2009). "Acute anticholinergic syndrome from Atropa belladonna mistaken for blueberries". Eur J Ophthalmol. 19 (1): 170–172. doi:10.1177/112067210901900130. PMID 19123171. S2CID 9387171.
  47. ^ Potter, Samuel O.L. (1893). A Handbook of Materia Medica Pharmacy and Therapeutics. London: P. Blakiston's. p. 53. the antidote for belladonna is physostigmine or pilocarpine the same as for atropine.
  48. ^ North Carolina State University Department of Plant Biology (2000). . NC State University. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  49. ^ Marneros, Andreas; Gutmann, Philipp; Uhlmann, Frank (16 June 2006). "Self-amputation of penis and tongue after use of Angel's Trumpet". European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. Springer Nature. 256 (7): 458–459. doi:10.1007/s00406-006-0666-2. ISSN 1433-8491. PMID 16783491. S2CID 9261722.
  50. ^ A Dictionary of Flowering Plants and Ferns – JC Willis
  51. ^ "Caltha palustris". Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
  52. ^ Shannon D. Langford & Paul J. Boor (1996). "Oleander toxicity: an examination of human and animal toxic exposures". Toxicology. 109 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1016/0300-483X(95)03296-R. PMID 8619248.
  53. ^ "Common Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis L." (PDF). Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Guide. United States Department of Agriculture.
  54. ^ "'Suicide tree' toxin is 'perfect' murder weapon". Newscientist.com. 26 November 2004. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  55. ^ Gruenwald, Joerg (2000). PDR for Herbal Medicines. Thomson PDR. ISBN 978-1-56363-361-4.
  56. ^ a b Golob, Peter; Caroline Moss; Melanie Dales; Alex Fidgen; Jenny Evans; Irene Gudrups (1999). The use of spices and medicinals as bioactive protectants for grains. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin. Vol. 137. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. ISBN 978-92-5-104294-6. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  57. ^ "Monographs". Naturalstandard.com. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  58. ^ Rogelj B, Popovic T, Ritonja A, Strukelj B, Brzin J (November 1998). "Chelidocystatin, a novel phytocystatin from Chelidonium majus". Phytochemistry. 49 (6): 1645–1649. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00281-7. PMID 9862139.
  59. ^ Thomas, K; Dayal, AK; Narasimhan, Alka G; Seshadri, MS; Cherian, AM; Kanakasabapathi, Molly B (1991). "Metabolic and Cardiac effects of Cleistanthus Collinus poisoning". J Assoc Physicians India. 39 (4): 312–314. PMID 1938816.
  60. ^ Subrahmanyam, DK; Mooney, T; Raveendran, R; Zachariah, B. A (November 2003). "Clinical and laboratory profile of Cleistanthus collinus poisoning". J Assoc Physicians India. 51: 1052–1054. PMID 15260387.
  61. ^ National Tropical Botanical Garden Codiaeum variegatum (Euphorbiaceae) 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  62. ^ Colchicine. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Emergency Response Safety and Health Database, 22 August 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  63. ^ . National Prescribing Service. 14 May 2010. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  64. ^ . Archived from the original on 15 August 2004.
  65. ^ Pojar, Jim, A. MacKinnon, and Paul B. Alaback. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska. Redmond, WA: Lone Pine Pub., 1994.[ISBN missing][page needed]
  66. ^ "Erowid Datura Vault". Erowid.org. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  67. ^ Freye, E. (2010). "Toxicity of Datura Stramonium". Pharmacology and Abuse of Cocaine, Amphetamines, Ecstasy and Related Designer Drugs. Netherlands: Springer. pp. 217–218. doi:10.1007/978-90-481-2448-0_34. ISBN 978-90-481-2447-3.
  68. ^ "Daucus carota". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  69. ^ "Daucus carota". www.hort.purdue.edu. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  70. ^ Schwartz, Fayla C. "Zigadenus glaberrimus". Flora of North America. Retrieved 26 April 2012., in Flora of North Americaial Committee, ed. (1982). Flora of North America. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  71. ^ Aronson, J. K. (2016). Dryopteraceae. Elsevier. p. 1100. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53717-1.00670-3. ISBN 9780444537164. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  72. ^ Thompson, N (2007). (PDF). WWF-Australia. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  73. ^ "Wallflower". WebMD.
  74. ^ "Latex Allergy? Beware Poinsettias". WebMD. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  75. ^ Bender, Steve, ed. (2004). "Euphorbia". The Southern Living Garden Book (2nd ed.). Birmingham, Alabama: Oxmoor House. p. 306. ISBN 978-0-376-03910-1.
  76. ^ "Are Poinsettia Plants Poisonous? Fact or Fiction?". Retrieved 21 December 2007.
  77. ^ "Complete Poinsettia information from Drugs.com". Drugs.com. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  78. ^ "Poinsettia". ASPCA. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  79. ^ Lal, H. S. and P. K. Mishra. (2011). Gloriosa superba – an endangered plant spotted for the first time from forest of Tpchanchi, Hazaribag (Jharkhand) India.[permanent dead link] Science Research Reporter 1(2) 61–64.
  80. ^ Menz, Jennifer; Rossi, Ric; Taylor, Wal C.; Wall, Leon (1 August 1986). "Contact dermatitis from Grevillea'Robyn Gordon'". Contact Dermatitis. 15 (3): 126–131. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1986.tb01311.x. PMID 2946534. S2CID 2846186.
  81. ^ Fu, P.P., Yang, Y.C., Xia, Q., Chou, M.C., Cui, Y.Y., Lin G., "Pyrrolizidine alkaloids-tumorigenic components in Chinese herbal medicina and dietary supplements", Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2002, pp. 198–211
  82. ^ Olson, Kent R., Poisoning & Drug Overdose, p. 312 at Google Book Search, accessed 12 January 2009
  83. ^ Smolinske, Susan C., Toxicity of Houseplants, pp. 38, 153 at Google Book Search, accessed 12 January 2009
  84. ^ Olson, Kent R, Poisoning & Drug Overdose, p. 309 at Google Book Search, accessed 12 January 2009
  85. ^ . Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 10 November 2004. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  86. ^ Poisonous plants and animals of Florida and the Caribbean By David W. Nellis
  87. ^ fr:Hippomane mancinella
  88. ^ Jones, David E (2007). Poison Arrows: North American Indian Hunting and Warfare. University of Texas Press. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-292-71428-1. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  89. ^ Grunwald, Michael (2007). "Chapter 2: The Intruders". The Swamp. Simon & Schuster. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-7432-5107-5.
  90. ^ "Hills of Snow". Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants. ASPCA.
  91. ^ . kew.org. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  92. ^ "EHC 80, section 9.1.4". Inchem.org. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  93. ^ Bryotoxins A, B and C: McKenzie et al. (1987), Steyn & van Heerden (1998)
  94. ^ McKenzie & Dunster (1986), McKenzie et al. (1987)
  95. ^ les tanner. . Northwestweeds.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  96. ^ Leikin, Jerrold B.; Paloucek, Frank P., eds. (2007), Poisoning and toxicology handbook, Boca Raton, Fla: CRC, p. 886, ISBN 978-1-4200-4479-9
  97. ^ Sharma O. P. (2007). "A review of the hepatotoxic plant Lantana camara". Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 37 (4): 313–352. doi:10.1080/10408440601177863. PMID 17453937. S2CID 23993698.
  98. ^ Herzog et al. (1996), Coppens d'Eeckenbrugge & Libreros Ferla (2000), TAMREC (2000)
  99. ^ GENUS: Lolium 2 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  100. ^ Plants for a Future
  101. ^ Russell, Alice B.; Hardin, James W. & Grand, Larry (1997): "Melia azedarach". In: Poisonous Plants of North Carolina 19 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2008-Jan-26.
  102. ^ Siano, F; Catalfamo, M; Cautela, D; Servillo, L; Castaldo, D (2005). "Analysis of pulegone and its enanthiomeric distribution in mint-flavoured food products". Food Additives & Contaminants. 22 (3): 197–203. doi:10.1080/02652030500041581. PMID 16019787. S2CID 40095436.
  103. ^ Polunin, Oleg Wild Flowers of Europe, pub. Oxford University Press 1969, pp. 370–371.
  104. ^ Foster, Steven (2002). Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 339. ISBN 978-0-395-83806-8.
  105. ^ News Scan Briefs: Killer Smile, Scientific American, August 2009
  106. ^ Appendino G, Pollastro F, Verotta L, Ballero M, Romano A, Wyrembek P, Szczuraszek K, Mozrzymas JW, Taglialatela-Scafati O (2009). "Polyacetylenes from Sardinian Oenanthe fistulosa: A Molecular Clue to risus sardonicus". Journal of Natural Products. 72 (5): 962–965. doi:10.1021/np8007717. PMC 2685611. PMID 19245244.
  107. ^ Owen, James (2 June 2009). . National Geographic News. Archived from the original on 5 June 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  108. ^ Jacquemyn, Hans; Brys, Rein; Hutchings, Michael J. (July 2008), "Biological Flora of the British Isles: Paris quadrifolia L.", Journal of Ecology, 96 (4): 833–844, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01397.x
  109. ^ "Alzheimer Research Forum". Alzforum.org. 19 October 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  110. ^ Amitava Dasgupta, 2011, Effects of Herbal Supplements on Clinical Laboratory Test Results, Volume 2, Patient Safety, Walter de Gruyter, ISBN 3-11-024562-0, see [1], accessed 2 May 2015.
  111. ^ Smith, M. C. (1978). "Japanese pieris poisoning in the goat". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 173 (1): 78–79. PMID 670056.
  112. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1-4053-3296-5.
  113. ^ . www.ces.ncsu.edu. Archived from the original on 19 April 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  114. ^ N.D.Sargison; D.S.Williamson; J.R.Duncan; R.W.McCance (1996). "Prunus Padus (bird cherry) poisoning in cattle". Veterinary Record. 138 (8): 188. doi:10.1136/vr.138.8.188. PMID 8677622. S2CID 43622812. …stems, leaves and fruits of P. padus contain the glycosides prulaurasin and amygdalin…
  115. ^ Kate Ravilious (9 September 2004). "newspaper article on ptaquiloside from bracken entering water supplies". Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  116. ^ a b c Edible and Medicinal plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1
  117. ^ Yarnell, E. and Abascal, K. (2001) Botanical Treatments for Depression: Part 2 – Herbal Corrections for Mood Imbalances
  118. ^ Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
  119. ^ Benson, S; Olsnes, S; Pihi, A; Skorve, J; Abraham, AK (1975). "On the mechanism of protein-synthesis inhibition by abrin and ricin. Inhibition of the GTP-hydrolysis site on the 60-S ribosomal subunit". Eur J Biochem. 59 (2): 573–580. doi:10.1111/j.1432-1033.1975.tb02484.x. PMID 128455.
  120. ^ Wedin, GP; Neal, JS; Everson, GW; Krenzelok, EP (May 1986). "Castor bean poisoning". The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 4 (3): 259–261. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(86)90080-X. PMID 3964368.
  121. ^ Ricinus communis (Castor bean) – Cornell University 2008. . Archived from the original on 8 May 1998.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  122. ^ . Faculty.ucc.edu. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  123. ^ Poisonous Plants List Poisonous Plants List
  124. ^ Van Damme, EIS J. M. & Barre, Annick & Smeets, Koen & Torrekens, Sophie & Van Leuven, Fred & Rougé, Pierre & Peumans Willy J. The Bark of Robinia pseudoacacia Contains a Complex Mixture of Lectins Plant Physiol. (1995) 107: 833–843
  125. ^ van Wyk, Ben-Erik; van Heerden, Fanie; van Oudtshoorn, Bosch (2002). Poisonous Plants of South Africa. Pretoria: Briza. ISBN 978-1-875093-30-4.
  126. ^ Don't Use Corrosive Cancer Salves (Escharotics), Stephen Barrett, M.D.
  127. ^ McDaniel S, Goldman GD (December 2002). "Consequences of Using Escharotic Agents as Primary Treatment for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer". Archives of Dermatology. 138 (12): 1593–1596. doi:10.1001/archderm.138.12.1593. PMID 12472348.
  128. ^ Godowski KC (1989). "Antimicrobial action of sanguinarine". J Clin Dent. 1 (4): 96–101. PMID 2700895.
