List of poisonous plants 1257003 225093284 2008-07-11T21:08:00Z Oobopshark 35713 /* Other poisonous plants */ {{Refimprove|date=September 2007}} [[Image:Cattle poison.jpg|thumb|300px|700 cattle that were killed overnight by a poisonous weed]] This is a list of [[plant]]s containing [[poison]]ous parts that pose a serious risk of [[disease|illness]], injury, or [[death]] to [[human]]s or [[animals]]. == Poisonous food plants == * [[Apple]] (''Malus domestica'') Seeds contain [[cyanogenic glycoside]]s; although the amount found in most apples won't kill a person, with enough seeds, one could die from it. * [[Cherry]] (''Prunus cerasus''), as well as other species (''Prunus spp'') such as [[peach]] (''Prunus persica''), [[plum]] (''Prunus domestica''), [[almond]] (''Prunus dulcis'') and [[apricot]] (''Prunus armeniaca''). Leaves and seeds contain cyanogenic [[glycosides]] * [[Potato]] (''Solanum tuberosum'') Foliage and green-tinged tubers are toxic, containing the glycoalkaloid [[solanine]], which develops as a result of exposure to light. Causes intense digestive disturbances, nervous symptoms. * [[Rhubarb]] (''Rheum rhaponticum'') Leaf blades, but not [[petiole (botany)|petiole]]s, contain [[oxalic acid]] [[salt]]s, causing kidney disorders, convulsions, coma. Rarely fatal. * [[Tomato]] (''Solanum lycopersicum'') Foliage and vines contain [[alkaloid]] poisons which cause digestive upset and nervous excitement. == Other poisonous plants == * '''[[Aconitum]] (Aconite, wolfsbane, monkshood) (''Aconitum napellus'').''' The poison is concentrated in the unripe seed pods and roots, but all parts are poisonous. Causes digestive upset, nervous excitement. The juice in plant parts is often fatal. * '''[[Autumn crocus]].''' The bulbs are poisonous and cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Can be fatal. * '''[[Azalea]].''' All parts of the plant are poisonous and cause nausea, vomiting, depression, breathing difficulties, coma. Rarely fatal. * '''[[Solanum dulcamara|Bittersweet nightshade]] (''Solanum dulcamara'').''' All parts are poisonous, containing [[solanine]] and causing fatigue, paralysis, convulsions and diarrhea. Rarely fatal. <ref> http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/LANDS/Weeds/nightshade.pdf, King County Natural Resources and Parks Noxious Weed Control program</ref> *''' [[Dicentra cucullaria|Bleeding heart]] (''Dicentra cucullaria'')/Dutchman's breeches.''' Leaves and roots are poisonous and cause convulsions and other nervous symptoms. * '''[[Black locust]].''' Pods are toxic. * '''[[Black nightshade]] (''Solanum nigrum'').''' All parts of the plant except the ''ripe'' fruit contain the toxin [[glycoalkaloid]] [[solanine]]. * '''[[Brugmansia|Angel's Trumpet]] (''Brugmansia'').''' All parts of the plant contains the tropane alkaloids [[scopolamine]] and [[atropine]]. Often fatal. * '''[[Caladium]]/[[Elephant Ear]].''' All parts of the plant are poisonous. Symptoms are generally irritation, pain, and swelling of tissues. If the mouth or tongue swell, breathing may be fatally blocked. * '''[[Castor Oil Plant]] (''Ricinus communis''). ''' The [[phytotoxin]] is '''[[ricin]], an extremely toxic water soluble protein''', which is concentrated in the seed. Also present are ricinine, an alkaloid, and an irritant oil. Causes burning in mouth and throat, convulsions, and is often fatal. * '''[[Daffodil]].''' The bulbs are poisonous and cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Can be fatal. Stems also cause headaches, vomiting, and blurred vision. * '''[[Daphne (plant)|Daphne]] (''Daphne sp.'').''' The berries (either red or yellow) are poisonous, causing burns to mouth and digestive tract, followed by coma. Often fatal. * '''[[Darnel]]/Poison Ryegrass (''Lolium temulentum'').''' 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.