|
Acorns:
African
rue:
Agave lechuguilla:
Amaryllis:
Arrow
grass:
Autumn
crocus:
The plant has been mistaken by foragers for
ramsons,
which it vaguely resembles, but is a deadly poison due to the presence
of
colchicine, a useful drug with a narrow
therapeutic index. The symptoms of colchicine poisoning resemble
those of arsenic and there is no antidote. Despite its toxicity,
colchicine is an approved treatment for
gout and is
also used in plant breeding to produce
polyploid strains.
Azalea:
 
Bear grass:
Sand Begonia:
Bird
of Paradise:
Bitter weed,
Rubber weed:
Black
laurel & Mountain laurel:
Black
locust:
(Robinia pseudoacacia) – Black locust is a naturalized species that
grows as a tree or shrub in open woods, waste places, and along fence
rows throughout Ohio. Leaves are alternate and are pinnately compound,
with more than 10 leaflets per leaf. A pair of spines occurs at the base
of each leaf. White flowers appear in loose drooping clusters in May or
June and later form long flattened brown seedpods.
Several toxic compounds are found in black locust sprouts, leaves, bark,
flowers, and seed pods, including a glycoside (robitin) and phytotoxins
(robin and phasin). Of grazing animals, horses are most susceptible to
the effects of black locust. Poisoning and death have been reported for
horses consuming bark, leaves, or sprouts. Livestock have also been
poisoned by drinking water in which seedpods have soaked. Affected
animals often stand with feet spread apart. Other signs include
depression (often extreme), diarrhea, anorexia, weakness, posterior
paralysis, colic, pupil dilation, coldness of extremities, laminitis,
weak pulse, and rapid, irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, death can
result from cardiac failure.
Black Walnut:
(Juglans nigra) – Black walnut is a large tree
growing in rich forest soils throughout Ohio. Leaves are alternate and
are pinnately compound with numerous toothed leaflets. The twigs have a
characteristic chambered pith. Black walnut fruits consist of a nut
surrounded by a thick husk and do not split open when ripe.
The toxic phenolic compound, juglone, is found in the bark, wood, nuts,
and roots of black walnut. Horses are primarily affected when exposed to
shavings that contain black walnut wood. Shavings contaminated with less
than 20% black walnut can cause poisoning in 24 hrs. Affected horses
exhibit depression, lethargy, laminitis, distal limb edema, and
increased temperature, pulse, respiration rate, abdominal sounds,
digital pulse, and hoof temperature. Consumption of the shavings may
also cause signs of mild colic. Symptoms usually disappear within a few
days after shavings are removed.
Horses on pasture may show mild respiratory signs from pollen or fallen
leaves.
Bladder
pod:
Glottidium vesicarium
Robust annual becoming quite woody at base, 1 to 4 m tall. Leaves
alternate, deciduous, compound, 10 to 20 cm long, evenly pinnate with 24
to 52 leaflets. Flowers yellow or sometimes pinkish or purplish in
clusters of two or more on long slender stalks. Pod flattened, swollen,
ends pointed, 5 to 8 cm long, two seeds per pod. Found in coastal plain
North Carolina to Florida to Texas; most abundant in moist, fertile soil
in waste places, along ditches and in pastures.
TOXICITY - Saponins have been detected in this plant. Cattle,
sheep, goats, chickens and hogs have all been poisoned from consuming
the seeds and green plant. The green seeds are the most toxic part.
It is thought that the plant is distasteful to animals but some appear
to develop a craving for the seeds even when other forage is available.
Poisoning most often occurs in the fall or early winter when pasture or
other feed is in short supply. Also, new additions to pastures
containing the plants are often affected.
SYMPTOMS - Sheep and cattle exhibit hemorrhagic diarrhea,
shallow and rapid respiration, fast irregular pulse and become comatose
before death. Constipation has been observed in affected cattle.
Post mortem examination reveals hemorrhages in the abomasum and
intestines, rumen stasis and dark tarry blood. Usually the seeds can be
observed in the rumen.
TREATMENT - Remove all animals immediately from pastures
containing the plant and confine them to clean pastures or a dry lot.
General supportive treatment, including saline laxatives, rumen
stimulants and intravenous fluid therapy is suggested.
Black Snakeroot (Deathcamas,
Star Lily):
Deathcamas / black snakeroot All parts of the plant are poisonous,
causing nausea, severe upset.
Bleeding
heart:
Dicentra has delicate, fern-like leaves with characteristic
heart-shaped pink to white flowers.
Geographic range. Found in the eastern and western United States.
Usually found in moist, rich soils of forests and woodlands.
Toxic principle - Isoquinolone alkaloids (protoberberins)
are poisonous to cattle and horses but are not toxic to sheep. Other
alkaloids in Dicentra may be responsible for poisoning in sheep.
Diagnosis - Clinical signs. In cattle, muscle tremors,
staggering, and incoordination are seen. If a larger amount of plant is
ingested, projectile vomiting, convulsions, and lateral recumbancy with
extensor rigidity may be seen. Animals rarely die from Dicentra
poisoning.
Treatment - None. Animals often recover when access to the plant
is removed. A saline cathartic may be given to reduce further absorption
of the toxins.
Box
- (Blue-Green Algae):
Bracken
fern:
Is the common name for a tall fern (Pteridium aquilinum) with
large triangular fronds, widespread throughout the world, often as a
weed. It is considered poisonous to livestock when eaten in quantity,
but the rootstocks and the young shoots, cooked, are used for food.
Bracken is also a source of tannin and is used for thatching and as
bedding for livestock. A beverage is made from the roots. The names
bracken and brake are sometimes also applied to other large,
coarse ferns and, as general terms, to a thicket of such plants. Bracken
is classified in the division
Polypodiophyta, class Polypodiopsida, order Filicales, family
Polypodiaceae.
Broom
snakeweed:
Broom
snakeweed is a bushy, short-lived, native, perennial shrub or subshrub
that grows from 8 to 28 inches in height. It flowers August to October,
reproduces from seeds. Maximum life span approximately 20 years.
Numerous heads are arranged in a flat-topped cluster, which is rounded
and loose. The flower heads are small, with yellow ray flowers. The
bracts are leathery, shiny, green-tipped.
Fruit is oval and covered with
chaffy scales. A brown, densely hairy, seed.
Alternate, threadlike leaves which are folded. The margins are entire.
Glands on the leaves do produce resin, making the leaves slightly
sticky.
Twigs erect, thin, flexible,
green to brown, and can be hairy or smooth. Trunk is short with brown
bark which is shreddy and smooth. Stems die back in the winter giving
the plant its broom-like appearance.
Broom snakeweed occurs on
rocky plains, dry foothills, ridgetops, and mountain slopes, and in
semi-desert valleys. High water use efficiency and a high
degree of drought tolerance enable broom snakeweed to survive on arid or
semi-arid sites. Broom snakeweed occurs on a wide range of soil
types including dry, well drained, sandy, gravelly, or clayey loams and
heavy clays. Growth is reportedly best on clay loams of broad alluvial
slopes, and shallow, rocky, or sandy soil. Growth is generally poor on
saline or alkaline soils.