  129. ^ Southard GL, Boulware RT, Walborn DR, Groznik WJ, Thorne EE, Yankell SL (March 1984). "Sanguinarine, a new antiplaque agent: retention and plaque specificity". J Am Dent Assoc. 108 (3): 338–341. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.1984.0022. PMID 6585404.
  130. ^ . fda.gov. Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  131. ^ Kuftinec MM, Mueller-Joseph LJ, Kopczyk RA (1990). "Sanguinaria toothpaste and oral rinse regimen clinical efficacy in short- and long-term trials". J Can Dent Assoc. 56 (7 Suppl): 31–33. PMID 2207852.
  132. ^ "Oral Leukoplakia: Patient Information" (PDF). American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. 2005.
  133. ^ Letter to FDA, Collgate-Palmolive Company, 24 November 2003
  134. ^ Letter to FDA, Professor George T. Gallagher, Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 23 June 2003.
  135. ^ "187 Fake Cancer "Cures" Consumers Should Avoid". United States Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  136. ^ Nolan, Justin. "Northeast Oklahoma, USA" Society of Ethnobotany. 2007 (retrieved 9 January 2011)
  137. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2007.
  138. ^ Hook, Ingrid; Christiane Poupat; Alain Ahond; Daniel Guénard; Francoise Guéritte; Marie-Thérèse Adeline; Xiu-Ping Wang; Dairine Dempsey; Séverine Breuillet; Pierre Potier (November 1999). "Seasonal variation of neutral and basic taxoid contents in shoots of European Yew (Taxus baccata)". Phytochemistry. 52 (6): 1041–1045. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00264-2.
  139. ^ Appendino, Giovanni; Silvia Tagliapietra; Hasan Çetin Özen; Pierluigi Gariboldi; Bruno Gabetta; Ezio Bombardelli (1 April 1993). "Taxanes from the Seeds of Taxus baccata". Journal of Natural Products. 56 (4): 514–520. doi:10.1021/np50094a010.
  140. ^ Kwak, Sang-Soo; Myung-Suk Choi; Young-Goo Park; Jong-Shin Yoo; Jang-Ryol Liu (September 1995). "Taxol content in the seeds of Taxus SPP". Phytochemistry. 40 (1): 29–32. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(95)00247-5.
  141. ^ a b c d e Schep LJ, Schmierer DM, Fountain JS (2006). "Veratrum poisoning". Toxicol Rev. 25 (2): 73–78. doi:10.2165/00139709-200625020-00001. PMID 16958554. S2CID 42124743.
  142. ^ a b Bensky, D., Clavey, S., Stoger, E. (3rd edition 2004) Materia Medica Eastland Press, Inc. Seattle, p. 461
  143. ^ . Florida Invasive Plant Education. University of Florida. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011.
  144. ^ Olsnes, Sjur; Stirpe, Fiorenzo; Sandvig, Kirsten; Pihl, Alexander (25 November 1982). "Isolation and Characterization of Viscumin, a Toxic Lectin from Viscum album L. (Mistletoe)". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 257 (22): 13263–13270. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)33440-9. PMID 7142144. S2CID 12767029.
  145. ^ "Mistletoe". Drugs.com. Wolters Kluwer Health. 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  146. ^ Miles, Jackie (12 September 2002). "Arum or calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica )". South Coast Weeds. Eurobodalla Shire Council. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  147. ^ Fayla C. Schwartz (2003). "Zigadenus glaberrimus Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 214, plate 22. 1803". In FNA Editorial Committee (ed.). Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Flora of North America. Vol. 26. Oxford University Press. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-19-515208-1.

Bibliography edit

  • Wink, M (2009). . Mitt. Julius Kühn-Inst. 421: 93–112. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.

External links edit

  • Cornell University Poisonous Plants Information Database

list, poisonous, plants, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, attention, from, expert, plants, specific, problem, multiple, entries, cl. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs attention from an expert in Plants The specific problem is multiple entries claiming to be poisonous with no verification WikiProject Plants may be able to help recruit an expert August 2023 This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources List of poisonous plants news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Plants that produce toxins and or cause irritation on contact are referred to as poisonous plants 1 Australia 1907 Cattlemen survey 700 cattle that were killed overnight by poisonous plants The toxins in poisonous plants affect herbivores and deter them from consuming the plants Plants cannot move to escape their predators so they must have other means of protecting themselves from herbivorous animals Some plants have physical defenses such as thorns spines and prickles but by far the most common type of protection is chemical 2 Over millennia through the process of natural selection plants have evolved the means to produce a vast and complicated array of chemical compounds to deter herbivores Tannin for example is a defensive compound that emerged relatively early in the evolutionary history of plants while more complex molecules such as polyacetylenes are found in younger groups of plants such as the Asterales Many of the known plant defense compounds primarily defend against consumption by insects though other animals including humans that consume such plants may also experience negative effects ranging from mild discomfort to death Many of these poisonous compounds also have important medicinal benefits 3 The varieties of phytochemical defenses in plants are so numerous that many questions about them remain unanswered including Which plants have which types of defense Which herbivores specifically are the plants defended against What chemical structures and mechanisms of toxicity are involved in the compounds that provide defense What are the potential medical uses of these compounds These questions and others constitute an active area of research in modern botany with important implications for understanding plant evolution and medical science Below is an extensive if incomplete list of plants containing one or more poisonous parts that pose a serious risk of illness injury or death to humans or domestic animals There is significant overlap between plants considered poisonous and those with psychotropic properties some of which are toxic enough to present serious health risks at recreational doses There is a distinction between plants that are poisonous because they naturally produce dangerous phytochemicals and those that may become dangerous for other reasons including but not limited to infection by bacterial viral or fungal parasites the uptake of toxic compounds through contaminated soil or groundwater and or the ordinary processes of decay after the plant has died this list deals exclusively with plants that produce phytochemicals Many plants such as peanuts produce compounds that are only dangerous to people who have developed an allergic reaction to them and with a few exceptions those plants are not included here see list of allergens instead Despite the wide variety of plants considered poisonous human fatalities caused by poisonous plants especially resulting from accidental ingestion are rare in the developed world 4 Contents 1 Poisonous plants that are food 2 Other poisonous plants 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksPoisonous plants that are food editMany plants commonly used as food possess toxic parts are toxic unless processed or are toxic at certain stages of their lives Some only pose a serious threat to certain animals such as cats dogs or livestock or certain types of people such as infants the elderly or individuals with pathological vulnerabilities Most of these food plants are safe for the average adult to eat in modest quantities Notable examples include Scientific name Common name Description PictureAllium spp Onion garlic leek and chive Many members of the genus Allium contain thiosulphate which in high doses is toxic to dogs cats and some types of livestock Cats are more sensitive 5 nbsp Asparagus officinalis Asparagus Several species including Asparagus officinalis and Asparagus densiflorus Though asparagus plants cultivated for food are typically harvested before they reach reproductive maturity the berries of the mature plant are poisonous containing furostanol and spirostanol saponins Rapid ingestion of more than five to seven ripe berries can induce abdominal pain and vomiting Sulfur compounds in the young shoots are also considered at least partially responsible for mild skin reactions in some people who handle the plant 6 nbsp Citrus limon Lemon Most citrus fruits including lemon lime and orange among others are known to contain aromatic oils and compounds of Psoralen which is toxic to dogs cats and other animals citation needed The compound is found all over the entire plant Symptoms include vomiting diarrhea depression and photosensitivity citation needed nbsp Lathyrus sativus Indian pea A legume grown in Asia and East Africa as an insurance crop for use during famines Like other grain legumes L sativus produces a high protein seed The seeds contain variable amounts of b N Oxalyl L a b diaminopropionic acid or ODAP a neurotoxic amino acid 7 ODAP causes wasting and paralysis if eaten over a long period and is considered the cause of the disease neurolathyrism a neurodegenerative disease that causes paralysis of the lower body and emaciation of gluteal muscle buttocks The disease has been seen to occur after famines in Europe France Spain Germany North Africa and South Asia and is still prevalent in Eritrea Ethiopia and parts of Afghanistan when Lathyrus seed is the exclusive or main source of nutrients for extended periods nbsp Malus domestica Apple The seeds are mildly poisonous containing a small amount of amygdalin a cyanogenic glycoside citation needed The quantity contained in the seeds of a single apple is usually not enough to be dangerous to humans but it is possible to ingest enough seeds to provide a fatal dose citation needed nbsp Mangifera indica Mango tree Mango leaves stems peels and sap contain urushiol an allergen also present in poison ivy poison oak and poison sumac that can cause urushiol induced contact dermatitis in susceptible people citation needed Cross reactions between mango contact allergens and urushiol have been observed Those with a history of poison ivy or poison oak contact dermatitis may be most at risk for such an allergic reaction During mango s primary ripening season it is the most common source of plant dermatitis in Hawaii nbsp Manihot esculenta Cassava Roots and leaves contain two cyanogenic glycosides linamarin and lotaustralin These are decomposed by linamarase a naturally occurring enzyme in cassava liberating hydrogen cyanide 8 Cassava varieties are often categorized as either sweet or bitter respectively signifying the absence or presence of toxic levels of cyanogenic glycosides The sweet cultivars can produce as little as 20 milligrams of cyanide per kilogram of fresh roots whereas bitter ones may produce more than 50 times as much 1 g kg Cassavas grown during drought are especially high in these toxins 9 10 A dose of 40 mg of pure cassava cyanogenic glycoside is sufficient to kill a cow It can also cause severe calcific pancreatitis in humans leading to chronic pancreatitis Processing soaking cooking fermentation etc of cassava root is necessary to remove the toxins and avoid getting sick In the tropics where cassava farming is a major industry Chronic low level cyanide exposure is associated with the development of goiter and with tropical ataxic neuropathy a nerve damaging disorder that renders a person unsteady and uncoordinated Severe cyanide poisoning particularly during famines is associated with outbreaks of a debilitating irreversible paralytic disorder called konzo and in some cases death The incidence of konzo and tropical ataxic neuropathy can be as high as 3 percent in some areas 11 For some smaller rooted sweet varieties cooking is sufficient to eliminate all toxicity The cyanide is carried away in the processing water and the amounts produced in domestic consumption are too small to have an environmental impact 8 The larger rooted bitter varieties used for the production of flour or starch must be processed to remove the cyanogenic glycosides 12 Industrial production of cassava flour even at the cottage level may generate enough cyanide and cyanogenic glycosides in the effluvia to have a severe environmental impact 8 nbsp Myristica fragrans Nutmeg Contains myristicin a naturally occurring insecticide and acaricide with possible neurotoxic effects on neuroblastoma cells 13 It has psychoactive properties at doses much higher than used in cooking Raw nutmeg produces anticholinergic like symptoms attributed to myristicin and elemicin 14 The intoxicating effects of myristicin can lead to a physical state somewhere between waking and dreaming euphoria is reported and nausea is often experienced Users also report bloodshot eyes and memory disturbances 15 Myristicin is also known to induce hallucinogenic effects such as visual distortions Nutmeg intoxication has an extremely long delay before peak is reached sometimes taking up to seven hours and effects can be felt for 24 hours with lingering effects lasting up to 72 hours 16 17 nbsp Phaseolus lunatus Lima bean or butter bean Raw beans contain dangerous amounts of linamarin a cyanogenic glycoside citation needed nbsp Phaseolus vulgaris Kidney bean or common bean Phytohaemagglutinin a toxic lectin is present in many varieties of common bean but is especially concentrated in red kidney beans The