<ref>http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/poison/agbook/lobelia.htm#Lolium</ref> * '''[[Datura]]/[[nightshade]].''' Contains the [[alkaloids]] [[scopolamine]] and [[atropine]]. Datura has been used as a hallucinogenic drug, eg by the native peoples of the Americas.<ref>[http://erowid.org/plants/datura/datura.shtml Erowid Datura Vault<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> * '''[[Deadly nightshade]] (''Atropa belladonna'').''' All parts of the plant contain the toxic [[alkaloid]] [[atropine]]. The young plants and seeds are especially poisonous, causing nausea, muscle twitches, paralysis; often fatal. * '''[[Deathcamas]]/[[black snakeroot]].''' All parts of the plant are poisonous, causing nausea, severe upset. * '''[[Delphinium]].''' Contains the alkaloid [[Delsoline]]. Young plants and seeds are poisonous, causing nausea, muscle twitches, paralysis, often fatal. * '''[[Doll's eyes]].''' Berries are highly poisonous, as well as all other parts. * '''[[Dumbcane]]/[[dieffenbachia]].''' All parts are poisonous, causing intense burning, irritation, and immobility of the tongue, mouth, and throat. Swelling can be severe enough to block breathing leading to death. * '''[[Elderberry]].''' The roots are poisonous and cause nausea and digestive upset. * '''[[Ilex aquifolium|European Holly]] (''Ilex aquifolium'').''' The berries are poisonous, causing gastroenteritis. * '''[[Foxglove]] (''Digitalis purpurea'').''' The leaves, seeds, and flowers are poisonous, containing [[cardiac glycoside|cardiac]] or other steroid [[glycosides]]. These cause irregular heartbeat, and generally digestive upset and confusion. Can be fatal. * '''[[Dichapetalum cymosum|Gifblaar]] (''[[Dichapetalum cymosum]]''). ''' Well-known as a livestock poison in South Africa; this plant contains the metabolic poison [[fluoroacetic acid]]. * '''[[Poison Hemlock|Hemlock]] (''Conium maculatum'').''' All parts of the plant contain the relatively simple [[alkaloid]] [[coniine]] which causes stomach pains, vomiting, progressive paralysis of the central nervous system. Can be fatal; it is the poison which killed [[Socrates]]. * '''[[Henbane]].''' Seeds and foliage poisonous * '''[[Aesculus hippocastanum|Horse-chestnut]].''' All parts of the plant are poisonous, causing nausea, muscle twitches, and sometimes, paralysis. * '''[[Hedera|Ivy]].''' The leaves and berries are poisonous, causing stomach pains, labored breathing, possible coma. * '''[[Holly]].''' Berries cause vomiting, nausea and diarrhea if ingested. * '''[[Hyacinthus orientalis | Hyacinth]].''' The bulbs are poisonous, causing nausea, vomiting, gasping, convulsions, and possibly death. * '''[[Jequirity]].''' The seed is highly poisonous * '''[[Jerusalem cherry]].''' All parts, especially the berries, are poisonous, causing nausea and vomiting. It is occasionally fatal, especially to children. * '''[[Jimson weed]]/datura/thorn apple/stinkweed/ Jamestown weed (''Datura stramonium'').''' All parts of the plant are poisonous, causing abnormal thirst, vision distortions, delirium, incoherence, coma. Often fatal. * '''[[Laburnum]].''' All parts, especially the seeds, are poisonous, causing excitement, staggering, convulsions, coma, occasionally fatal. * '''[[Delphinium|Larkspur]] (both ''[[Delphinium]]'' and ''[[Consolida]] spp''<ref>http://www.rhs.org.uk/research/horticultural_themes/hazardous_list.asp, Royal Horticultural Society</ref>).''' Young plants and seeds are poisonous, causing nausea, muscle twitches, paralysis. Often fatal. * '''[[liliaceae|Lilies]] (''liliaceae'').''' Most are poisonous, especially to cats. * '''[[Manchineel]] (''Hippomane mancinella'').''' All parts of this tree including the fruit contain toxic phorbol esters typical of the [[Euphorbiaceae]]. * '''[[Mayapple]] (''Podophyllum peltatum'').''' Green portions of the plant, unripe fruit, and especially the [[rhizome]] contain the non-alkaloid toxin [[podophyllotoxin]] which causes