Associated Species:
Big
sagebrush,
western wheatgrass,
sandberg bluegrass,
cheatgrass,
curlycup gumweed.
Snakeweed provides little
browse for domestic livestock. It is of minimal value to cattle and
horses, but does provide fair quality winter browse for domestic sheep
when green forage is scarce or lacking. It is otherwise worthless and
can be an indicator of overgrazing. It's populations are also heavily
cyclical, and heavy infestation can be and indicator of weather
conditions rather than overgrazing. Broom snakeweed can be toxic to
domestic sheep, goats, and cattle particularly during winter or early
spring when poor forage availability forces animals to consume large
quantities. Saponins present in the foliage are responsible for the
poisoning, and can cause illness, death, or abortion in livestock.
However, toxicity apparently varies with phenological stage and
substrate. Higher toxicity levels are often associated with periods of
rapid growth, such as early leaf development, and with growth on sandy
rather than calcareous soils. Broom snakeweed is also a secondary or
facultative absorber of selenium, which may cause illness or death when
consumed in quantity.
This plant is commonly confused with rabbitbrush, but it can be
distinguished by the presence of ray flowers. Rabbitbrush plants have
none, nor do the stems die back in the winter.
Southwestern Indians and Mexicans used snakeweed as a broom. Decoctions
were used for indigestion. Pieces of the plant were chewed and placed on
bee and wasp stings.
Buckeyes:
(Aesculus spp.) – Several species of buckeye can be found in Ohio and
are distinguished by opposite palmately-compound leaves (with five- to
seven-toothed leaflets per leaf) and large glossy brown seeds with a
whitish scar. Two species are native woodland trees, the Ohio buckeye
(A. glabra) and sweet (or yellow) buckeye (A. octandra). The Ohio
buckeye is widely distributed throughout the state, while sweet buckeye
is confined to southern Ohio. Other buckeye tree and shrub species can
be found in cultivation, including horse chestnut (A. hippocastanum).
Toxicity of buckeye is attributed to glycosides (e.g., aesculin, fraxin),
saponin (aescin), and possibly alkaloids. Sprouts and leaves produced in
early spring and seeds are especially poisonous. However, experimental
feedings have shown that poisoning does not always follow buckeye
consumption. Affected animals exhibit depression, incoordination,
twitching, paralysis, inflammation of mucous membranes, and vomiting.
Colic has also been reported in poisoned horses. Treated animals usually
survive.
In the spring, while waiting for other forage to become available,
animals should not be allowed to graze in woodland pastures where there
are buckeye sprouts.
Buckwheat:
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum sagittatum Gilib) has been grown in
America since colonial days, and the crop once was common on farms in
the northeastern and northcentral United States. Production reached a
peak in 1866 at which time the grain was a common livestock-feed and was
in demand for making flour. By the mid 1960's the acreage had declined
to about 50,000 acres. The leading buckwheat states are New York,
Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Canada
has more buckwheat acreage than the United States.
Buckwheat enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the mid 1970's that
was brought on by the demand for commercially prepared breakfast cereal
and by exports to Japan for making buckwheat noodles. This boom was due
to the nutritional excellence of buckwheat. USDA-ARS analyses indicate
that the grain has an amino acid composition nutritionally superior to
all cereals, including oats. Buckwheat protein is particularly rich (6%)
in the limiting amino acid lysine.
Until the recent increased interest in buckwheat for human food,
about 75% of the grain produced was used for livestock and poultry,
about 5-6% for seed, with the remainder milled into buckwheat flour.
Between 5 and 10% of the seeded acreage was turned under for green
manure. Several thousand acres were harvested green for extracting rutin.
Today, the major use of buckwheat is for human food.
Buckwheat is a satisfactory partial substitute for other grains in
feeding livestock. It has a lower feeding value than wheat, oats,
barley, rye, or corn. The grain should be ground and mixed with at least
two parts of corn, oats, or barley to one part buckwheat.
When fed continually or in large amounts to certain animals,
buckwheat grain may cause a rash to appear on the skin. This rash is
confined to the white-haired parts of the hide of the animal, and
apparently occurs only when animals are exposed to light. The substances
that produce the rash are in the buckwheat hulls.
Tartary buckwheat has a lower feeding value for livestock than the
common varieties, but it was used extensively as an ingredient of
scratch feeds for poultry. The small, smooth, rounded seed of tartary
makes it more satisfactory for poultry than the larger and more angular
seeds of common buckwheat.
Buckwheat middlings are rich in protein, fat, and minerals, and are
considered a good feed for cattle when not fed in large amounts or as
the only concentrate. They may also be used satisfactorily as a
substitute for linseed meal in a ration consisting of tankage, linseed
meal, and alfalfa hay. Buckwheat middlings apparently have no harmful
effect on dairy cows or dairy products. They are not satisfactory for
pigs when fed as the only concentrate, and are not palatable to pigs as
are other ground grains.
Buckwheat hulls have little or no feeding value, but they contain
most of the fiber of the seed. They are sometimes combined with
middlings and sold as buckwheat feed or bran. They are also used as soil
mulch and poultry litter in the U.S. and for pillow stuffing in Japan.
Buckwheat straw is sometimes used for feed when well preserved, but
may cause digestive disturbances when fed in large amounts.
Buckwheat seed is an ingredient in commercial bird feed mixes and the
seed is sometimes planted to provide feed and cover for wildlife.
Buffalo
Burr:
Scientific Name:
Solanum rostratum
Common Name:
Buffalobur Nightshade, Buffalo Burr
Flower Color:
Yellow
Plant Type:
Herb, Annual
Height:
To 30 inches (76 cm) tall
Notes:
Poisonous. The 1 inch (2.54 cm) wide flowers have 5, pointed lobes and
5, projecting, beak-like anthers (4 straight and a larger curved one).
The dark green leaves are deeply pinnately lobed. The entire plant is
covered in sharp spines that can cause intense, lingering pain if
touched.
Burroweed,
Ray less goldenrod:
| Habitat and
Distribution |
Affected Animals
|
Important
Characteristics |
Toxic Principle and Effects
|
Remarks and
Treatment |
| Dry plains,
grasslands, open woodlands, and along irrigation canals;
southwest |
Cattle, sheep,
horses
|
Bushy perennial 2-4 ft tall,
with many yellow flowerheads. Leaves alternate, linear, sticky.
|
Complex benzyl alcohol (tremetol);
resin acid; primarily nursing young and nonlactating animals.
Reluctance to move, trembling, weakness, vomiting, dyspnea,
constipation, prostration, coma, death. |
“Milksickness.” Remove young
and discard milk (hazardous to man). |
Bur sage,
White ragweed:
Ragweeds ( Ambrosia) is a genus of
flowering plants from the sunflower family ( Asteraceae).