lectin has several effects on cell metabolism it induces mitosis and affects the cell membrane regarding transport and permeability to proteins It agglutinates most mammalian red blood cell types Consumption of as few as four or five raw kidney beans may be sufficient to trigger symptoms which include nausea vomiting and diarrhea Onset is from one to three hours after consumption of improperly prepared beans and symptoms typically resolve within a few hours 18 Phytohaemagglutinin can be deactivated by cooking beans at 100 C 212 F for ten minutes which is required to degrade the toxin and is much shorter than the hours required to fully cook the beans themselves For dry beans the U S Food and Drug Administration FDA also recommends an initial soak of at least five hours in water after which the soaking water should be discarded 18 However lower cooking temperatures may have the paradoxical effect of potentiating the toxic effect of haemagglutinin Beans cooked at 80 C 176 F are reported to be up to five times as toxic as raw beans 18 Outbreaks of poisoning have been associated with the use of slow cookers the low cooking temperatures of which may be unable to degrade the toxin nbsp Prunus cerasus Cherry Leaves and seeds contain amygdalin a cyanogenic glycoside Many other Prunus species such as peach Prunus persica plum Prunus domestica almond Prunus dulcis and apricot Prunus armeniaca also possess poisonous parts citation needed nbsp Rheum rhaponticum Rhubarb The leaf stalks petioles are edible but the leaves themselves contain notable quantities of oxalic acid which is a nephrotoxic and corrosive acid present in many plants Symptoms of poisoning include kidney disorders convulsions and coma though it is rarely fatal The LD50 median lethal dose for pure oxalic acid in rats is about 375 mg kg body weight 19 or about 25 grams for a 65 kg 140 lb human Although the oxalic acid content of rhubarb leaves can vary a typical value is about 0 5 20 so almost 5 kg of the extremely sour leaves would have to be consumed to reach the LD50 Cooking the leaves with soda can make them more poisonous by producing soluble oxalates 21 However the leaves are believed to also contain an additional unidentified toxin 22 which might be an anthraquinone glycoside also known as senna glycosides 23 In the edible leaf stalks the concentration of oxalic acid is much lower contributing only about 2 2 5 of the total acidity which is dominated by malic acid 24 This means that even the raw stalks may not be hazardous though they are generally thought to be in the US However the tart taste of the raw stalks is so strong as to be unpalatable to most consumers nbsp Solanum lycopersicum Tomato Like many other members of the nightshade family Solanaceae tomato leaves and stems contain solanine that is toxic if ingested causing digestive upset and nervous excitement Use of tomato leaves as an herbal tea infusion has been responsible for at least one death 25 Leaves stems and green unripe fruit of the tomato plant also contain small amounts of the poisonous alkaloid tomatine 26 although levels are generally too small to be dangerous 26 27 Ripe tomatoes do not contain any detectable tomatine 26 Tomato plants can be toxic to dogs if they eat large amounts of the fruit or chew the plant material 28 nbsp Solanum tuberosum Potato Potatoes contain toxic compounds known as glycoalkaloids of which the most prevalent are solanine and chaconine Solanine is also found in other members of the Solanaceae plant family which includes Atropa belladonna deadly nightshade and Hyoscyamus niger henbane see entries below The concentration of glycoalkaloid in wild potatoes is sufficient to produce toxic effects in humans The toxin affects the nervous system causing headaches diarrhea and intense digestive disturbances cramps weakness and confusion and in severe cases coma and death Poisoning from cultivated potatoes occurs very rarely however as toxic compounds in the potato plant are generally concentrated in the green portions of the plant and in the fruits and cultivated varieties contain smaller concentrations than wild plants 29 30 Cooking at high temperatures over 170 C or 340 F also partly destroys the toxin However exposure to light physical damage and age can increase glycoalkaloid content within the tuber 31 the highest concentrations occurring just underneath the skin Tubers that are exposed to light turn green from chlorophyll synthesis thus giving a visual clue as to areas of the tuber that may have become more toxic however this does not provide a definitive guide as greening and glycoalkaloid accumulation can occur independently of each other Some varieties of potato contain greater glycoalkaloid concentrations than others breeders developing new cultivars try to keep solanine levels below 200 mg kg 200 ppmw However when these commercial varieties turn green even they can approach solanine concentrations of 1000 mg kg 1000 ppmw The U S National Toxicology Program suggests that the average American consume no more than 12 5 mg day of solanine from potatoes the toxic dose is several times this depending on body weight nbsp Vitis spp Grape Potentially toxic to dogs although the precise mechanism is not fully understood citation needed See grape and raisin toxicity in dogs nbsp Other poisonous plants editCountless other plants not commonly used in food or drink are also poisonous and care should be taken to avoid accidentally contacting or ingesting them Some of these are popular ornamental plants or are cultivated for purposes other than consumption Scientific name Common name s Description PictureAbrus precatorius Known commonly as jequirity crab s eye rosary pea John Crow bead precatory bean Indian licorice akar saga giddee giddee jumbie bead ruti and weather plant The attractive seeds usually about the size of a ladybug glossy red with one black dot contain abrin an extremely toxic ribosome inactivating protein related to ricin citation needed Symptoms of poisoning include nausea vomiting convulsions liver failure and death usually after several days Ingesting a single seed can kill an adult human citation needed The seeds have been used as beads in jewelry which is dangerous inhaled dust is toxic and pinpricks can be fatal citation needed The seeds are unfortunately attractive to children nbsp Aconitum spp Several species commonly called aconite wolfsbane and monkshood All parts are poisonous containing an alkaloid called aconitine which disables nerves lowers blood pressure and can stop the heart Even casual skin contact should be avoided Symptoms include numbness tingling and cardiac irregularity It has been used as a poison for bullets by German forces during World War II as a bait and arrow poison ancient Greece and to poison water supplies reports from ancient Asia citation needed If ingested it usually causes burning tingling and numbness in the mouth followed by vomiting and nervous excitement It is usually a quick acting poison and has been used in the past for killing wolves hence one of the common names nbsp Actaea pachypoda Also known as doll s eyes or white baneberry All parts are poisonous especially the berries the consumption of which has a sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue and can cause cardiac arrest citation needed nbsp Adenium obesum Also known as sabi star kudu or desert rose The plant exudes a highly toxic sap which is used by the Meridian High and Hadza in Tanzania to coat arrow tips for hunting citation needed nbsp Adonis vernalis Known variously as pheasant s eye and false hellebore The plant is poisonous containing cardiostimulant compounds such as adonidin and aconitic acid citation needed nbsp Aesculus hippocastanum Commonly known as horse chestnut All parts of the plant are poisonous causing nausea muscle twitches and sometimes paralysis citation needed nbsp Agave spp Also known as century plant and maguey The juice of several species causes acute contact dermatitis with blistering lasting several weeks and recurring itching for several years thereafter citation needed nbsp Ageratina altissima Commonly known as white snakeroot All parts contain a toxic oil known as tremetol which causes nausea and vomiting and is often fatal Milk sickness is caused by drinking milk from cattle that have eaten white snakeroot which can sicken or kill humans citation needed nbsp Agrostemma githago Commonly known as corn cockle Contains the saponins githagin and agrostemmic acid All parts of the plant are reported to be poisonous and may produce chronic or acute potentially fatal poisoning although it has been used in folk medicine to treat a range of ills from parasites to cancer There are no known recent clinical studies of corn cockle which provide a basis for dosage recommendations however doses higher than 3 g of seeds are considered toxic 32 nbsp Anemone nemorosa Common names include wood anemone windflower and thimbleweed The plant contains chemicals that are toxic to animals including humans but it has also been used as a medicine All parts of the plant contain protoanemonin which can cause severe skin and gastrointestinal irritation bitter taste and burning in the mouth and throat mouth ulcers nausea vomiting diarrhea and hematemesis 33 nbsp Anthurium spp Common names include anthurium tailflower and flamingo flower Anthurium plants are poisonous due to calcium oxalate crystals The sap is irritating to the skin and eyes 34 nbsp Aquilegia spp Many species commonly known as columbine Seeds and roots contain cardiogenic toxins which cause both severe gastroenteritis and heart palpitations if consumed The flowers of various species were consumed in moderation by Native Americans as a condiment with other fresh greens and are reported to be very sweet and safe if consumed in small quantities Native Americans also used very small amounts of the root as an effective treatment for peptic ulcers However medical use of this plant is difficult due to its high toxicity columbine poisonings are easily fatal 35 nbsp Areca catechu Commonly known as betel nut palm and pinyang The nut contains arecoline an alkaloid related to nicotine which is addictive It produces a mild high some stimulation and much red saliva which cannot be swallowed as it causes nausea Withdrawal causes headache and sweats Use is correlated with mouth cancer and to a lesser extent asthma and heart disease citation needed nbsp Argemone mexicana Common names include Mexican poppy flowering thistle cardo and cardosanto A mexicana seeds contain 22 36 of a pale yellow non edible oil called argemone oil or katkar oil which contains the toxic alkaloids sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine Katkar oil poisoning causes epidemic dropsy with symptoms including extreme swelling particularly of the legs citation needed nbsp Arnica montana Also known as mountain arnica It contains the toxin helenalin which can be poisonous if large amounts of the plant are eaten or small amounts of concentrated Arnica are used Consumption of A montana can produce severe gastroenteritis internal bleeding of the digestive tract raised liver enzymes which can indicate inflammation of the liver nervousness accelerated heart rate muscular weakness and death if enough is ingested 36 37 Contact with the plant can also cause skin irritation 38 39 In the Ames test an extract of A montana was found to be mutagenic 37 The plant s toxicity has led to the USFDA officially declaring it to be unsafe nbsp Arum maculatum Commonly known as cuckoo pint lords and ladies jack in the pulpit wake robin wild arum devils and angels cows and bulls Adam and Eve bobbins and starch root All parts of the plant can produce allergic reactions The bright red berries contain oxalates of saponins and can cause skin mouth and throat irritation resulting in swelling burning pain breathing difficulties and stomach upset One of the most common causes of plant poisoning citation needed nbsp Atropa belladonna Commonly known as deadly nightshade belladonna devil s cherry and dwale One of the most toxic plants found in the Western Hemisphere all parts of the plant contain tropane alkaloids 40 as do those of its equally deadly sister species A baetica A pallidiflora and A acuminata The active agents are atropine hyoscine scopolamine and hyoscyamine which have anticholinergic properties 41 42 The symptoms of poisoning include dilated pupils sensitivity to light blurred vision tachycardia loss of balance staggering headache rash flushing dry mouth and throat slurred speech urinary retention constipation confusion hallucinations delirium and convulsions 41 43 44 The root of the plant is generally the most toxic part though this can vary from one specimen to another Ingestion of a single leaf of the plant can be fatal to an adult 40 Casual contact with the leaves can cause skin pustules The berries pose the greatest danger to children because they look attractive and have a somewhat sweet taste 45 The consumption of two to five berries by children and ten to twenty berries by adults can be lethal In 2009 a case of A belladonna being mistaken for blueberries with six berries ingested by an adult woman was documented to result in severe anticholinergic syndrome 46 The plant s deadly symptoms are caused by atropine s disruption of the parasympathetic nervous system s ability to regulate involuntary activities such as sweating breathing and heart rate The antidote for atropine poisoning is physostigmine or pilocarpine 47 A belladonna is also toxic to many domestic animals causing narcosis and paralysis 48 However cattle and rabbits eat the plant seemingly without any