Deadly Beauty - Poisonous Plants
An ongoing project taking a deep dive into beautiful, poisonous plants. I’ve especially found it interesting to learn more about poisonous flowers and plants that are common in our gardens!
Convallaria majalis
AKA: Lily of the Valley
Main toxin: Convallatoxin is found in all parts of the plant, though the seeds found in its berries are particularly dangerous. Ingestion can result in cardiac paralysis and even death.
Brugmansia
AKA: Angel’s Trumpet
Main toxin: Tropane alkaloids are preset in all parts of the plant but the seeds and leaves are especially dangerous. Poisoning can result in confusiuon, tachycardia, tremors, migraines, hallucinations, and even death.
Aconitum napellus
AKA: Wolfsbane, Monkshood
Main toxin: Aconitine a potent neurotoxin and cardiotoxin, most concentrated in roots and tubers, high doses are fatal in humans
Digitalis purpurea
AKA: Foxglove
Main toxins: Digitoxin and digoxin are cardiac glycosides which can cause a low pulse rate, nausea, vomiting. Severe poisoning can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
Consolida regalis
AKA: Forking Larkspur, Rocket-Larkspur, Field Larkspur
Main toxin: Alkaloids are found in all parts of the plant but are most concentrated in the seeds and in new growth. Consuming the plant can lead to neuro-muscular paralysis and cause bloating, respiratory failure, and eventually death.
Nerium oleander
AKA: Oleander
Main toxin: Oleandrin and oleandrigenin, which are cardiac glycosides. High doses can lead to seizures but are rarely fatal in humans
Narcissus
AKA: Daffodil
Main toxin: Lycorine, found mostly in the bulbs but also in the leaves, when ingested can lead to acute abdominal pain, nausea, convulsions, and paralysis. Death can result from consuming large quantities.
Atropa bella-donna
AKA: Deadly Nightshade, Belladonna
Main toxin: Tropane alkaloids are found in all parts of the plant, with the roots generally having the highest concentration, but the berries pose the highest risk of consumption due to their somewhat sweet taste. Symptoms of poisoning include dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, tachycardia, loss of balance, slurred speech, hallucinations, and convulsions.
Abrus precatorius
AKA: Jequirity bean, Rosary pea
Main toxin: Abrin, which causes nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and liver failure, which can lead to death after several days