The name of this genus is derived from the Greek word
for "food of the gods".
They occur in
temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and
South America. They prefer dry, sunny grassy plains;
sandy soils; and to grow along
river banks, along roadsides, disturbed soils,
vacant lots and ruderal sites. Ragweed was far less
common in the Eastern United States before dense
European settlement/agriculture in the late 1700s.
There are 41
species worldwide. They are very ordinary in
appearance. Despite being all around, they are easily
overlooked. Virtually no animal browses them. Many are
adapted to the arid climates of the
desert. Burrobush ( Ambrosia dumosa) is one of
the most arid-adapted perennials in North America. About
10 species occur in the Sonoran Desert. These are
annuals,
perennials and
shrubs and subshrubs with erect, hispid
stems growing in large clumps to a height of 75 - 90
cm. The stems are basally branched. They form a slender
taproot or a creeping
rhizome.
The
foliage is grayish to silvery green with
bipinnatifid, deeply lobed
leaves with winged petioles. But in the case of
Ambrosia coronopifolia, the leaves are simple. The
leaf arrangement is opposite at the base, but becomes
alternate higher on the stem.
Total eradication of ragweed is
considered impossible, owing to the
plant's frugality and tremendous
seed-producing capability. As of 2005,
there is no known safe biological remedy
(e.g. beetle or worm) to be used against
ragweed in the open. Mechanical and
chemical methods are available and can
be used to control its spread, although
there is evidence that these are
actually no more effective than leaving
the weed alone, in the long run [1].
The act of manually uprooting ragweeds,
sometimes shown in the media for public
awareness and propaganda purposes, is
best avoided. It is ineffective, and
skin contact may cause the onset of
full-blown hay fever symptoms in persons
with latent ragweed hyper-sensitivity.
Although the
scythe and its motorized descendants
have a reduced efficiency against
ragweed, they remain indispensable
tools, especially in populated areas and
near delicate plantation, where
herbicide use must be limited. Fighting
ragweed with the scythe is a continuous
process, because it is difficult to cut
the plant right at the soil level, and
the plant will regrow in two weeks (and
often branch into three or four
full-sized stems) if more than half an
inch of the plant remains above the
ground. Areas where ragweed has been
reaped should be mowed down every three
weeks to prevent regrowth.
It is considered important to control
the spread of ragweed in large abandoned
or uncultivated areas. Ragweed pollen
can remain airborne for days and travel
great distances, affecting people
hundreds of miles away. One efficient
method for large-scale ragweed
extermination is chemical spraying.
Because ragweed only reacts to some of
the more aggressive herbicides, it is
highly recommended to consult
professionals when deciding on dosage
and methodology, especially near urban
areas. Some proven effective active
ingredients include those that are
gliphosat-based (Roundup, Gliphogan,
Glialka), sulphosat-based (Medallon) and
gluphosinat-ammonia based (Finale14SL).
In badly infested areas usually 2 to 6.5
liters of herbicides are dispersed
per
hectare (equal to app. 0.2 to 0.7 US
gallons per
acre).
One especially effective method of
controlling ragweed; cutting it, then
burning it once the stalks have dried[2]
(standing, live ragweed won't burn) has
become less popular because the smoke
produced is seen as unacceptable
pollution, as with the decline in
leaf-burning and trash burning. But this
method has the added benefit of killing
off the stems so the plant does not grow
back, which (as noted above) is
otherwise almost inevitable.
Buttercups:
 
TOXICITY RATING: Low. Most animals avoid buttercups, and seldom
ingest enough to cause any serious toxicity.
ANIMALS AFFECTED: All animals that chew on or ingest the plant can be
affected.
DANGEROUS PARTS OF PLANT: Fresh leaves and stems.
CLASS OF SIGNS: Oral and gastrointestinal irritation are the primary
signs (oral irritation, salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhea which may
be bloody).
PLANT DESCRIPTION: Buttercups arise from fibrous roots, thickened
rootstocks, or bulbs to form a rosette of basal leaves and often a low
stem with alternate and divided (three-parted) leaves. The axillary,
solitary flowers have five green sepals, five glossy yellow petals, and
numerous reproductive parts and seeds. Buttercups usually are found in
moist woods, meadows, fields, pastures, and sometimes along roadsides
and in drier sites. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus, fig.
30A) is typical of the wet site species; celeryleaf buttercup (cursed
crowfoot, Ranunculus sceleratus, fig. 30B) is typical of the
small-flowered, dry-site species.
SIGNS: The toxin in buttercup is protoanemonin, a volatile yellow oil,
which causes intense oral irritation and gastrointestinal irritation.
Problems in livestock tend to occur most often in the spring,
herbivorous pets may be poisoned at any time if they have access to the
plant. The plant is not palatable, and causes almost immediate oral
irritation, so animals tend to avoid it. The toxicity of buttercup
varies greatly among the different species and during the course of the
growing season. Seldom is buttercup reported as a significant threat to
animals. In experimental feeding trials with greater quantities of
buttercup, prostration, coma and death have been reported, but these
signs are rarely reported under field conditions.
FIRST AID: No treatment is necessary unless severe gastrointestinal
signs are present (colic, bloody diarrhea) or if a large quantity was
observed to be eaten. Minor oral irritation will resolve on its own.
SAFETY IN PREPARED FEEDS: Reportedly, the toxin is volatilized
("evaporates off"), so processed feeds and hay may be safe for
consumption. However, consumption of any significant quantity of
contaminated feeds is not recommended.
PREVENTION: Buttercup is a common pasture contaminant, and tends to
not cause problems as long as there is sufficient quantities of good
forage available. Eradication is not usually necessary, since animals
tend to avoid this plant on their own. If it has become a problem,
mowing or eradication are recommended.
NOTE: Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), a closely related
plant found in similar habitats, also contains protoanemonin and causes
mouth and stomach irritation as well as generalized distress when
cattle, sheep, or horses eat the fresh tops. Hay has been considered
safe for consumption. First aid is the same as for buttercups.
Butterfly
weed:
Calla lily:
Calamondin
orange tree:
Camas
lily:
Carnation:
Castor
bean:
 
The toxicity of raw castor beans isn't well-known, though reports of
actual poisoning are relatively common. Many children die from as few as
three beans; adults may require eight or more. As an example of the
rarity of castor bean poisoning, in recent years there have only been
two cases reported in all of England, and in both the victims recovered
uneventfully.
Castor Oil Plant; 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.