harmful effects 44 In humans its anticholinergic properties will cause the disruption of cognitive capacities like memory and learning 42 nbsp Brugmansia spp Commonly known as angel s trumpet All parts of all plants in this genus contain the tropane alkaloids scopolamine and atropine often fatal These plants are closely related to and were once grouped with members of the genus Datura which contain the same deadly alkaloids Effects of ingestion may include losing connection with reality and hallucinations An unfortunate case has been reported in the neuroscience literature about a young man performing self amputation with pruning shears after intentionally ingesting Brugmansia tea boiled from just two flowers 49 nbsp Caladium spp Commonly known as angel wings elephant ear and heart of Jesus All parts of all plants in this genus are poisonous Symptoms are generally irritation pain and swelling of tissues If the mouth or tongue swell breathing may be fatally blocked citation needed nbsp Calla palustris Also known as marsh calla wild calla and water arum The plant is very poisonous when fresh due to its high oxalic acid content but the rhizome like that of Caladium Colocasia and Arum is edible after drying grinding leaching and boiling 50 failed verification nbsp Caltha palustris Commonly known as marsh marigold and kingcup It contains several active substances of which the most important from a toxicological point of view is protoanemonin Ingesting large quantities of the plant may cause convulsions burning of the throat vomiting bloody diarrhea dizziness and fainting Contact of the skin or mucous membranes with the juices can cause blistering or inflammation and gastric illness if ingested Younger parts seem to contain lower toxin concentrations and heating breaks these substances down Small amounts of Caltha in hay do not cause problems when fed to livestock but larger quantities can lead to gastric illness 51 nbsp Cascabela thevetia Also known as yellow oleander All parts of the plant are toxic to most vertebrates as they contain cardiac glycosides Many cases of intentional and accidental poisoning of humans are known 52 nbsp Cephalanthus occidentalis Commonly called buttonbush It has several historical medicinal uses but it is also toxic due to the presence of cephalathin 53 nbsp Cerbera odollam Commonly known as the suicide tree The seeds contain cerberin a potent toxin related to digoxin The poison blocks the calcium ion channels in heart muscle causing disruption of the heartbeat This is typically fatal and can result from ingesting a single seed Cerberin is difficult to detect in autopsies and its taste can be masked with strong spices such as a curry It is often used in homicide and suicide in India Kerala s suicide rate is about three times the Indian average In 2004 a team led by Yvan Gaillard of the Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology in La Voulte sur Rhone France documented more than 500 cases of fatal Cerbera poisoning between 1989 and 1999 in Kerala They said To the best of our knowledge no plant in the world is responsible for as many deaths by suicide as the odollam tree 54 A related species is Cerbera tanghin the seeds of which are known as tanghin poison nut and have been used as an ordeal poison nbsp Chelidonium majus Also known as greater celandine The whole plant is toxic in moderate doses as it contains a range of isoquinoline alkaloids but there are claimed to be therapeutic uses when used at the correct dosage 55 The main alkaloid present in the herb and root is coptisine with berberine chelidonine sanguinarine and chelerythrine also present Sanguinarine is particularly toxic with an LD50 of only 18 mg per kg body weight 56 The effect of the fresh herb is analgesic cholagogic antimicrobial and oncostatic 57 with action as a central nervous system sedative In animal tests Chelidonium majus is shown to be cytostatic Early studies showed that the latex causes contact dermatitis and eye irritation Stains on skin of the fingers are sometimes reported to cause eye irritation after rubbing the eyes or handling contact lenses The characteristic latex also contains proteolytic enzymes and the phytocystatin chelidostatin a cysteine protease inhibitor 58 nbsp Cicuta spp Commonly known as water hemlock cowbane wild carrot snakeweed poison parsnip false parsley children s bane and death of man The root when freshly pulled out of the ground is extremely poisonous and contains cicutoxin a central nervous system stimulant that induces seizures citation needed When dried the poisonous effect is reduced The most common species is C maculata one of the species found in the Western United States C douglasii often found in pastures and swamps has especially thick stems and very large and sturdy flowers which are sometimes harvested for flower displays This is inadvisable as the sap is also toxic nbsp Cleistanthus collinus Ingestion of its leaves or a dicoction of its leaves causes hypokalemia kaliuresis and cardiac arrhythmias 59 metabolic acidosis hypotension and hypoxia 60 nbsp Clivia miniata Commonly known as Natal lily bush lily and Kaffir lily It contains small amounts of lycorine making it poisonous citation needed nbsp Codiaeum variegatum Also known as garden croton or variegated croton As with many of the Euphorbiaceae the sap can cause skin eczema in some people The bark roots latex and leaves are poisonous 61 nbsp Colchicum autumnale Commonly known as autumn crocus and meadow saffron The bulbs contain colchicine Colchicine poisoning has been compared to arsenic poisoning symptoms typically start two to five hours after a toxic dose has been ingested but may take up to 24 hours to appear and include burning in the mouth and throat fever vomiting diarrhea abdominal pain and kidney failure Onset of multiple system organ failure may occur within 24 to 72 hours This includes hypovolemic shock due to extreme vascular damage and fluid loss through the GI tract which may result in death Additionally those affected may experience kidney damage resulting in low urine output and bloody urine low white blood cell counts persisting for several days anemia muscular weakness and respiratory failure Recovery may begin within 6 to 8 days There is no specific antidote for colchicine poisoning although various treatments do exist 62 Despite dosing issues concerning its toxicity colchicine is also a popular medicine at low doses prescribed in the treatment of gout 63 familial Mediterranean fever pericarditis and Behcet s disease It is also being investigated for use as an anti cancer drug nbsp Conium maculatum Commonly known as hemlock poison hemlock spotted parsley spotted cowbane bad man s oatmeal poison snakeweed and beaver poison All parts of the plant contain the alkaloid coniine which causes stomach pains vomiting and progressive paralysis of the central nervous system can be fatal citation needed It should not be confused with the trees commonly called hemlock Tsuga spp which while not edible are not nearly as toxic as the herbaceous plant An infusion of poison hemlock is said to have killed Socrates in 399 BC nbsp Consolida spp Commonly known as larkspur Young plants and seeds are poisonous causing nausea muscle twitches and paralysis often fatal Other plants in the parent genus Delphinium are also poisonous and commonly called larkspur 64 nbsp Convallaria majalis Commonly known as lily of the valley Contains 38 different cardiac glycosides citation needed nbsp Coriaria myrtifolia Commonly known as redoul A Mediterranean plant containing the toxin coriamyrtin ingestion of which produces digestive neurological and respiratory problems The poisonous fruits superficially resemble blackberries and may mistakenly be eaten as such Can be fatal in children citation needed nbsp Cytisus scoparius Commonly known as broom or common broom Contains toxic alkaloids that depress the heart and nervous system 65 The alkaloid sparteine is a class 1a antiarrhythmic agent a sodium channel blocker It is not FDA approved for human use as an antiarrhythmic agent and it is not included in the Vaughn Williams classification of antiarrhythmic drugs nbsp Daphne spp The berries either red or yellow are poisonous causing burns to the mouth and digestive tract followed by coma often fatal citation needed nbsp Datura spp Several species commonly known as jimson weed thorn apple stinkweed Jamestown weed angel s trumpets moonflower and sacred datura Containing the tropane alkaloids scopolamine hyoscyamine and atropine all parts of these plants are poisonous especially the seeds and flowers Ingestion causes abnormal thirst hyperthermia severe delirium and incoherence visual distortions bizarre and possibly violent behavior memory loss coma and often death it is a significant poison to grazing livestock in North America Datura has been used as an entheogenic drug by the indigenous peoples of the Americas and others for centuries though the extreme variability in a given plant s toxicity depending on its age and growing environment make such usage an exceptionally hazardous practice the difference between a recreational dose and a lethal dose is minuscule 66 and incorrect dosage often results in death For this same reason Datura has also been a popular poison for suicide and murder particularly in parts of Europe and India Reports of recreational usage are overwhelmingly negative the majority of those who describe their use of Datura find their experiences extremely unpleasant and often physically dangerous 67 nbsp Daucus carota Commonly known as wild carrot It can be dangerously toxic to humans 68 Daucus carota has been reported to contain acetone asarone choline ethanol formic acid HCN isobutyric acid limonene malic acid maltose oxalic acid palmitic acid pyrrolidine and quinic acid 69 When in contact with wet Daucus carota skin irritation and vesication may occur nbsp Deathcamas Various genera in the family Melanthieae have species whose common names include deathcamas including Amianthium Anticlea Stenanthium Toxicoscordion and Zigadenus All parts of these plants are toxic due to the presence of alkaloids Grazing animals such as sheep and cattle may be affected and human fatalities have occurred 70 nbsp Delphinium spp Also known as larkspur Contains the alkaloid delsoline Young plants and seeds are poisonous causing nausea muscle twitches paralysis and often death citation needed nbsp Dendrocnide moroides Known also as stinging tree and gympie gympie Capable of inflicting a painful sting when touched The stinging may last for several days and is exacerbated by touching rubbing and cold temperatures can be fatal citation needed nbsp Dicentra cucullaria Also known as bleeding heart and Dutchman s breeches Leaves and roots are poisonous and cause convulsions and other nervous symptoms citation needed nbsp Dichapetalum cymosum Also known as gifblaar Well known as a livestock poison in South Africa this plant contains the metabolic poison fluoroacetic acid citation needed nbsp Dieffenbachia spp Commonly known as dumbcane All parts are poisonous the culprits are needle shaped crystals of calcium oxalate called raphides which can cause intense burning reddening of the skin irritation and immobility of the tongue mouth and throat if ingested citation needed Swelling can be severe enough to block breathing leading to death though this is rare in most cases symptoms are mild and can be successfully treated with basic analgesics antihistamines or charcoal citation needed nbsp Digitalis purpurea Commonly known as foxglove The leaves seeds and flowers are poisonous containing cardiac or other steroid glycosides These cause irregular heartbeat general digestive upset and confusion can be fatal citation needed nbsp Dioscorea communis Also known as black bryony All components of the plant including the tubers are poisonous due to saponin content therefore it is not typically used internally However it has been used as a poultice for bruises and inflamed joints It has been suggested that black bryony be used topically with caution due to a tendency for the plant to cause painful blisters Studies have isolated calcium oxalate deposits and histamines in the berry juice and rhizomes which may contribute to skin irritation and contact dermatitis citation needed nbsp Dryopteridaceae Also known as wood ferns buckler ferns or male ferns The rhizomes of this family are known to contain phloroglucinol derived compounds previously used to treat nematode infections Dryopteris filix mas poisonings consist of vomiting diarrhea vertigo headache tremor cold sweats dyspnea cyanosis convulsions mental disturbances vision impairment of blindness which may be temporary or permanent There is some record of Rumohra adiantiformis formerly Arachnoides adiantiformis causing contact dermatitis 71 Duranta erecta Common names include golden dewdrop pigeon berry and skyflower The leaves and berries of the plant are toxic and are confirmed to have killed children dogs and cats 72 nbsp Erysimum cheiri Also known as wallflower It contains constituents that may affect the heart 73 nbsp Euonymus europaeus Commonly known as spindle European spindle or spindle tree The fruit is poisonous containing among other substances the alkaloids theobromine and caffeine as well as an extremely bitter terpene Poisonings are more common in young children who are enticed by the brightly coloured fruits Ingestion can result in liver and kidney damage and even death citation needed There are many other species of Euonymus many of which are also poisonous nbsp Euphorbia pulcherrima Known as poinsettia Its latex