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Poisonous Plants >
 
 
Below is a list of some of the most common poisonous plants, their toxic parts, and the symptoms that are related.. It is important to realize when viewing this list, that this is not a comprehensive list as there are over 700 species of plants in the United States alone. There are still many plants that are yet to be discovered. If you see a plant on this list, it doesn't necessarily mean that the entire plant is poisonous. For example, Rhubarb stems are edible, but their leaves are dangerously poisonous. If any of these poisonous parts of these poisonous plants are ingested, it is important to contact your doctor immediately.
 
House Plants
Plant
Toxic Part
Symptoms and Comment
Castor Bean Seeds Burning sensation in mouth and throat. Two to four beans may cause death. Eight usually leathal. Death has occured in the U.S.
Dieffenbachia (dumbcane), caladium, elephant's ear, some philodendrons All Parts Intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue, lips. Death from dieffenbachia has occurred when tissues at back of tongue swelled and blocked air passage to throat. Other plants have similar but less toxic characteristics.
Hyacinth, narcissus, daffodil Bulbs Digestive upset including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when eaten even in small amounts.
Rosary pea (jequirity bean, crabs-eye, precatory bean) Seeds Among the most highly toxic of natural materials. Severe gastrointestinal irritation, incoordination, paralysis. Less than one seed, if thoroughly chewed, is enough to kill an adult.
Flower Garden Plants
Plant
Toxic Part
Symptoms and Comment
Aconite, monkshood Roots, flowers, leaves Restlessness, salivation, nausea, vomiting, vertigo. Although people have died after eating small amounts of garden aconite, poisoning from it is not common.
Autumn crocus All parts, especially bulbs Burning pain in mouth, gastrointestinal irritation. Children have been poisoned by eating flowers.
Dutchman's breeches (bleeding heart) Foliage, roots No human poisonings or deaths, but a record of toxicity for livestock is warning that garden species may be dangerous.
Foxglove All parts, especially leaves, flowers, seeds One of the sources of the drug digitalis. May cause dangerously irregular heartbeat, digestive upset and mental confusion. Convulsions and death are possible.
Iris Underground rhizome, also developed leaves Severe digestive upset from moderate amounts of cultivated or wild irises. However, acridity usually prevents large consumption. Boiled properly, wild stems may be eaten.
Larkspur, delphinium Seeds, young plant Livestock losses are second only to locoweed in western U.S. Therefore, garden larkspur should be at least be held suspect.
Lily-of-the-valley Leaves, flowers, fruit (red berries) Produces glycoside like digitalis, used in medicine to strengthen the beat of a weakened heart. In moderate amounts, can cause irregular heartbeat, digestive upset and mental confusion.
Nicotiana, wild and cultivated Leaves Nervous symptoms. Poisonous or lethal amounts can be obtained from ingestion of cured smoking or chewing tobacco, from foliage of field-grown tobacco or from foliage of garden variety (flowering tobacco or nicotiana).
Vegetable Garden Plants
Plant
Toxic Part
Symptoms and Comment
Potato Vines, sprouts (green parts). Spoiled tubers Death has occurred from eating green parts. To prevent poisoning from sunburned tubers, green spots should be removed before cooking. Discard spoiled potatoes.
Rhubarb Leaf Blade Several deaths from eating raw or cooked leaves. Abdominal pains, vomiting and convulsions a few hours after ingestion. Without treatment, death or permanent kidney damage may occur.
Ornamental Plants
Plant
Toxic Part
Symptoms and Comment
Atropa belladonna All parts, especially black berries Fever, rapid heartbeat, dilation of pupils, skin flushed, hot and dry. Three berries were fatal to one child.
Carolina jessamine, yellow jessamine Flowers, leaves Poisoned children who sucked nectar from flowers. May cause depression followed by death through repiratory failure. Honey from nectar also thought to have caused three deaths.
Common pivet Black or blue wax-coated berries, leaves Causes gastric irritation and vomiting. Several cases in children reported in Europe.
Daphne Berries (commonly red, but other colors in various species), bark A few berries can cause burning or ulceration in digestive tract causing vomiting and diarrhea. Death can result. This plant considered "really dangerous," particulary for children.
English Ivy Berries, leaves Excitement, difficulty breathing and eventually coma. Although no cases reported in U.S, European children have been poisoned.
Golden chain (laburnum) Seeds, pods, flowers Excitement, intestinal irritation, severe nausea with convulsions and coma if large quantities are eaten. One or two pods have caused illness in children in Europe.
Heath family (laurels, rhododendron, azaleas) All parts Causes salivation, nausea, vomiting and depression. "Tea" made from two ounces of leaves produced human poisoning. More than a small amount can cause death. Delaware Indians used laurel for suicide.
Lantana Unripe greenish-blue or black berries Can be lethal to children through muscular weakness and circulatory collapse. Less severe cases experience gastro-intestinal irritation.
Oleander Leave, branches, nectar of flowers Extremely poisonous. Affects heart and digestive system. Has caused death even from meat roasted on its branches. A few leaves can kill a human being.
Wisteria Seeds, pods Pods look like pea pods. One or two seeds may cause mild to severe gastrointestinal disturbances requiring hospitalization. However, with treatment, recovery occurs in 24 hours. No fatalities recorded. Flowers may be dipped in batter and fried.
Yew Needles, bark, seeds Ingestion of English or Japanese yew foliage may cause sudden death as alkaloid weakens and eventually stops heart. If less is eaten, may be trembling and difficulty in breathing. Red pulpy berry is a little toxic, if at all but same may not be true of small black seeds in it.
Trees and Shrubs
Plant
Toxic Part
Symptoms and Comment
Apple Seeds If eaten in large quantity, can cause death. One man died after eating a cupful.
Black Locust Bark, foliage, young twigs, seeds Digestive upset has occurred from ingestion of the soft bark. Seeds may also be toxic to children. Flowers may be fried as fritters.
Buckeye, horsechestnut Sprouts, nuts Digestive upset and nervous symptoms (confusion, etc.) Have killed children but because of unpleasant taste are not usually consumed in quantity necessary to produce symptoms.
Chinaberry tree Berries Nausea, vomiting, excitement or depression, symptoms of suffocation if eaten in quantity. Loss of life to children has been reported.
Elderberry Roots, stems Children have been poisoned by eating roots or using pithy stems as blowguns. Berries are least toxic part but may cause nasea if too many are eaten raw. Proper cooking destroys toxic principle.
Jatropha (purge nut, curcas bean, peregrina, psycnic nut) Seeds, oil Nausea, violent vomitting, abdominal pain. three seeds caused severe symptoms in one person. However, in others as many as 50 have resulted in relatively mild symptoms.
Oaks All parts Eating large quantities of any raw part, including acorns, may cause slow damage to kidneys. However, a few acorns probably have little effect. Tannin may be removed by