Cat claw:
 
Chinaberry:
 
Chokecherry,
Wild cherry, Wild plums, Pin cherry:
(Prunus spp.) – Many species of cherry and peach are poisonous. These
species are characterized by alternate toothed leaves, white or pink
flowers, and fleshy fruits (cherries or peaches). Crushed twigs and
leaves yield a strong cyanide odor. Two native species of cherry are
common in Ohio. Wild black cherry (P. serotina) is a large tree that is
distributed widely throughout the state in woodlands, old fields, and
along fence rows. Choke cherry (P. virginiana) grows as a large shrub or
small tree and is scattered throughout Ohio in a variety of habitats,
though it is more frequent northward. Peach (P. persica) is a small
introduced tree that occasionally escapes from orchard cultivation
through seed.
Seeds, twigs, bark, and leaves contain a glycoside (amygdalin) that
quickly breaks down by hydrolysis (from bruising, wilting, frost damage)
to form the highly toxic compound hydrocyanic (prussic) acid (or
cyanide). Poisonings occur most frequently when wilted leaves are eaten,
but have also been reported when leaves are consumed directly from the
tree, or sprouts, or in dried hay. The amount of hydrocyanic acid formed
once the plant material is ingested is affected by the type of stomach
juices and the kind of feed the animal had previously consumed. Ruminant
animals appear to be more susceptible to poisoning than horses.
Cyanide poisoning results in hypoxia (deficiency of oxygen reaching the
tissues). The first symptoms appear within a few minutes following
consumption of plant material. Affected animals exhibit excitement,
uncoordination, convulsions, rapid and labored breathing, bloating, and
coma. Death can occur in less than an hour due to internal asphyxiation.
Christmas cherry:
Clinical signs: abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody
diarrhea, convulsions, delirium.
Christmas rose:
Clinical signs: abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody
diarrhea, convulsions, delirium.
Cocklebur:
Corn
lily:
Cress:
  
Crotalaria:
(there are many types of this species, this is one type)
Crow
poison
Crucifers
Cyclamen
Daffodil:
The bulbs are poisonous and cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Can
be fatal.
Daisy
Daphne:
The berries (either red or yellow) are poisonous, causing burns to
mouth and digestive tract, followed by coma. Often fatal.
Deadly
Nightshade (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.
Belladonna is one of the most
toxic plants found in the
Western hemisphere. Children have been poisoned by
eating as few as three berries. Ingestion of a leaf of
the Belladonna can be fatal to an adult. The root of the
plant is generally the most toxic part, though this can
vary from one specimen to another. [1]
All parts of the plant contain tropane alkaloids. The
berries pose the greatest danger to children because
they look attractive and have a somewhat sweet taste.
Symptoms of belladonna
poisoning are the same as those for
atropine (a tropane alkaloid), and include dilated
pupils,
tachycardia,
hallucinations, blurred
vision, loss of
balance, a feeling of
flight, staggering, a sense of
suffocation, paleness followed by a red
rash, flushing, husky voice, extremely dry
throat,
constipation,
urinary retention, and
confusion. The skin can completely dry out and
slough off. Fatal cases have a rapid
pulse that turns feeble. The
antidote is
physostigmine or
pilocarpine, the same as for atropine.
The reason for most of these symptoms is atropine's
effect on the
parasympathetic nervous system. Atropine
competitively inhibits the action of
acetylcholine (ACh) at the acetylcholine receptor in
the nerve synapse, thereby preventing the
parasympathetic nervous system from sending out
electrical nerve impulses. Since the parasympathetic
nervous system regulates non-volitional/subconscious
activities (such as sweating, breathing, and heart rate)
when it is prevented from sending out signals, the
heartbeat and breathing become extremely irregular.
The Belladonna is toxic to many domestic animals and
livestock; Belladonna poisoning can lead to
colic,
depression, weakness, and lack of coordination in
horses, with fatalities reported even for small
amounts from 1 to 10 pounds (0.5 to 5 kg).
Deathcamas
(Sandcorn, Star Lily, Black Snakeroot):
All members of the genus are at least unpalatable to
livestock because of
alkaloids present especially in the bulbs. As the
name Deathcamas suggests, some are seriously toxic to
both animals and humans. Deathcamas can cause
convulsions, coma, and death. All parts of the plant are
poisonous, causing nausea, severe upset.
Devils
ivy
Dieffenbachia (Dumb
Cane):
The
cells of the Dieffenbachia plant contain
needle-shaped
calcium oxalate
crystals called
raphides. If a leaf is chewed, these crystals cause
a burning
sensation in the
mouth and
throat;
swelling can occur along with a temporary inability
to
speak, and from this effect the plants are commonly
called dumb cane (other names include Galatea and
Leopard Lily). Chewing could result in
death if swelling of the throat blocks the
airway.
Slaves were supposedly sometimes
punished by having dieffenbachia put into their
mouths
[1]. Young children (at the age where they regularly
put things into their mouths) are at risk of suffocation
and death if they eat or chew on Dieffenbachia
leaves. These occurrences are exceptionally rare. Some
cats eat houseplants and flowers; they are similarly
at risk.
Dock:
  
Drymary
Dumb cane (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.
The
cells of the Dieffenbachia plant contain
needle-shaped
calcium oxalate
crystals called
raphides. If a leaf is chewed, these crystals cause
a burning
sensation in the
mouth and
throat;
swelling can occur along with a temporary inability
to
speak, and from this effect the plants are commonly
called dumb cane (other names include Galatea and
Leopard Lily). Chewing could result in
death if swelling of the throat blocks the
airway.
Slaves were supposedly sometimes
punished by having dieffenbachia put into their
mouths
[1]. Young children (at the age where they regularly
put things into their mouths) are at risk of suffocation
and death if they eat or chew on Dieffenbachia
leaves. These occurrences are exceptionally rare. Some
cats eat houseplants and flowers; they are similarly
at risk.
English
holly/English ivy
Elderberry:
 
The roots are, also, poisonous and cause nausea and digestive upset.
Elephant
ears:
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.
Eucalyptus
Eyebane
False
hellebore, corn lily
Fiddleneck:
Firecracker
Fly
poison, Stagger grass, Crow poison
Foxglove:
The leaves, seeds, and flowers are poisonous, containing
cardiac or other steroid
glycosides. These cause irregular heartbeat, and generally digestive
upset and confusion. Can be fatal.
Depending on the species, the digitalis plant may
contain several deadly physiological and chemically
related
cardiac and
steroidal glycosides. Thus, the digitalis has earned
several more sinister monikers: Dead Man’s Bells,
and Witches’ Gloves. The entire plant is a
poison (including the roots and seeds), although the
leaves of the upper stem are particularly potent, with
just a nibble being enough to potentially cause death.
Early symptoms of ingestion include
nausea,
vomiting,
anorexia,
diarrhea, abdominal pain, wild hallucinations,
delirium, and severe headache. Depending on the
severity of the toxicosis the victim may later suffer
irregular and slow pulse,
tremors, various cerebral disturbances, especially
of a visual nature (unusual color visions with objects
appearing yellowish to green, and blue halos around
lights),
convulsions, and deadly disturbances of the heart.