can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals 74 It is also mildly irritating to the skin or stomach 75 and may sometimes cause diarrhea and vomiting if eaten 76 Sap introduced into the human eye may cause temporary blindness 77 It is known to be mildly toxic to cats dogs and horses 78 nbsp Excoecaria agallocha Commonly known as milky mangrove blind your eye mangrove and river poison tree Contact with latex can cause skin irritation and blistering eye contact can cause temporary blindness citation needed nbsp Galanthus nivalis Known as snowdrop The plant contains an active lectin or agglutinin named GNA for Galanthus nivalis agglutinin which is toxic citation needed nbsp Gelsemium sempervirens Commonly known as yellow jessamine All parts are poisonous causing nausea and vomiting Often fatal It is possible to become ill from ingesting honey made from jessamine nectar citation needed nbsp Gloriosa superba Common names include flame lily climbing lily gloriosa lily and fire lily The plant is toxic enough to cause human and animal fatalities if ingested Every part of the plant is poisonous especially the tuberous rhizomes As with other members of the Colchicaceae this plant contains high levels of colchicine a toxic alkaloid It also contains the alkaloid gloriocine Within a few hours of the ingestion of a toxic amount of plant material a victim may experience nausea vomiting numbness and tingling around the mouth burning in the throat abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea As the toxic syndrome progresses rhabdomyolysis ileus respiratory depression hypotension coagulopathy haematuria altered mental status seizures coma and ascending polyneuropathy may occur 79 nbsp Grevillea spp Commonly known as silky oak and spiderflower A few species such as Grevillea Robyn Gordon G robusta G banksii G bipinnatifida and others can cause severe contact dermatitis 80 nbsp Hedera helix Also known as common ivy The leaves and berries are poisonous causing stomach pains labored breathing and possible coma citation needed nbsp Heliotropium indicum Commonly known as Indian heliotrope It contains tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids 81 nbsp Helleborus niger Also known as Christmas rose Contains protoanemonin 82 or ranunculin 83 which has an acrid taste and can cause burning of the eyes mouth and throat oral ulceration gastroenteritis and hematemesis 84 nbsp Heracleum mantegazzianum Also known as giant hogweed The sap is phototoxic causing phytophotodermatitis severe skin inflammations when affected skin is exposed to sunlight or to UV rays Initially the skin becomes red and starts itching Then blisters form as the reaction continues over 48 hours They form black or purplish scars which can last several years citation needed Hospitalization may become necessary nbsp Heracleum sosnowskyi Commonly known as Sosnowsky s Hogweed Plant has toxic sap and causes skin inflammation on contact citation needed nbsp Hippomane mancinella Commonly known as manchineel All parts of this tree including the fruit contain toxic phorbol esters typical of the Euphorbiaceae plant family Specifically the tree contains 12 deoxy 5 hydroxyphorbol 6gamma 7alpha oxide hippomanins mancinellin sapogenin phloracetophenone 2 4 dimethylether is present in the leaves while the fruits possess physostigmine 85 Contact with the milky white latex produces strong allergic dermatitis 86 Standing beneath the tree during rain will cause blistering of the skin from even slight contact with this liquid even a small drop of rain with the milky substance in it will cause the skin to blister Burning tree parts may cause blindness if the smoke reaches the eyes The fruit can also be fatal if eaten Many trees carry a warning sign while others have been marked with a red X on the trunk to indicate danger In the French Antilles the trees are often marked with a painted red band a few feet above the ground 87 The Caribs used the latex of this tree to poison their arrows and would tie captives to the trunk of the tree ensuring a slow and painful death A poultice of arrowroot Maranta arundinacea was used by the Arawaks and Taino as an antidote against such arrow poisons 88 The Caribs were also known to poison the water supply of their enemies with the leaves citation needed Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon was struck by an arrow that had been poisoned with manchineel sap during battle with the Calusa in Florida dying shortly thereafter 89 nbsp Hyacinthus orientalis Commonly known as hyacinth The bulbs are poisonous causing nausea vomiting gasping convulsions and possibly death citation needed Even handling the bulbs can cause skin irritation nbsp Hydrangea spp Known commonly as hydrangea or hortensia Hydrangeas are moderately toxic if eaten with all parts of the plant containing cyanogenic glycosides 90 nbsp Hyoscyamus niger Commonly known as henbane Seeds and foliage contain hyoscyamine scopolamine and other tropane alkaloids Can produce dilated pupils hallucinations increased heart rate convulsions vomiting hypertension and ataxia citation needed nbsp Ilex aquifolium Commonly known as European holly The berries cause gastroenteritis resulting in nausea vomiting and diarrhea citation needed nbsp Iris sibirica Also known as Siberian iris or Siberian flag Most parts of the plant are poisonous rhizome and leaves if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction 91 nbsp Jacobaea vulgaris Commonly known as ragwort Contains many different alkaloids including jacobine jaconine jacozine otosenine retrorsine seneciphylline senecionine and senkirkine 92 Poisonous to livestock and hence of concern to people who keep horses and cattle Horses do not normally eat fresh ragwort due to its bitter taste however it loses this taste when dried and becomes dangerous in hay The result if sufficient quantity is consumed can be irreversible cirrhosis of the liver Signs that a horse has been poisoned include yellow mucus membranes depression and lack of coordination The danger is that the toxin can have a cumulative effect the alkaloid does not accumulate in the liver but a breakdown product can damage DNA and progressively kills cells Jacobaea vulgaris is also theoretically poisonous to humans although poisoning is unlikely as it is distasteful and not used as a food However some sensitive individuals can develop an allergic skin reaction after handling the plant because like many members of the family Compositae it contains sesquiterpine lactones which are different from the pyrrolizidine alkaloids responsible for the toxic effects which can cause compositae dermatitis nbsp Kalanchoe delagoensis Commonly known as mother of millions Contains bufadienolide cardiac glycosides 93 which can cause cardiac poisoning particularly in grazing animals 94 During 1997 125 head of cattle died after eating mother of millions on a travelling stock reserve near Moree New South Wales Australia 95 nbsp Kalmia latifolia Commonly known as mountain laurel Contains andromedotoxin and arbutin The green parts of the plant flowers twigs and pollen are all toxic and symptoms of toxicity begin to appear about six hours following ingestion Poisoning produces anorexia repeated swallowing profuse salivation depression uncoordination vomiting frequent defecation watering of the eyes irregular or difficult breathing weakness cardiac distress convulsions coma and eventually death Autopsy will show gastrointestinal irritation and hemorrhage nbsp Laburnum spp Known as golden chain All parts of the plant and especially the seeds are poisonous and can be lethal if consumed in excess The main toxin is cytisine a nicotinic receptor agonist Symptoms of poisoning may include intense sleepiness vomiting excitement staggering convulsive movements slight frothing at the mouth unequally dilated pupils coma and death citation needed In some cases diarrhea is very severe and at times the convulsions are markedly tetanic nbsp Lamprocapnos spectabilis Known commonly as bleeding heart Contact with the plant can cause skin irritation in some people from isoquinoline like alkaloids 96 nbsp Lantana camara Also known as big sage wild sage and tickberry The toxicity of L camara to humans is undetermined with several studies suggesting that ingesting unripe berries can be toxic to humans 97 Other studies have found evidence which suggests that ingestion of L camara fruit poses no risk to humans and are in fact edible when ripe 98 nbsp Ligustrum spp Several species commonly known as privet Berries and leaves are poisonous Berries contain syringin which causes digestive disturbances and nervous symptoms can be fatal citation needed Privet is one of several plants which are poisonous to horses Privet pollen is known to cause asthma and eczema in patients It is banned from sale or cultivation in New Zealand due to the effects of its pollen on people with asthma nbsp Lilium spp Commonly known as lily Most have an unidentified water soluble toxin found in all parts of the plant Extremely poisonous yet attractive to cats causing acute renal failure as few as two petals of the flowers can kill citation needed nbsp Lolium temulentum Commonly called darnel or poison ryegrass The seeds and seed heads of this common garden weed may contain the alkaloids temuline and loliine Some experts also point to the fungus ergot or fungi of the genus Endoconidium both of which grow on the seed heads of rye grasses as an additional source of toxicity 99 nbsp Lupinus spp Commonly known as lupin or lupine Some varieties have edible seeds Sweet lupines have less and bitter lupines more of the toxic alkaloids lupinine and sparteine citation needed nbsp Malus florentina Commonly known as Florentine crabapple All members of this genus contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide in their seeds and possibly also in their leaves 100 nbsp Mandragora officinarum Commonly called mandrake Alkaloids present in the fresh plant or the dried root included atropine hyoscyamine scopolamine hyoscine scopine cuscohygrine apoatropine 3 alpha tigloyloxytropane 3 alpha 6 beta ditigloyloxytropane and belladonnines Non alkaloid constituents included sitosterol and beta methylesculetin scopoletin citation needed The alkaloids make the plant in particular the root and leaves poisonous via anticholinergic hallucinogenic and hypnotic effects Anticholinergic properties can lead to asphyxiation citation needed nbsp Melia azedarach Known commonly as Chinaberry tree Cape lilac and syringa berrytree Fruits are poisonous to humans if eaten in quantity 101 The toxins are neurotoxins and unidentified resins found mainly in the fruits The first symptoms of poisoning appear a few hours after ingestion They may include loss of appetite vomiting constipation or diarrhea bloody faeces stomach pain pulmonary congestion cardiac arrest rigidity lack of coordination and general weakness Death may take place after about 24 hours nbsp Melianthus major Also called honeybush All parts of the plant are toxic citation needed nbsp Menispermum spp Commonly known as moonseed The fruits and seeds are poisonous causing nausea and vomiting often fatal citation needed nbsp Mentha pulegium Known commonly as pennyroyal or pennyrile It is toxic to humans and has differing effects dependent on the volume and concentration ingested The most concentrated and toxic form of the pennyroyal plant is pennyroyal oil The oil contains 80 to 92 of cyclohexanone pulegone Pulegone is the molecule in highest concentration causes a variety of ailments in those who ingest it and is what causes the plant to have its peppermint flavor 102 Symptoms that may persist after ingesting a small dose lt 10 mL of pennyroyal oil are nausea vomiting abdominal pain and dizziness Larger volumes may result in multiorgan failure that could lead to death nbsp Narcissus spp Various species and garden cultivars commonly known as daffodil The bulbs are poisonous and cause nausea vomiting and diarrhea can be fatal citation needed Stems also cause headaches vomiting and blurred vision nbsp Nerium oleander Commonly known as oleander All parts are toxic the leaves and woody stems in particular Contains nerioside oleandroside saponins and cardiac glycosides Causes severe digestive upset heart trouble and contact dermatitis citation needed The smoke of burning oleander can cause reactions in the lungs and can be fatal nbsp Nicandra physalodes Also known as apple of Peru and shoo fly plant The whole plant is said to be toxic according to some sources very toxic 103 and to be used medicinally as a diuretic sedative and cough medicine nbsp Nicotiana glauca Known commonly as tree tobacco It contains the toxic alkaloid anabasine Ingestion of the leaves can be fatal 104 nbsp Oenanthe crocata Commonly known as hemlock water dropwort Contains oenanthotoxin The leaves may be eaten safely by livestock but the stems and especially the carbohydrate rich roots are much more poisonous Animals familiar with eating the leaves may eat the roots when these are exposed during ditch clearance one root is sufficient to kill a cow and human fatalities are also known in these circumstances Scientists at the University of Eastern Piedmont in Italy claimed to have identified this as the plant responsible for producing the sardonic grin 105 106 and it is the most likely candidate for the sardonic herb which was a neurotoxic plant used for the ritual killing of elderly people in Phoenician Sardinia When these people were unable to support themselves they were intoxicated with this herb and then dropped from a high rock or beaten to death Criminals were also executed in this way 107 nbsp