Why are plants poisonous?
Why are plants poisonous?
It would appear that many of the plant chemicals toxic to humans and animals are produced as part of the plant’s defenses against being eaten or to gain a foot hold over the plants competition in other plants.
Many of the physical defenses of plants such as thorns are directed against chewing animals and the poisons in the wood are defenses against insects. Whereas poisonous fruit may be to stop animals from eating them
Funnily enough and animals and insects have developed to a where plant toxins form part of their own defense. An example of this is where the with monarch butterflies larvae store the toxic cardiac glycosides from the plant milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). This in turn deters birds from feeding on the caterpillars. But mostly the poisons deter and if we eat them and get sick it is not the fault of the plant
Symptoms
There are approximately 2000 plants in Australia are in some way poisonous to humans.
Fortunately most poisonous plants have a terrible taste that would deter most people from eating them, but unfortunately other plants look quite safe to eat and may even taste OK such as a green potatoes cooked up or the stems of the Rhubarb plant can be eaten but the leaves are poisonous. The same, though to a lesser degree, with the leaves Beetroot plant
Poisonous plants symptoms range in degree from a long drawn out death by suffocation to simple skin irritations.
As there are no common characteristics of form, coloring, odor or taste which distinguish a poisonous plant from a non-poisonous plant. The backyard can hold for the unwary some dangerous plants that could harm children and babies. Babies tend to pickup and put things into their mouths, and even a small amount of a poisonous plant could cause death or extreme sickness.
Recently two men died while out camping and stirred their tea with an Oleander branch and the sap in the one branch was enough to kill both of them
Therefore to avoid poisoning, we need to learn what the known poisonous plants look like so as to avoid eating them or putting them out of harm’s way,
It is also imperative that we never dump any sort of gardening rubbish at the side of the road, over a fence or into a paddock as unwittingly you could kill the native or farm animals
Some plants to watch out for
Hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius) can be dangerous. Its sap can be corrosive, creating continuously weeping wounds, so handle them with great care.
English box Buxus sempervirens and Microphylla Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, convulsions, respiratory failure. Contact with cell sap may cause skin irritation.
Chinese Privet, Small-leaf Privet Ligustrum sinense A popular hedge plant, (it is also a serious weed pest). The bitter leaves and black berries are toxic, leading to possible liver damage in humans and death in animals.
Lantana Vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, labored respiration; the leaves may cause dermatitis.
Castor oil plant Castor beans affect all animals and humans. Even one of them may be sufficient to cause death. They contain some of the strongest toxins of our planet’s flora: The symptoms then are nausea and vomiting, stomachache, right up to collapse and death.
Hemlock For an adult the ingestion of more than 100 mg of coniine (approximately 6 to 8 fresh leaves, or a smaller dose of the seeds or root) may result in fatality.
Chilies (especially hot varieties) can be very attractive to children. Although eating them is unlikely to be fatal hot chilies can cause children a lot of damage and subsequent upset.
Cow’s udder plant The fruits are ripe when they are a dark yellow or orange. Like all nights shades can because fruits are poisonous causing, rashes, vomiting or diarrhea.
Before soap was common in villages, the juice was used as a deterrent to wash clothes. ”
Deadly nightshade is mainly abused by humans for its hallucinogenic effects. It is one of the most common causes of poisonings in humans in Europe. In ancient times, this plant was used to dilate women’s pupils to make their eyes appear more beautiful
Apple of Sodom Solanum carolinense Exposure to juice or sap from these plants or a puncture wound from the thorns may produce a skin rash or irritation. Ingestion may cause minor symptoms such as rash, vomiting or diarrhea.
Kangaroo Apple Solanum aviculare All plants in this genus are toxic to some degree. Although the ripe orange fruits are sometimes eaten, the green berry fruits are poisonous, as are the leaves. The berries are attractive to children
Angels trumpet (Brugmansia) All parts of the plants are extremely toxic. The flowers can cause dangerous hallucinations and extreme sickenss.
Cycads.The seeds are bright red and yellow and look appealing but are poisonous and should not be eaten. When used as bush tucker, the seed is carefully leached of toxins before they are ground into flower.
From Cooks 1770 expedition the seeds of Cycads] seem to be the most likely cause of the diarrhea and vomiting among the men and death in some of the pigs
Oleander (Nerium oleander) Fortunately a parts of this wonderful plant taste awful as it is highly toxic The powdered wood is used in Europe to kill rats and it has been shown that humans have been poisoned by inhaling the smoke from its burning wood. Keep the lower leaves away from children and pets
Chinese Lucky Plant Aglaonema commutatum Can cause Nausea and vomiting particularly in pets
Elephant Ears, Giant Taro Alocasia macrorhiza These plants are very poisonous. They are a common garden plant or in pots for indoor decoration, thus providing easy access for children. All parts of this plant are poisonous.
Poinsettia The sap is an irritant, so handle plants with care. The leaves and seeds can cause delirium if eaten.
Monstera deliciosa Except for the ripe fruit all parts of this plant are poisonous causing Intense burning and possible injury to the mouth, tongue, and throat; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Contact with the sap may also cause skin irritation.
Euphorbia These plants all have a milky white sap which leaks out of cut stems. It’s toxic and very difficult to remove from the skin. The sap can cause skin irritation and the eating of the plant can even cause death
Rhubarb leaves The stalks are edible but the leaves contain a toxin. Don’t eat the leaves and don’t feed leaves to chooks or pet birds.
Some Creepers
Chinese Wisteria
All parts of this plant are suspected to be toxic.
Eating the seeds/pods can cause gastric pain and vomiting.
Lonicera species English Honeysuckle, Woodbine
Although the leaves of some species are toxic, it is only the seeds or berries that are potentially dangerous. Most of the flowers are exquisitely perfumed.
Bulbs
AmaryllisThe bulbs are poisonous.
Agapanthus orientalis African lily
Daffodils and other narcissus
Arum lily .
Green potatoes
Yes even some common natives can be poisonous
Pimelea ferruginea
This occurs naturally in south Western Australia and is widely cultivated. Although not normally associated with toxicity, most pimeleas may contain animal toxins.
Wax flower (Hoya australis)
Native birdsfoot (Eremophila maculata)
Some mushrooms
The Angel of Death or the Death cap is the world’s most poisonous mushroom is and it grows here. The dangerous thing is that It looks very similar to an edible field mushroom.
It is usually found around the roots of trees in the cooler parts of Australia like Canberra and Melbourne.
Unless the amount eaten is very small, the person is likely to die in a few days without immediate medical intervention
Gold Top mushrooms in Australia, eating these mushrooms can cause you to vomit
and hallucinate.
Fly Agaric mushroom will cause severe stomach upsets to anyone who eats it.
The conclusion is that poisonous plants are fine to grow and a lot of them like Euphorbia and the Oleander are quite beautiful. Just know your plants and put them in the appropriate positions. Keep indoor plants like Chinese lucky plants and Philodendron out of children and pets way and don’t eat a wild mushroom unless you are 100% sure you know what you are eating.
In the event of an emergency dial 000
or contact the Poisons Information Service on 131 126
Tags: poison plant