For a case description, see the paper by Lacassie.[3]
There have been instances of people confusing
digitalis with the harmless
Symphytum (comphrey) plant (which is often
brewed into a tea) with fatal consequences. Other fatal
accidents involve children drinking the water in a vase
containing digitalis plants. Drying does not reduce the
toxicity of the plant. The plant is toxic to animals
including all classes of livestock, as well as cats and
dogs.
Digitalis poisoning can cause
heart block and
bradycardia (lowered heart rate) and
tachycardia (increased heart rate). It is often
quoted around the Internet that only bradycardia is
associated with digitalis poisoning, but that is not
true.[citation
needed] It can cause either,
depending on the dose and the condition of one's heart.
It should however be noted, that electric cardioversion
(to "shock" the heart) is generally not indicated in
ventricular fibrillation in digitalis toxicity, as it
can increase the dysrhythmia in digitalis toxicity.
Also, the classic drug of choice (www.erc.edu) for VF
(ventricular fibrillation) in emergency setting,
amiodarone (cordarone(R)) can worsen the dysrhythmia
caused by digitalis, therefore, the second choice drug
Lidocaine (100mg) is to be used
Geranium
Gingko
Tree
Golden
chain (shower) tree:
All parts, especially the seeds, are poisonous, causing excitement,
staggering, convulsions, coma, occasionally fatal.
All parts of the plant are
poisonous
and can be lethal if consumed in excess. Symptoms of Laburnum poisoning
may include intense sleepiness, vomiting, convulsive movements, coma,
slight frothing at the mouth and unequally dilated pupils. In some
cases, diarrhea is very severe and at times the convulsions are markedly
tetanic.
The main toxin in the plant is
Cytisine, a nicotinic receptor agonist.
Greasewood
Groundsel:
Gum weed
Halogeton
glomeratus:
Hemlock, Poison
hemlock:
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.
Conium is a
genus of two species of
perennial
herbaceous
flowering plants in the family
Apiaceae, native to
Europe and the
Mediterranean region ( C. maculatum), and to
southern
Africa ( C. chaerophylloides). By far the
most familiar species is Conium maculatum
(Hemlock or Poison Hemlock), the most
common of several species of
hemlock noted for their
toxicity. It is a
herbaceous
biennial plant which grows between 1.5–2.5 m tall,
with a smooth green stem, usually spotted or streaked
with red or purple on the lower half of the stem. The
leaves are finely divided and lacy, overall
triangular in shape, up to 50 cm long and 40 cm broad.
The
flowers are small, white, clustered in
umbels up to 10–15 cm across. The plant is often
mistaken for
fennel,
parsley or
wild carrot although the characteristic stem hairs
of the wild carrots are missing. The Conium root is
fleshy, white and often unbranched and can be mistaken
for
parsnip. When crushed, the leaves and root emit a
rank, unpleasant odour often compared to that of
parsnips.
contains the
alkaloids
coniine,
N-methylconiine,
conhydrine,
pseudoconhydrine,
g-coniceïne and
atropine. The most important and toxic of these is
coniine. Coniine is a
neurotoxin, which disrupts the workings of the
peripheral nervous system and is toxic to
people and all classes of
livestock. Coniine causes death by blocking the
neuromuscular junction in a manner similar to
curare; this results in an ascending muscular
paralysis with eventually paralysis of the respiratory
muscles which results in death due to lack of oxygen to
the heart and brain. Death can easily be prevented by
artificial
ventilation until the effects have worn off.
Conium maculatum has been introduced and
naturalised in many other areas, including much of
Asia,
North America and
Australia. Poison hemlock is often found on poorly
drained soils, particularly near streams, ditches, and
other surface water.
A useful trick to determine whether a plant is poison
hemlock rather than
fennel, which it resembles, is to crush some leaves
and smell the result. Fennel smells like
anise or
liquorice, whereas the smell of poison hemlock is
often described as mouse-like or musty.[citation
needed] Considering the high
toxicity of poison hemlock, if the plant cannot be
identified it must be discarded.
Conium is used as a food plant by the
larvae of some
Lepidoptera species including
Silver-ground Carpet.
Poison hemlock flourishes in the spring, when most
other forage is gone. All plant parts are poisonous but
once the plant is dried, the poison is greatly reduced,
however not gone completely. Hemlock is also known as
"poison parsley" or "spotted parsley".
Poison hemlock is sometimes confused with
water hemlocks in the related genus
Cicuta, but are readily distinguished by the
less finely divided leaves of the latter; the leaf veins
of poison hemlock also run through the tips of the
teeth, but those of the water hemlock run through the
notches in between the teeth. The poison hemlock's root
is long, white, and fleshy. It is unbranched and can
usually be distinguished from the water hemlock's roots
that are made up of several tubers.
Henbane:
Also known as Stinking Nightshade - seeds and foliage poisonous.
Holly berry:
The berries are poisonous, causing gastroenteritis.
Horsebrush:
Horse Chestnut:
  
All parts of the plant are poisonous, causing nausea, muscle
twitches, and sometimes, paralysis.
The nuts, especially those that are young and fresh, are slightly
poisonous, containing
alkaloid
saponins
and
glucosides. Although not dangerous to touch, they cause sickness
when eaten. Some
mammals,
notably deer,
are able to break down the toxins and eat them safely. They are reputed
to be good for horses with wind, but this is unproven and feeding them
to horses is not advisable.
Hyacinth:
The bulbs are poisonous, causing nausea, vomiting, gasping,
convulsions, and possibly death.
H. orientalis contains
alkaloids and is
toxic if eaten in large quantities. The
bulb, however, is the most poisonous part and should
not be ingested under any circumstances.
Hydrangea
blossom
Indian
hemp
Ink weed, Drymary
Iris:
Ivy bush:
The leaves and berries are poisonous, causing stomach pains, labored
breathing, possible coma.
Although far far more toxic than
poison ivy, which is unrelated to this genus, ivy contains
triterpenoid
saponins
and
falcarinol, a
polyyne.
Falcarinol is capable of inducing an
allergic reaction (contact
dermatiti).
Jack-in-the-pulpit:
Jequirity
bean:
The seed is highly
poisonous
but is unlikely to harm if swallowed raw and unbroken, as they have a
hard seed coat.
The
toxin present in Abrus precatorius is a close
relative to
ricin called
abrin. It is a
dimer consisting of two
protein
subunits, termed A and B. The B chain facillitates
abrin's entry into a cell by bonding to certain
transport proteins on cell membranes, which then
transport the toxin into the cell. Once inside the cell,
the A chain prevents
protein synthesis by inactivating the 26S subunit of
the
ribosome. One molecule of abrin will inactivate up
to 1,500
ribosomes per second. Symptoms are identical to
those of ricin, except that the fatal dose of ricin is
approximately 75 times greater than the fatal dose of
abrin. Abrin can kill with a circulating amount of less
than 3 μg ( micrograms).