Paris quadrifolia Commonly known as herb paris Each plant only produces one blueberry like berry which is poisonous as are other tissues of the plant 108 Paris quadrifolia poisonings are rare because the plant s solitary berry and its repulsive taste make it difficult to mistake it for a blueberry nbsp Passiflora caerulea Also known as the blue passion flower or the common passion flower The leaves contain cyanogenic glycoside which breaks down into cyanide citation needed nbsp Peucedanum galbanum Commonly known as blister bush All parts are poisonous causing painful blistering upon contact that is intensified with exposure to sunlight citation needed nbsp Phoradendron spp Commonly known as American mistletoe see also the related genus Viscum Mistletoe is a common hemiparasite of trees and shrubs Toxicity varies by species but all parts of the plant especially the leaves and berries contain an array of dangerous chemicals including proteins called phoratoxins and toxic alkaloids Symptoms are very similar to those produced by Viscum species and may include acute gastrointestinal discomfort diarrhea weak pulse and or slow heart rate and even seizures it is rarely lethal to adult humans however and many wild animals are adapted to eating its fruit nbsp Physostigma venenosum Commonly known as calabar beans and ordeal beans The toxin in the seeds is the parasympathomimetic alkaloid physostigmine a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor Symptoms of poisoning include copious saliva nausea vomiting diarrhea anorexia dizziness headache stomach pain sweating dyspepsia and seizures 109 and can lead to cholinergic syndrome or SLUDGE syndrome Medicinal uses of physostigmine include the treatment of myasthenia gravis glaucoma Alzheimer s disease and delayed gastric emptying Phytolacca spp Commonly known as pokeweed Leaves berries and roots contain phytolaccatoxin and phytolaccigenin The toxicity of young leaves can be reduced with repeated boiling and draining Ingestion of poisonous parts of the plant may cause severe stomach cramping persistent diarrhea nausea vomiting sometimes bloody slow and difficult breathing weakness spasms hypertension severe convulsions and death The poisonous principles are found in highest concentrations in the rootstock then in leaves and stems and then in the ripe fruit The plant generally gets more toxic with maturity with the exception of the berries which have significant toxicity even while green 110 nbsp Pieris japonica Also known as Japanese pieris The plant is poisonous if consumed by people or animals 111 nbsp Plumeria spp Commonly known as frangipani Contact with the milky latex may irritate eyes and skin citation needed nbsp Podophyllum peltatum Commonly known as mayapple Green portions of the plant unripe fruit and especially the rhizome contain the non alkaloid toxin podophyllotoxin which causes diarrhea and severe digestive upset citation needed nbsp Prunus laurocerasus Also known as cherry laurel common laurel and sometimes English laurel Leaves fruits and seeds may cause severe discomfort to humans if ingested 112 The seeds contained within the cherries are poisonous like the rest of the plant containing cyanogenic glycosides and amygdalin 113 This chemical composition is what gives the smell of almonds when the leaves are crushed Laurel water a distillation made from the plant contains prussic acid and other compounds and is toxic nbsp Prunus padus Known as bird cherry hackberry or Mayday tree The glycosides prulaurasin and amygdalin which can be poisonous are present in some parts of P padus including the leaves stems and fruits 114 nbsp Pteridium aquilinum Commonly known as bracken Carcinogenic to humans and animals such as mice rats horses and cattle when ingested The carcinogenic compound is ptaquiloside or PTQ which can leach from the plant into the water supply which may explain an increase in the incidence of gastric and oesophageal cancers in humans in bracken rich areas 115 nbsp Pulsatilla cernua Common names include pasque flower wind flower prairie crocus and meadow anemone It is highly toxic and produces cardiogenic toxins and oxytoxins which slow the heart in humans Excess use can lead to diarrhea vomiting and convulsions 116 hypotension and coma 117 nbsp Quercus spp Several species commonly known as oak The leaves and acorns of oak species are poisonous in large amounts to humans and livestock including cattle horses sheep and goats but not pigs Poisoning is caused by the toxin tannic acid which causes gastroenteritis heart trouble contact dermatitis and kidney damage Symptoms of poisoning include lack of appetite depression constipation diarrhea which may contain blood blood in urine and colic it is rarely fatal however and in fact after proper processing acorns are consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world nbsp Rhamnus cathartica Commonly called buckthorn The seeds and leaves are mildly poisonous for people and animals but are readily eaten by birds 118 nbsp Rhododendron spp Several species including those known as azalea All parts are poisonous and cause nausea vomiting depression breathing difficulties and coma though it is rarely fatal The primary source of toxicity is a group of closely related compounds called grayanotoxins which block sodium ion channels in cellular membranes and prevent electrical repolarization during action potentials Honey made from the nectar of Rhododendron plants may contain dangerous concentrations of grayanotoxins and has been historically used as a poison and in alcoholic drinks nbsp Rhododendron ferrugineum Commonly called alpenrose snow rose or rusty leaved alpenrose It is moderately toxic containing arbutin arecoline and rhodoxanthin and can cause vomiting and difficulties of the digestive nervous respiratory and circulatory systems citation needed nbsp Rhododendron luteum Also known as yellow azalea or honeysuckle azalea Despite the sweet perfume of the flowers the nectar is toxic containing grayanotoxin records of poisoning of people eating the honey date back to the 4th century BC in Classical Greece citation needed nbsp Rhododendron tomentosum Commonly known as marsh Labrador tea or wild rosemary All parts of the plant contain poisonous terpenes that affect the central nervous system First symptoms of overdose are dizziness and disturbances in movement followed by spasms nausea and unconsciousness The mere smell of the plant may cause headache to some people citation needed nbsp Rhus spp Certain species commonly known as African sumac Formerly grouped with poison ivy and the rest of the Toxicodendron genus all parts of this tree contain low levels of a highly irritating oil with urushiol Skin reactions can include blisters and rashes The oil spreads readily to clothes and back again and has a very long life Infections can follow scratching As urushiol is not a poison but an allergen it will not affect certain people The smoke of burning Rhus lancia can cause reactions in the lungs and can be fatal citation needed Ricinus communis Commonly known as castor oil plant castor bean and Palma Christi The seeds contain ricin an extremely toxic and water soluble ribosome inactivating protein it is also present in lower concentrations in other parts of the plant Also present are ricinine an alkaloid and an irritant oil According to the 2007 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records the castor oil plant is the most poisonous in the world though its cousin abrin found in the seeds of the jequirity plant is arguably more lethal Castor oil long used as a laxative muscle rub and in cosmetics is made from the seeds but the ricin protein is denatured during processing Ricin quickly and irreversibly inhibits ribosomes the molecular machines responsible for producing proteins in all cells 119 The LD50 in adults is only about 22 mg kg when injected or inhaled ingested ricin is much less toxic due to the digestive activity of peptidases although a dose of 20 to 30 mg kg or about 4 to 8 seeds can still cause death via this route Reports of actual poisoning are relatively rare 120 If ingested symptoms may be delayed by up to 36 hours but commonly begin within 2 4 hours These include a burning sensation in the mouth and throat abdominal pain purging and bloody diarrhea Within several days there is severe dehydration a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in urine Unless treated death can be expected to occur within 3 5 days if they have not died by this time they often recover 121 Toxicity varies among animal species 4 seeds will kill a rabbit 5 a sheep 6 an ox or horse 7 a pig and 11 a dog Ducks have shown substantial resistance to the seeds it takes an average of 80 to kill them Poisoning occurs when animals ingest broken seeds or break the seed by chewing intact seeds may pass through the digestive tract without releasing the toxin 122 nbsp Robinia spp Also known as black locust and false acacia All species produce toxic lectins 123 The poison is a complex mix of lectins with the highest concentration in the fruits and seeds followed by the root bark and the flowers There is little poison in the leaves 124 The lectins generally called robin are less toxic than those of e g Abrus abrin or Ricinus ricin and in non fatal cases the toxic effects tend to be temporary 125 nbsp Sambucus spp Commonly known as elder or elderberry The roots twigs leaves and unripe fruit are considered poisonous and cause nausea and digestive upset citation needed Ripe berries must be cooked before consumption nbsp Sanguinaria canadensis Commonly known as bloodroot The rhizome contains morphine like benzylisoquinoline alkaloids primarily the toxin sanguinarine Sanguinarine kills animal cells by blocking the action of Na K ATPase transmembrane proteins As a result applying S canadensis to the skin may destroy tissue and lead to the formation of a large scab called an eschar Although applying escharotic agents including S canadensis to the skin is sometimes suggested as a home treatment for skin cancer these attempts can be severely disfiguring 126 as well as unsuccessful Case reports have shown that in such instances tumors have recurred and or metastasized 127 The United States Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved the inclusion of sanguinarine in toothpastes as an antibacterial or anti plaque agent 128 129 130 131 although it is believed that this use may cause leukoplakia a premalignant oral lesion 132 The safe level of sanguinarine in such products is subject to regulation and debate 133 134 S canadensis extracts have also been promoted by some supplement companies as a treatment or cure for cancer but the FDA has listed some of these products among its 187 Fake Cancer Cures Consumers Should Avoid 135 Bloodroot is a popular red natural dye used by Native American artists especially among rivercane basketmakers in the Southeastern United States 136 However in spite of supposed curative properties and historical use by Native Americans as an emetic due to its toxicity internal use is not advisable sanguinarine has an LD50 of only 18 mg per kg body weight 56 nbsp Scopolia carniolica Known as European scopolia or henbane bell Its toxicity derives from its high levels of tropane alkaloids particularly atropine The quantity of atropine is the highest in the root citation needed nbsp Solanum dulcamara Commonly known as bittersweet nightshade All parts are poisonous containing solanine and causing fatigue paralysis convulsions and diarrhea Rarely fatal 137 nbsp Solanum nigrum Commonly known as black nightshade All parts of the plant except the ripe fruit contain the toxic glycoalkaloid solanine Solanine poisoning is primarily displayed by gastrointestinal and neurological disorders Symptoms include nausea diarrhea vomiting stomach cramps burning of the throat cardiac dysrhythmia headache and dizziness In more severe cases hallucinations loss of sensation paralysis fever jaundice dilated pupils and hypothermia can result In large quantities solanine poisoning can be fatal nbsp Solanum pseudocapsicum Commonly known as Jerusalem cherry Madeira winter cherry and winter cherry All parts especially the berries are poisonous causing nausea and vomiting It is occasionally fatal especially to children citation needed nbsp Sophora secundiflora Commonly known as mescal bean and Texas mountain laurel nbsp Strophanthus gratus The ripe seeds of this African plant contain ouabain a potent cardiac glycoside that when sufficiently concentrated can induce cardiac arrest by binding to and inhibiting the action of the sodium potassium pump and thereby drastically slowing the contraction of cardiac muscle cells It was once used medicinally in small doses to treat congestive heart failure and other heart conditions but has largely been replaced by the structurally related digoxin Extracts from Strophanthus gratus and the bark of Acokanthera species have long been used by Somali tribesmen to poison hunting arrows if the concentration is high enough an arrow poisoned with ouabain can kill an adult hippopotamus citation needed nbsp Strychnos nux vomica Commonly known as the strychnine tree The seeds usually contain about 1 5 strychnine an extremely bitter and deadly alkaloid This substance throws a human into intense muscle convulsions and usually kills within three hours The bark of the tree may also contain brucine another dangerous chemical citation needed nbsp Taxus baccata Commonly known as English yew common yew and graveyard tree Nearly all parts contain toxic taxanes except the red fleshy and slightly sweet aril surrounding the toxic seeds 138 139 