diarrhea, severe digestive upset. * '''[[Monkshood]].''' All parts of the plant are highly poisonous. Ancient warriors used it to poison their enemies' water supplies. Used in the past for killing wolves. Causes burning, tingling, and numbness in the mouth, then the intestine, followed by vomiting; death by asphyxiation. * '''[[Moonseed]].''' The fruits and seeds are poisonous, causing nausea and vomiting. Often fatal. * '''[[Mother of Millions]] (''Kalanchoe tubiflora'').''' These plants are deadly to livestock and there is every indication that they are toxic to humans. * '''[[Oleander]] (''Nerium oleander'').''' '''''All parts are toxic''''', containing [[nerioside]], [[oleandroside]], [[saponins]], cardiac glycosides, but especially the leaves and woody stems. They cause severe digestive upset, heart trouble, [[contact dermatitis]]. '''Very fatal. It is the deadliest plant in the world.''' * '''[[Oak]].''' most species foliage and acorns are mildly poisonous, causing digestive upset, heart trouble, contact dermatitis. Rarely fatal. * '''[[Toxicodendron radicans|Poison-ivy]] (''Toxicodendron radicans''), [[Toxicodendron diversilobum|Poison-oak]] (''T. diversilobum''), and [[Poison Sumac]] (''T.vernix'').''' All parts of these plants contain a highly irritating oil with [[urushiol]] (this is actually not a poison, but an ''[[allergen]]).'' Skin reactions can include blisters and rashes. It spreads readily to clothes and back again, and has a very long life. Infections can follow scratching. As stated, this is an allergen, and the toxin will not affect certain people. '''''The smoke of burning poison ivy can cause reactions in the lungs, and can be fatal.''''' * '''[[Pokeweed]] (''Phytolacca sp.'').''' Leaves, berries and roots contain ''[[phytolaccatoxin]]'' and ''[[phytolaccigenin]]'' - toxin in young leaves is reduced with each boiling and draining. * '''[[Privet]] (''Ligustrum sp.'').''' Berries and leaves are poisonous. Berries contain [[ligustrin]] and [[syringin]], which causes difestive disturbances, nervous symptoms. Can be fatal. * '''[[Stinging Tree]] (''Dendrocnide excelsa'', Stinging tree) and similar species.''' The plant is capable of inflicting a painful sting when touched, which may last for several days and is exaccerbated by touching, rubbing and cold. Can be fatal. * '''[[Water hemlock]].''' The root, when freshly pulled out of the ground, is extremely poisonous and contains the toxin ''Cicuta virosa''. When dried, poison is reduced to roughly 3-5 percent of what it contained when fresh. * '''[[White snakeroot]].''' '''All parts are poisonous''', causing nausea and vomiting. Often fatal. * '''[[Gelsemium sempervirens|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. * '''[[Taxus baccata|Yew]] (''Taxus baccata'').''' All parts of the plant, except for the fleshy red bit of the fruit, contain [[Taxane|taxane alkaloids]]. The seeds are especially poisonous and are quickly fatal when ingested. ====Notes==== * [[Poinsettia]]s (''Euphorbia pulcherrima'') Notable for ''not'' being poisonous, despite persistent beliefs to the contrary, although may cause upset stomach{{Fact|date=September 2007}}. ==See also== *[[Poison]] *[[List of plants poisonous to equines]] *[[Mushroom poisoning|Poisonous Mushrooms]] *[[Psychedelic plants]] *[[Toxin]] *[[Weeds]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://herbarium.freehostia.com/ Herbarium of toxic plants] *[http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/ento/PLANT.HTM US Army: Guide to poisonous and toxic plants] *[http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/ Cornell University Poisonous Plants Information Database] {{stublist}} {{Poisoning and toxicity}} [[Category:Toxicology]] [[Category:Lists of plants]] [[Category:Poisonous plants| *]] [[de:Liste giftiger Pflanzen]] [[fr:Plante toxique]] [[lt:Nuodingieji augalai]] [[ro:Listă de plante toxice]]