The seeds of Abrus precatorius are much valued in
native
jewelry for their bright coloration. The third of
the bean with the hilum (attachment scar) is black,
while the rest is bright red, suggesting a ladybug.
Jewelry-making with jequirity seeds is dangerous, and
there have been cases of death by a finger-prick while
boring the seeds for beadwork.
Jerusalem
cherry:
All parts, especially the berries, are poisonous, causing nausea and
vomiting. It is occasionally fatal, especially to children.
The plant is perennial in zones up to USDA 8. Native to
Peru, they can survive frosts and cold weather. They
generally live up to 10 years, producing fruit usually
in their 2nd or 3rd year, and every year after that.
Their fruit is extremely similar to cherry tomatoes (as
they share the same genus with tomatoes) in taste and
texture, and are therefore easily confused with them. S.
pseudocapsicum's poison is primarily solanocapsine,
which is similar to other alkaloids found in their
genus, such as solanine and atropine. Although the toxin
is poisonous, it is generally not life threatening. It
may cause gastric problems, including vomiting and
gastroenteritis. Jersualem cherries are poisonous to
humans, and to dogs, cats, and birds as well.
Jimsonweed,
Thornapple:
AKA: 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.
There is a mnemonic device for the physiological effects
of datura/atropine intoxication: "blind as a bat, mad as
a hatter, red as a beet, hot as hell, dry as a bone, the
bowel and bladder lose their tone, and the heart runs
alone." Another rhyme describing its effects is, "Can't
see, can't spit, can't pee, can't shit." Regarding
Datura, among the
Navajo is the folk admonition, 'Eat a little, and go
to sleep. Eat some more, and have a dream. Eat some
more, and don't wake up.' The actual effects are
reported to be:
cycloplegia and
mydriasis (extreme dilation of the pupil), flushed,
warm and dry skin, dry mouth, urinary retention and
ileus (slowing or stopping of intestinal movement),
rapid heart beat,
hypertension or
hypotension, and
choreoathetosis/jerky movements. In case of overdose
the effects are
hyperthermia,
coma, respiratory arrest, and
seizures. The vast majority of atropine-poisoning
cases are accompanied by delirium with visual and
auditory hallucinations. The effects of Datura have
been described as a living dream: consciousness falls in
and out, people who don't exist or are miles away are
conversed with, etc. The effects can last for days.
Tropane alkaloids are some of the few substances which
cause true
hallucinations which cannot be distinguished from
reality. It may be described as a "real" trance when a
user under the effect can be awake but completely
disconnected from his immediate environment. In this
case, the user would ignore most stimuli and respond to
unreal ones. This is unlike
psilocybin or
LSD, which only cause sensory distortions.
The doses that cause noticeable effects and the doses
that can kill are very close with datura. This makes
overdosing on Datura stramonium very easy. This
can be fatal; it can cause fevers in the 105-110
(40-43°C) range which is a range that can kill brain
cells, and lead to brain damage. There have been many
instances of teenagers looking for a cheap high
poisoning themselves to death on datura. If someone
overdoses on datura it is advised to induce vomiting, to
wash out his or her stomach, and to get the person
hospitalized immediately.
If taken recreationally and the user does not notice
any conscious effects, most people redose thinking it's
not working, which is why overdoses are so common. The
user doesn't realize that he or she was hallucinating.
Some users have reported seeing an array of people from
their lives. A few anecdotal reports also mention the
user's perception of "phantom cigarettes"; the person
believes that he or she is smoking a cigarette only to
find that it has disappeared later, thus realizing that
it never existed. There have been reports of the user
interacting with other unreal objects also, such as
looking down and seeing a cigarette lighter in one's
hand then dropping it, and after a minute or two of
searching, the user often realizes that this lighter or
any other unreal object never existed. Returning to
"reality" from datura-induced hallucinations is often
coupled with momentary disorientation. At the peak of
such experiences users often enter a true
psychotomimetic state, in which they "lose touch
with reality" altogether; at this point, many find it
difficult or impossible to communicate with others.
A majority of users who have written reports on
experiences with this drug have described those
experiences as unpleasant and often terrifying. This is
possibly due to their having taken excessive doses. The
powerful effects of Datura continue until the body
metabolizes the tropane alkaloids.
Scopolamine is the primary hallucinogen in
Datura wrightii from California and other Daturas.
Scopolamine can be slowly and erratically absorbed into
the brain. In most people, scopolamine reaches the brain
within an hour or so after ingestion and causes visual
and auditory hallucinations. In about 25% of people,
scopolamine is very slowly absorbed into the brain,
taking up to 13 hours to enter the brain. These are the
people who are at the highest risk of overdosing. They
become impatient waiting for their recreational high and
take more of the plant extract.
Johnson
Grass:
Jonquil
Juniper
Klamath
weed
Labrador
Tea
Lantana:
Larkspurs:
  
Contains the alkaloid
Delsoline. Young plants and seeds are poisonous, causing nausea,
muscle twitches, paralysis, often fatal.
All parts of the plant contain an
alkaloid delphinine and are very
poisonous, causing vomiting when eaten, and death in
larger amounts. In small amounts, extracts of the plant
have been used in
herbal medicine.
Gerard's
herball reports that drinking the seed of
larkspur was thought to help against the stings of
scorpions, and that other poisonous animals could
not move when covered by the herb, but does not believe
it himself.
Grieve's
herbal reports that the seeds can be used against
parasites, especially
lice and their
nits in the hair. A tincture is used against
asthma and
dropsy. The juice of the flowers, mixed with
alum, gives a blue
ink. The plant was connected to
Saint Odile and in popular medicine used against
eye-diseases. It was one of the herbs used on the feast
of St. John and as such warded against lightning. In
Transylvania, it was used to keep
witches from the stables, probably because of its
blue color.
Larkspur, especially tall larkspur, is a significant
cause of cattle poisoning on
rangelands in the western United States. Larkspur is
more common in high-elevation areas, and many ranchers
will delay moving cattle onto such ranges until late
summer when the toxicity of the plants is reduced.
Laurel
Leopard
Bane
Lillies-Easterlily,
Camass lily:
 
Many plants in the family are
poisonous
if eaten.
Lily
of the Valley:
Locoweed:
Lupine:
 
Manchineel:
All parts of this tree including the fruit contain toxic phorbol
esters typical of the
Euphorbiaceae. A present-day Spanish name is in fact
manzanilla de la muerte, "little apple of death". This refers to
the fact that manzanilla is one of the most
poisonous trees.
Mandrake
Maple - Red:
RED MAPLE (Acer rubrum) – Red maple is a large
native tree found in moist woodlands and swamps throughout Ohio. Leaves
are opposite, generally triangular with three or five lobes, coarsely
toothed, and silvery white beneath.