The seeds themselves are particularly toxic if chewed 140 Several people have committed suicide by ingesting leaves and seeds including Catuvolcus king of a tribe in what is now Belgium nbsp Toxicodendron spp Several species including Toxicodendron radicans commonly known as poison ivy Toxicodendron diversilobum commonly known as poison oak and Toxicodendron vernix commonly known as poison sumac All parts of these plants contain a highly irritating oil with urushiol Skin reactions can include blisters and rashes The oil spreads readily to clothes and back again and has a very long life Infections can follow scratching Despite the common names urushiol is not a poison but an allergen and because of this it will not affect certain people The smoke of burning poison ivy can cause reactions in the lungs and can be fatal The allergic reaction caused by contact with poison ivy affects more than 70 of the human population with as many as 350 000 cases reported annually in the United States alone nbsp Urtica ferox Commonly known as ongaonga Even the lightest touch can result in a painful sting that lasts several days citation needed nbsp Veratrum spp Commonly known as false hellebore and corn lily Several species containing highly toxic steroidal alkaloids e g veratridine that activate sodium ion channels and cause rapid cardiac failure and death if ingested 141 All parts of the plant are poisonous with the root and rhizomes being the most toxic 141 Symptoms typically occur between 30 minutes and 4 hours after ingestion and include nausea and vomiting abdominal pain numbness headache sweating muscle weakness bradycardia hypotension cardiac arrhythmia and seizures 141 Treatment for poisoning includes gastrointestinal decontamination with activated charcoal followed by supportive care including fluid replacement antiemetics for persistent nausea and vomiting atropine for treatment of bradycardia and vasopressors for the treatment of hypotension 141 Native Americans used the juice pressed from the roots to poison arrows before combat The dried powdered root of this plant was also used as an insecticide 116 The plants teratogenic properties and ability to induce severe birth defects were well known to Native Americans 116 although they also used minute amounts of the winter harvested root combined with Salvia dorii to potentiate its effects and reduce the toxicity of the herb to treat cancerous tumors The toxic steroidal alkaloids are produced only when the plants are in active growth so herbalists and Native Americans who used this plant for medicinal purposes harvested the roots during the winter months when the levels of toxic constituents were at their lowest The roots of V nigrum and V schindleri have been used in Chinese herbalism where plants of this genus are known as li lu 藜蘆 Li lu is used internally as a powerful emetic of last resort and topically to kill external parasites treat tinea and scabies and stop itching 142 However some herbalists refuse to prescribe li lu internally citing the extreme difficulty in preparing a safe and effective dosage and that death has occurred at a dosage of 0 6 grams 142 During the 1930s Veratrum extracts were investigated in the treatment of high blood pressure in humans However patients often had side effects due to the narrow therapeutic index of these products Due to its toxicity the use of Veratrum as a treatment for high blood pressure in humans was discontinued 141 nbsp Vernicia fordii Known as the tung tree It is poisonous in all of its parts including the fruit and the seeds although some parts of the tree have been used for medicinal purposes in the past According to one university website just one seed from the fruit can be fatal and other symptoms may include vomiting diarrhea and slowed breathing The leaves can also give a rash similar to that from poison ivy 143 nbsp Viscum spp Commonly known as European mistletoe see also the related genus Phoradendron Mistletoe is a common hemiparasite of trees and shrubs Toxicity varies by species but all parts of the plant especially the leaves and berries contain an array of toxic chemicals including several different viscotoxins the alkaloid tyramine and a ribosome inactivating lectin called viscumin Symptoms may include acute gastrointestinal discomfort diarrhea weak pulse and or slow heart rate and even seizures it is rarely lethal to adult humans however and many wild animals are adapted to eating its fruit 144 145 nbsp Voacanga africana The bark and seeds of this tropical tree contain a complex mixture of iboga alkaloids including voacangine and voacamine These compounds have been variously used as stimulants psychedelic drugs and poisons citation needed nbsp Wisteria sinensis Also known as Chinese wisteria All parts of the plant contain a glycoside called wisterin which is toxic if ingested and may cause nausea vomiting stomach pains and diarrhea Wisterias have caused poisoning in children of many countries producing mild to severe gastroenteritis nbsp Xanthium spp Several species commonly known as cocklebur The common cocklebur Xanthium strumarium a native of North America can be poisonous to livestock including horses cattle and sheep Some domestic animals will avoid consuming the plant if other forage is present but less discriminating animals such as pigs will consume the plants and then sicken and die The seedlings and seeds are the most toxic parts of the plants Symptoms usually occur within a few hours producing unsteadiness and weakness depression nausea and vomiting twisting of the neck muscles rapid and weak pulse difficulty breathing and eventually death Xanthium has also been used for its medicinal properties and for making yellow dye as indicated by its name Greek xanthos yellow nbsp Zantedeschia aethiopica Known as calla lily or arum lily All parts of the plant are toxic containing calcium oxalate which induces irritation and swelling of the mouth and throat acute vomiting and diarrhea 146 Can be fatal nbsp Zigadenus glaberrimus Commonly known as death camas All parts of Z glaberrimus are toxic due to the presence of alkaloids This or related species have caused human fatalities 147 nbsp See also edit nbsp Medicine portalList of plants poisonous to equines List of poisonous fungus species List of venomous animals Biopesticide Mushroom poisoning Psychoactive plant Secondary metabolite Toxin WeedReferences edit Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Other Poisonous Plants U S Food and Drug Administration Consumer Updates 9 June 2021 Originally posted c June 2009 since updated but advice unchanged Archived from the original on 5 June 2009 Keddy P A 2007 Plants and Vegetation Origins Processes Consequences Cambridge University Press Cambridge UK Chapter 7 Lewis W H and M P F Elvin Lewis 1977 Medical Botany Plants Affecting Man s Health Wiley New York 515 p pp 123 124 ISBN missing Krenzelok EP Mrvos R Friends and foes in the plant world A profile of plant ingestions and fatalities Clin Toxicol 2011 Mar 49 3 142 149 Cope RB Toxicology Brief Allium species poisoning in dogs and cats Veterinary Medicine 2005 Growing Asparagus gardengrow co nz Retrieved 10 December 2010 Rao SL Adiga PR Sarma PS 1964 The Isolation and Characterization of b N Oxalyl L a b diaminopropionic acid A Neurotoxin from the Seeds of Lathyrus sativus Biochemistry 3 3 432 436 doi 10 1021 bi00891a022 PMID 14155110 a b c Cereda M P Mattos M C Y 1996 Linamarin the Toxic Compound of Cassava Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins 2 06 12 doi 10 1590 S0104 79301996000100002 Aregheore EM Agunbiade OO 1991 The toxic effects of cassava manihot esculenta grantz diets on humans a review Vet Hum Toxicol 33 3 274 275 PMID 1650055 White WL Arias Garzon DI McMahon JM Sayre RT 1998 Cyanogenesis in Cassava The Role of Hydroxynitrile Lyase in Root Cyanide Production Plant Physiol 116 4 1219 1225 doi 10 1104 pp 116 4 1219 PMC 35028 PMID 9536038 Wagner Holly Cassava s Cyanide Producing Abilities Can Cause Neuropathy Retrieved 21 June 2010 Padmaja G 1995 Cyanide detoxification in cassava for food and feed uses Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 35 4 299 339 doi 10 1080 10408399509527703 PMID 7576161 Lee BK Kim JH Jung JW Choi JW Han ES Lee SH Ko KH Ryu JH 2005 Myristicin induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SK N SH cells Toxicol Lett 157 1 49 56 doi 10 1016 j toxlet 2005 01 012 PMID 15795093 McKenna A Nordt SP Ryan J August 2004 Acute nutmeg poisoning European Journal of Emergency Medicine 11 4 240 241 doi 10 1097 01 mej 0000127649 69328 a5 PMID 15249817 S2CID 21133983 See Erowid Nutmeg for various primary and secondary sources related to nutmeg myristicin intoxication Erowid Nutmeg Vault Basics www erowid org Erowid Experience Vaults Nutmeg also Myristica fragrans Main Index www erowid org a b c Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook Phytohaemagglutinin Bad Bug Book United States Food and Drug Administration Retrieved 11 July 2009 Rhurbarb poisoning on rhurbabinfo com Archived from the original on 16 October 2008 Retrieved 25 May 2011 GW Pucher AJ Wakeman HB Vickery The Organic Acids of Rhubarb Rheum Hybridum III The Behavior of the Organic Acids During Culture of Excised Leaves Archived 29 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Journal of Biological Chemistry 1938 Everist Selwyn L Poisonous Plants of Australia Angus and Robertson Melbourne 1974 p 583 Rhubarb leaves poisoning Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System Cbif gc ca 1 September 2009 Archived from the original on 22 January 2009 Retrieved 5 March 2010 McGee Harold On Food and Cooking The Science and Lore of the Kitchen New York Scribner 2004 p 367 Pittenger Dennis R 2002 Vegetables That Contain Natural Toxins California Master Gardener Handbook ANR Publications pp 643 644 ISBN 978 1 879906 54 9 a b c Barceloux DG June 2009 Potatoes Tomatoes and Solanine Toxicity Solanum tuberosum L Solanum lycopersicum L Disease a Month 55 6 391 402 doi 10 1016 j disamonth 2009 03 009 PMID 19446683 Mcgee Harold 29 July 2009 Accused Yes but Probably Not a Killer The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 26 March 2010 Hound health handbook the definitive guide to keeping your dog happy By Betsy Brevitz p 404 Tomato like Fruit on Potato Plants Iowa State University Archived from the original on 16 July 2004 Retrieved 8 January 2009 Glycoalkaloid and calystegine contents of eight potato cultivarsJ Agric Food Chem 2003 May 7 51 10 2964 73 Archived 11 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine Greening of potatoes Food Science Australia 2005 Archived from the original on 24 February 1999 Retrieved 15 November 2008 Corn Cockle professional information from Drugs com Retrieved 19 February 2013 Symptoms of Plant poisoning Protoanemonin RightDiagnosis com Anthurium spp Archived 3 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Poisonous Plants of North Carolina North Carolina State University Tilford Gregory L 1997 Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West Mountain Press Pub Missoula Montana ISBN 0 87842 359 1 Gregory L Tilford 1997 Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West Mountain Press ISBN 978 0 87842 359 0 a b Final report on the safety assessment of Arnica montana extract and Arnica montana International Journal of Toxicology 20 Suppl 2 2 1 11 2001 doi 10 1080 10915810160233712 PMID 11558636 Poisonous Plants Arnica montana North Carolina State University Archived from the original on 17 October 2013 Retrieved 6 June 2014 Rudzki E Grzywa Z October 1977 Dermatitis from Arnica montana Contact Dermatitis 3 5 281 282 doi 10 1111 j 1600 0536 1977 tb03682 x PMID 145351 S2CID 46223008 a b Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products Atropa Belladonna Summary Report PDF The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products 1998 Archived from the original PDF on 18 July 2006 Retrieved 8 July 2008 a b Belladonna Medline Plus 16 December 2009 Retrieved 29 November 2010 a b Giancarlo Pepeu Maria Grazia Giovannini 2004 Acetylcholine I Muscarinic Receptors In Gernot Riedel Bettina Platt eds From messengers to molecules memories are made of these illustrated ed Springer ISBN 978 0 306 47862 8 Mallinson T 2010 Deadly Nightshade Atropa Belladonna Focus on First Aid 15 5 Archived from the original on 21 May 2010 a b Lee MR March 2007 Solanaceae IV Atropa belladonna deadly nightshade PDF J R Coll Physicians Edinb 37 1 77 84 PMID 17575737 Grieve Margaret Leyel C F 1971 Modern Herbal Courier Dover Publications p 584 ISBN 978 0 486 22799 3 Retrieved 8 July 2008 Mateo Montoya A Mavrakanas N Schutz JS 2009 Acute anticholinergic syndrome from Atropa belladonna mistaken for blueberries Eur J Ophthalmol 19 1 170 172 doi 10 1177 112067210901900130 PMID 19123171 S2CID 9387171 Potter Samuel O L 1893 A Handbook of Materia Medica Pharmacy and Therapeutics London P Blakiston s p 53 the antidote for belladonna is physostigmine or pilocarpine the same as for atropine North Carolina State University Department of Plant Biology 2000 Poisonous Vascular Plants NC State University Archived from the original on 6 July 2008 Retrieved 7 July 2008 Marneros Andreas Gutmann Philipp Uhlmann Frank 16 June 2006 Self amputation of penis and tongue after use of Angel s Trumpet European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Springer Nature 256 7 458 459 doi 10 1007 s00406 006 0666 2 ISSN 1433 8491 PMID 16783491 S2CID 9261722 A Dictionary of Flowering Plants and Ferns JC Willis Caltha palustris Native Plant Database Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Shannon D Langford amp Paul J Boor 