Poisonings result from consumption of wilted leaves and have only been
reported for horses. Toxicity is most prevalent from June through
October, but may be greatest in autumn foliage. Dried leaves are
reported to remain toxic for 30 days. The cause of toxicity is not
known. Primary effects are acute hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia,
and Heinz body formation in the red blood cells. Symptoms develop three
to four days after ingestion of leaves and include rapid breathing and
heart rate, weakness, depression, jaundice, cyanosis, brownish
discoloration of blood and urine, coma, and death.
Mayapple:
Green portions of the plant, unripe fruit, and especially the
rhizome
contain the non-alkaloid toxin
podophyllotoxin which causes diarrhea, severe digestive upset.
All the parts of the plant, excepting the fruit, are poisonous. This
plant can kill humans within 24 hours. Even the fruit, though not
dangerously poisonous, can cause unpleasant red/yellow diarrhea.
Mescal
bean
Mesquite
Milkweed:
Mistletoe
Monkshood
(Buttercup, Leopard Bane):
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.
In a few minutes after the introduction of a poisonous
dose of aconite, marked symptoms supervene. The initial
signs of poisoning are referable to the
alimentary canal. There is a sensation of burning,
tingling, and numbness in the mouth, and of burning in
the abdomen. Death usually supervenes before a numbing
effect on the
intestine can be observed. After about an hour,
there is severe vomiting. Much motor weakness and
cutaneous sensations similar to those above described
soon follow. The pulse and respiration steadily fail,
death occurring from asphyxia. As in
strychnine poisoning, the patient is conscious and
clear-minded to the last. The only post-mortem signs are
those of
asphyxia. The treatment is to empty the stomach by
tube or by a non-depressant
emetic. The physiological antidotes are
atropine and
digitalis or
strophanthin, which should be injected
subcutaneously in maximal doses.
Alcohol,
strychnine, and warmth must also be employed. It
must be noted that these "antidotes" are historical
ones, as few toxicological centers today would recommend
warmth, digitalis, or strychnine for any poisonings.
The above description of poisoning is characteristic of
an oral administration. It should however be noted that
aconitine may be easily absorbed through the skin, and
poisoning may occur through this route simply by picking
the leaves without the use of gloves; the toxin in the
sap is absorbed through the skin. From practical
experience, the sap oozing from eleven picked leaves
will cause cardiac symptoms for a couple of hours. In
this event, there will be no gastrointestinal effects.
Tingling will however start at the point of absorption,
and extend up the arm to the shoulder, after which the
heart will start to be affected. The tingling will be
followed by numbness—it is fairly unpleasant. As
remarked above, atropine is an antidote. Atropine is a
constituent of
Belladonna.
Aconitine is a potent neurotoxin that blocks
tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channels. Pretreatment
with
barakol—10 mg/kg
IV the compound is isolated from the leaves of
Cassia siamea Lam—reduces the incidence of aconitine-induced
ventricular fibrillation and ventricular
tachycardia, as well as mortality. 5 μg/kg IV of
tetrodotoxin also had the same effect. The protective
effects of barakol are probably due to the prevention of
intracellular sodium ion accumulation.
Morning
glory
Mountain.
laurel
Kalmia latifolia) – Mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub
characterized by glossy leathery dark-green leaves and showy white to
pink flowers formed in dense terminal clusters. The shrub occurs mostly
in the southeastern portion of Ohio, where it grows in hillside
woodlands and pastures.
All parts of mountain laurel, including leaves, twigs, flowers, and
nectar (as well as honey made from it), contain a toxic resinoid (andromedotoxin);
leaves and twigs also contain a cardiac glycoside (arbutin). Affected
animals may exhibit incoordination; watering of the eyes, nose, and
mouth; irregular breathing; vomiting; bloat; weakness; convulsions;
coma; and death. Poisonings occur most often in winter or early spring
when other green forage is not available. Horses are susceptible to
poisoning; however, sheep poisonings are reported more frequently, since
mountain laurel grows on land more suited for sheep.
Mountain
mahogany
Mushrooms
Mustards,
Crucifers, Cress
Narcissus
( Daffodil & Jonquil)
Needlepoint
ivy
Nightshade
(black) berry:
 
An erect summer annual, reaching as much as 1 1/3 feet in
height. Eastern black nightshade is primarily a weed of agronomic
crops, pastures, and hay fields that is found throughout the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains. A taproot with a branched
fibrous root system. Stems below the cotyledons (hypocotyls) are
covered with small hairs and are green or sometimes tinted maroon.
Cotyledons are green on the upper surface, purple- or maroon-tinted on
the lower surface. Young leaves remain purple- or maroon-tinted on
the undersurface. Leaves are simple, alternate, ovate or ovate-lanceolate.
Leaf margins may be entire or with blunt teeth. Leaf hairiness is
variable, however leaves are most often found to be slightly hairy.
Branching, round or angular, smooth or only partially hairy, and
becoming woody with age. Flowers are Star-shaped (4-10 mm in
diameter), white or purple-tinged, in umbel-like clusters of 5-7.
A berry, 5-12 mm in diameter, green when immature, turning
purplish-black at maturity. Berries contain 4-15 sclerotic granules.
Cotyledons of young leaves are purple- or maroon-tinted on the
undersurface. Emerging plants might be confused with
Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) seedlings,
however most bittersweet nightshade plants spread via creeping stems
that root at the nodes and do not have a purple- or maroon-tinted leaf
undersurface. Additionally, mature nightshade plants may be
distinguished by berry color (eastern black nightshade: purplish-black;
bittersweet nightshade: red).
Oak
Brush (shrub):
Most species foliage and acorns are mildly poisonous, causing
digestive upset, heart trouble, contact dermatitis. Rarely fatal.
Oak
tree (acorns & young leaf buds):
Most species foliage and acorns are mildly poisonous, causing digestive
upset, heart trouble, contact dermatitis. Rarely fatal.
The leaves and acorns of the Oak tree are poisonous to horses in large
amounts, due to the toxin
tannic acid, and causes kidney damage and
gastroenteritis. Additionally, once horses have a taste for the
leaves and acorns, they may seek them out. Therefore, horse owners are
encouraged to fence out Oak trees from their pasture, especially if
forage is scarce. Symptoms of poisoning include lack of appetite,
depression, constipation, diarrhea (which may contain blood), blood in
urine, and
colic.
(Quercus spp.) – Oak species are commonly recognized by their leaves,
thick bark, and cupped fruit (acorns). Leaves of many species are
characteristically lobed while some have toothed leaves, except for the
shingle and willow oaks, whose leaves are entire rather than lobed or
toothed. Oaks are common in woodlands throughout Ohio.
Most species of oak contain toxic phenolic compounds (tannins). Large
quantities of young leaves and sprouts are toxic when consumed in spring
as are green acorns in the fall. Poisoning occurs when over half the
diet is oak buds and young leaves, or acorns, for a period of time.
Livestock have also been poisoned by drinking water in which oak leaves
have soaked. Plant tannins or their metabolites cause gastrointestinal
and renal dysfunction. Symptoms appear several days after the period of
consumption and include abdominal pains, weakness, anorexia, colic,
constipation, depression, diarrhea, presence of blood in urine, and
jaundice. Death may result. Horses are less susceptible than ruminants.