1996 Oleander toxicity an examination of human and animal toxic exposures Toxicology 109 1 1 13 doi 10 1016 0300 483X 95 03296 R PMID 8619248 Common Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis L PDF Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Guide United States Department of Agriculture Suicide tree toxin is perfect murder weapon Newscientist com 26 November 2004 Retrieved 19 February 2013 Gruenwald Joerg 2000 PDR for Herbal Medicines Thomson PDR ISBN 978 1 56363 361 4 a b Golob Peter Caroline Moss Melanie Dales Alex Fidgen Jenny Evans Irene Gudrups 1999 The use of spices and medicinals as bioactive protectants for grains FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin Vol 137 Rome Food and Agriculture Organization ISBN 978 92 5 104294 6 Retrieved 17 July 2008 Monographs Naturalstandard com Retrieved 16 June 2009 Rogelj B Popovic T Ritonja A Strukelj B Brzin J November 1998 Chelidocystatin a novel phytocystatin from Chelidonium majus Phytochemistry 49 6 1645 1649 doi 10 1016 S0031 9422 98 00281 7 PMID 9862139 Thomas K Dayal AK Narasimhan Alka G Seshadri MS Cherian AM Kanakasabapathi Molly B 1991 Metabolic and Cardiac effects of Cleistanthus Collinus poisoning J Assoc Physicians India 39 4 312 314 PMID 1938816 Subrahmanyam DK Mooney T Raveendran R Zachariah B A November 2003 Clinical and laboratory profile of Cleistanthus collinus poisoning J Assoc Physicians India 51 1052 1054 PMID 15260387 National Tropical Botanical Garden Codiaeum variegatum Euphorbiaceae Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Colchicine National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Emergency Response Safety and Health Database 22 August 2008 Retrieved 23 December 2008 Colchicine for acute gout updated information about dosing and drug interactions National Prescribing Service 14 May 2010 Archived from the original on 30 June 2012 Retrieved 14 May 2010 Royal Horticultural Society Archived from the original on 15 August 2004 Pojar Jim A MacKinnon and Paul B Alaback Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast Washington Oregon British Columbia amp Alaska Redmond WA Lone Pine Pub 1994 ISBN missing page needed Erowid Datura Vault Erowid org Retrieved 19 February 2013 Freye E 2010 Toxicity of Datura Stramonium Pharmacology and Abuse of Cocaine Amphetamines Ecstasy and Related Designer Drugs Netherlands Springer pp 217 218 doi 10 1007 978 90 481 2448 0 34 ISBN 978 90 481 2447 3 Daucus carota plants ces ncsu edu Retrieved 31 March 2017 Daucus carota www hort purdue edu Retrieved 21 April 2017 Schwartz Fayla C Zigadenus glaberrimus Flora of North America Retrieved 26 April 2012 in Flora of North Americaial Committee ed 1982 Flora of North America Retrieved 26 April 2012 Aronson J K 2016 Dryopteraceae Elsevier p 1100 doi 10 1016 B978 0 444 53717 1 00670 3 ISBN 9780444537164 Retrieved 12 June 2023 Thompson N 2007 Poisonous Plants in Australia Enabling consumers to buy safe plants PDF WWF Australia p 10 Archived from the original PDF on 10 January 2014 Retrieved 11 December 2008 Wallflower WebMD Latex Allergy Beware Poinsettias WebMD Retrieved 28 January 2010 Bender Steve ed 2004 Euphorbia The Southern Living Garden Book 2nd ed Birmingham Alabama Oxmoor House p 306 ISBN 978 0 376 03910 1 Are Poinsettia Plants Poisonous Fact or Fiction Retrieved 21 December 2007 Complete Poinsettia information from Drugs com Drugs com Retrieved 29 November 2008 Poinsettia ASPCA Retrieved 12 September 2020 Lal H S and P K Mishra 2011 Gloriosa superba an endangered plant spotted for the first time from forest of Tpchanchi Hazaribag Jharkhand India permanent dead link Science Research Reporter 1 2 61 64 Menz Jennifer Rossi Ric Taylor Wal C Wall Leon 1 August 1986 Contact dermatitis from Grevillea Robyn Gordon Contact Dermatitis 15 3 126 131 doi 10 1111 j 1600 0536 1986 tb01311 x PMID 2946534 S2CID 2846186 Fu P P Yang Y C Xia Q Chou M C Cui Y Y Lin G Pyrrolizidine alkaloids tumorigenic components in Chinese herbal medicina and dietary supplements Journal of Food and Drug Analysis Vol 10 No 4 2002 pp 198 211 Olson Kent R Poisoning amp Drug Overdose p 312 at Google Book Search accessed 12 January 2009 Smolinske Susan C Toxicity of Houseplants pp 38 153 at Google Book Search accessed 12 January 2009 Olson Kent R Poisoning amp Drug Overdose p 309 at Google Book Search accessed 12 January 2009 Hippomane mancinella Dr Duke s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases United States Department of Agriculture Archived from the original on 10 November 2004 Retrieved 27 January 2009 Poisonous plants and animals of Florida and the Caribbean By David W Nellis fr Hippomane mancinella Jones David E 2007 Poison Arrows North American Indian Hunting and Warfare University of Texas Press p 29 ISBN 978 0 292 71428 1 Retrieved 23 January 2009 Grunwald Michael 2007 Chapter 2 The Intruders The Swamp Simon amp Schuster p 25 ISBN 978 0 7432 5107 5 Hills of Snow Toxic and Non Toxic Plants ASPCA Iris sibirica Siberian iris kew org Archived from the original on 5 November 2014 Retrieved 3 January 2015 EHC 80 section 9 1 4 Inchem org Retrieved 19 February 2013 Bryotoxins A B and C McKenzie et al 1987 Steyn amp van Heerden 1998 McKenzie amp Dunster 1986 McKenzie et al 1987 les tanner North West Weeds Northwestweeds nsw gov au Archived from the original on 13 February 2013 Retrieved 19 February 2013 Leikin Jerrold B Paloucek Frank P eds 2007 Poisoning and toxicology handbook Boca Raton Fla CRC p 886 ISBN 978 1 4200 4479 9 Sharma O P 2007 A review of the hepatotoxic plant Lantana camara Critical Reviews in Toxicology 37 4 313 352 doi 10 1080 10408440601177863 PMID 17453937 S2CID 23993698 Herzog et al 1996 Coppens d Eeckenbrugge amp Libreros Ferla 2000 TAMREC 2000 GENUS Lolium Archived 2 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine Plants for a Future Russell Alice B Hardin James W amp Grand Larry 1997 Melia azedarach In Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Archived 19 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2008 Jan 26 Siano F Catalfamo M Cautela D Servillo L Castaldo D 2005 Analysis of pulegone and its enanthiomeric distribution in mint flavoured food products Food Additives amp Contaminants 22 3 197 203 doi 10 1080 02652030500041581 PMID 16019787 S2CID 40095436 Polunin Oleg Wild Flowers of Europe pub Oxford University Press 1969 pp 370 371 Foster Steven 2002 Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs Boston Houghton Mifflin Company p 339 ISBN 978 0 395 83806 8 News Scan Briefs Killer Smile Scientific American August 2009 Appendino G Pollastro F Verotta L Ballero M Romano A Wyrembek P Szczuraszek K Mozrzymas JW Taglialatela Scafati O 2009 Polyacetylenes from Sardinian Oenanthe fistulosa A Molecular Clue to risus sardonicus Journal of Natural Products 72 5 962 965 doi 10 1021 np8007717 PMC 2685611 PMID 19245244 Owen James 2 June 2009 Ancient Death Smile Potion Decoded National Geographic News Archived from the original on 5 June 2009 Retrieved 18 October 2009 Jacquemyn Hans Brys Rein Hutchings Michael J July 2008 Biological Flora of the British Isles Paris quadrifolia L Journal of Ecology 96 4 833 844 doi 10 1111 j 1365 2745 2008 01397 x Alzheimer Research Forum Alzforum org 19 October 2008 Retrieved 19 February 2013 Amitava Dasgupta 2011 Effects of Herbal Supplements on Clinical Laboratory Test Results Volume 2 Patient Safety Walter de Gruyter ISBN 3 11 024562 0 see 1 accessed 2 May 2015 Smith M C 1978 Japanese pieris poisoning in the goat Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 173 1 78 79 PMID 670056 RHS A Z encyclopedia of garden plants United Kingdom Dorling Kindersley 2008 p 1136 ISBN 978 1 4053 3296 5 Gardening North Carolina Cooperative Extension www ces ncsu edu Archived from the original on 19 April 2007 Retrieved 31 March 2007 N D Sargison D S Williamson J R Duncan R W McCance 1996 Prunus Padus bird cherry poisoning in cattle Veterinary Record 138 8 188 doi 10 1136 vr 138 8 188 PMID 8677622 S2CID 43622812 stems leaves and fruits of P padus contain the glycosides prulaurasin and amygdalin Kate Ravilious 9 September 2004 newspaper article on ptaquiloside from bracken entering water supplies Guardian Retrieved 19 February 2013 a b c Edible and Medicinal plants of the West Gregory L Tilford ISBN 0 87842 359 1 Yarnell E and Abascal K 2001 Botanical Treatments for Depression Part 2 Herbal Corrections for Mood Imbalances Rushforth K 1999 Trees of Britain and Europe Collins ISBN 0 00 220013 9 Benson S Olsnes S Pihi A Skorve J Abraham AK 1975 On the mechanism of protein synthesis inhibition by abrin and ricin Inhibition of the GTP hydrolysis site on the 60 S ribosomal subunit Eur J Biochem 59 2 573 580 doi 10 1111 j 1432 1033 1975 tb02484 x PMID 128455 Wedin GP Neal JS Everson GW Krenzelok EP May 1986 Castor bean poisoning The American Journal of Emergency Medicine 4 3 259 261 doi 10 1016 0735 6757 86 90080 X PMID 3964368 Ricinus communis Castor bean Cornell University 2008 Castorbean Archived from the original on 8 May 1998 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Union County College Biology Plant of the Week Castor Bean Plant Faculty ucc edu Archived from the original on 24 May 2013 Retrieved 19 February 2013 Poisonous Plants List Poisonous Plants List Van Damme EIS J M amp Barre Annick amp Smeets Koen amp Torrekens Sophie amp Van Leuven Fred amp Rouge Pierre amp Peumans Willy J The Bark of Robinia pseudoacacia Contains a Complex Mixture of Lectins Plant Physiol 1995 107 833 843 van Wyk Ben Erik van Heerden Fanie van Oudtshoorn Bosch 2002 Poisonous Plants of South Africa Pretoria Briza ISBN 978 1 875093 30 4 Don t Use Corrosive Cancer Salves Escharotics Stephen Barrett M D McDaniel S Goldman GD December 2002 Consequences of Using Escharotic Agents as Primary Treatment for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Archives of Dermatology 138 12 1593 1596 doi 10 1001 archderm 138 12 1593 PMID 12472348 Godowski KC 1989 Antimicrobial action of sanguinarine J Clin Dent 1 4 96 101 PMID 2700895 Southard GL Boulware RT Walborn DR Groznik WJ Thorne EE Yankell SL March 1984 Sanguinarine a new antiplaque agent retention and plaque specificity J Am Dent Assoc 108 3 338 341 doi 10 14219 jada archive 1984 0022 PMID 6585404 How to Report Problems With Products Regulated by FDA fda gov Archived from the original on 26 September 2006 Retrieved 28 May 2011 Kuftinec MM Mueller Joseph LJ Kopczyk RA 1990 Sanguinaria toothpaste and oral rinse regimen clinical efficacy in short and long term trials J Can Dent Assoc 56 7 Suppl 31 33 PMID 2207852 Oral Leukoplakia Patient Information PDF American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology 2005 Letter to FDA Collgate Palmolive Company 24 November 2003 Letter to FDA Professor George T Gallagher Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine 23 June 2003 187 Fake Cancer Cures Consumers Should Avoid United States Food and Drug Administration Retrieved 15 April 2010 Nolan Justin Northeast Oklahoma USA Society of Ethnobotany 2007 retrieved 9 January 2011 King County Natural Resources and Parks Noxious Weed Control program PDF Archived from the original PDF on 10 July 2007 Hook Ingrid Christiane Poupat Alain Ahond Daniel Guenard Francoise Gueritte Marie Therese Adeline Xiu Ping Wang Dairine Dempsey Severine Breuillet Pierre Potier November 1999 Seasonal variation of neutral and basic taxoid contents in shoots of European Yew Taxus baccata Phytochemistry 52 6 1041 1045 doi 10 1016 S0031 9422 99 00264 2 Appendino Giovanni Silvia Tagliapietra Hasan Cetin Ozen Pierluigi Gariboldi Bruno Gabetta Ezio Bombardelli 1 April 1993 Taxanes from the Seeds of Taxus baccata Journal of Natural Products 56 4 514 520 doi 10 1021 np50094a010 Kwak Sang Soo Myung Suk Choi Young Goo Park Jong Shin Yoo Jang Ryol Liu September 1995 Taxol content in the seeds of Taxus SPP Phytochemistry 40 1 29 32 doi 10 1016 0031 9422 95 00247 5 a b c d e Schep LJ Schmierer DM Fountain JS 2006 Veratrum poisoning Toxicol Rev 25 2 73 78 doi 10 2165 00139709 200625020 00001 PMID 16958554 S2CID 42124743 a b Bensky D Clavey S Stoger E 3rd edition 2004 Materia Medica Eastland Press Inc Seattle p 461 Aleurites fordii syn Vernicia fordii Tung oil tree Florida Invasive Plant Education University of Florida Archived from the original on 29 September 2011 Olsnes Sjur Stirpe Fiorenzo Sandvig Kirsten Pihl Alexander 25 November 1982 Isolation and Characterization of Viscumin a Toxic Lectin from Viscum album L Mistletoe The Journal of Biological Chemistry 257 22 13263 13270 doi 10 1016 S0021 9258 18 33440 9 PMID 7142144 S2CID 12767029 Mistletoe Drugs com Wolters Kluwer Health 2009 Retrieved 22 August 2015 Miles Jackie 12 September 2002 Arum or calla lily Zantedeschia aethiopica South Coast Weeds Eurobodalla Shire Council Archived from the original on 29 July 2012 Retrieved 18 November 2007 Fayla C Schwartz 2003 Zigadenus glaberrimus Michaux Fl Bor Amer 1 214 plate 22 1803 In FNA Editorial Committee ed Magnoliophyta Liliidae Liliales and Orchidales Flora of North America Vol 26 Oxford University Press p 83 ISBN 978 0 19 515208 1 Bibliography editWink M 2009 Mode of action and toxicology of plant toxins and poisonous plants Mitt Julius Kuhn Inst 421 93 112 Archived from the original on 18 March 2014 Retrieved 18 March 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Poisonous plants nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Poisonous plants US Army Guide to poisonous and toxic plants Cornell University Poisonous Plants Information Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of poisonous plants amp oldid 1202614694, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.