Oak poisoning resembles pigweed poisoning.
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.
Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants and
contains numerous toxic compounds, many of which can be
deadly to people, especially young children. The
toxicity of Oleander is considered extremely high and it
has been reported that in some cases only a small amount
had lethal or near lethal effects (Goetz 1998). The most
significant of these toxins are
oleandrin and
neriine, which are
cardiac glycosides (Goetz 1998). "Cardiac glycocides
are naturally occurring" plant or animal compounds
"whose actions include both beneficial and toxic effects
on the heart" (Desai 2000). They are present in all
parts of the plant, but are most concentrated in the
sap. It is thought that Oleander may contain many
other unknown or un-researched compounds that may have
dangerous effects (Inchem 2005). Oleander bark contains
rosagenin which is known for its
strychnine-like effects. The entire plant including
the milky white sap is toxic and any part can cause an
adverse reaction. Oleander is also known to hold its
toxicity even after drying. It is thought that a handful
or 10-20 leaves consumed by an adult can cause an
adverse reaction, and a single leaf could be lethal to
an infant or child. According to the Toxic Exposure
Surveillance System (TESS) in 2002 there were 847 known
human poisonings in the United States related to
Oleander (Watson 2003). There are innumerable reported
suicidal cases of consuming mashed oleander seeds in
South India. In animals, around 0.5 mg per kilogram of
body weight is lethal to many animals, and various other
doses will affect other animals (Inchem 2005). Most
animals can suffer a reaction or death from this plant.
Orange
sneezeweed
Oxalis
Pasque
flower
Philodendron
Pin
cherry:
(Prunus spp.) – Many species of cherry and peach are poisonous. These
species are characterized by alternate toothed leaves, white or pink
flowers, and fleshy fruits (cherries or peaches). Crushed twigs and
leaves yield a strong cyanide odor. Two native species of cherry are
common in Ohio. Wild black cherry (P. serotina) is a large tree that is
distributed widely throughout the state in woodlands, old fields, and
along fence rows. Choke cherry (P. virginiana) grows as a large shrub or
small tree and is scattered throughout Ohio in a variety of habitats,
though it is more frequent northward. Peach (P. persica) is a small
introduced tree that occasionally escapes from orchard cultivation
through seed.
Seeds, twigs, bark, and leaves contain a glycoside (amygdalin) that
quickly breaks down by hydrolysis (from bruising, wilting, frost damage)
to form the highly toxic compound hydrocyanic (prussic) acid (or
cyanide). Poisonings occur most frequently when wilted leaves are eaten,
but have also been reported when leaves are consumed directly from the
tree, or sprouts, or in dried hay. The amount of hydrocyanic acid formed
once the plant material is ingested is affected by the type of stomach
juices and the kind of feed the animal had previously consumed. Ruminant
animals appear to be more susceptible to poisoning than horses.
Podocarpus
Poinciana
Poinsettia:
Notable for not being poisonous, despite persistent beliefs to
the contrary, although may cause upset stomach.
In the United States and perhaps elsewhere, there is a
common misconception that poinsettias are
toxic. The origin of this could be found in the fact
that most plants of the
spurge genus are indeed toxic and also because the
name of the plant seems to refer to the word
poison. This misconception was spread by a
1919
urban legend[8]
of a two-year-old child dying after consuming a
poinsettia leaf. While it is true that the plant is not
very toxic, those sensitive to latex may suffer an
allergic reaction and it is therefore not advisable to
bring the plants into the home of sensitive individuals.
In a study in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine
22,793 cases of poinsettia exposures were electronically
analyzed. 98.9% of the exposures were accidental with
93.9% involving children. 96.1% of the exposed patients
were not treated in a health care facility and 92.4% did
not require any type of therapy.[9]
If eaten, poinsettias may sometimes cause
diarrhea and
vomiting in animals and humans.
Poison
hemlock (see Hemlock)
Poison
ivy:
Poison ivy vine with typical reddish "hairs".
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.
Poison
Oak:
berries /
climbing variation
/ ground variation
Pacific Poison Oak
Western Poison-oak leaves and twigs have a surface oil,
urushiol, which causes an
allergic reaction. Around 15% [1]
to 30% [2]
of people have no allergic response, but most if not all
will become sensitized over time with repeated or more
concentrated exposure to urushiol. For those who are
affected by urushiol, it causes a very irritating rash.
In extreme cases,
corticosteroids are needed to treat rashes and
severe itching. The first symptom of contact is a severe
itching of the skin that develops into reddish colored
inflammation or non-colored bumps, and then
blistering of the skin occurs. In severe cases,
clear fluids ooze from open blistered sores. Once the
urushiol poison has had contact with the skin, it is
quickly bound to the skin. The poison can be washed off
within a short time after contact, but once bound to the
skin, it cannot be washed away.
After the urushiol is removed, the rash cannot
usually be spread by contact with an affected area or by
scratching. The oozing fluids released by itching
blisters do not spread the poison. However, scratching
can open the skin especially in cases with significant
blistering, making it possible for the skin to become
infected by opportunistic
bacteria (known as a
secondary infection). The appearance of a
spreading rash indicates that some areas received more
of the poison and reacted sooner than other areas. The
blisters and oozing result from blood vessels that
develop gaps and leak fluid through the skin; if the
skin is cooled, the vessels constrict and leak less. If
poison oak, ivy, etc., is burned and the smoke then
inhaled, this rash will appear on the lining of the
lungs, causing extreme pain and possibly fatal
respiratory difficulty. If eaten, the digestive tract,
airway, kidneys or other organs can be damaged.
Urushiol oil can remain active for several years, so
handling dead leaves or vines can cause a reaction. In
addition oil transferred from the plant to other objects
(such as pet fur) can cause the rash if it comes into
contact with the skin.
Poison
suckleys
Poison
sumac:
All parts of the plant contain a resin called
urushiol that causes skin and mucous membrane irritation to humans.
When burned, inhalation of the smoke causes diarrhea and other internal
irritations.
In the U.S., it is listed under the
Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, as amended (7
U.S.C. 2801 et seq.), as a "noxious weed". Most U.S.
states list this plant in similar categories. It is
considered one of the "U.S. Invasive Weeds"
[1]. In terms of its potential to cause
urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, poison sumac is
far more virulent than its relatives
poison ivy and
poison oak. According to some botanists, poison
sumac ( Toxicodendron vernix) is the most toxic
plant species in the United States (Frankel, 1991).
The poison shows itself in painful and long continued
swellings and eruptions.
Pokeweed:
Leaves, berries and roots contain
phytolaccatoxin and
phytolaccigenin - toxin in young leaves is reduced with each
boiling and draining.
Toxic Principle
Saponins, believed to be the primary toxic
constituents, are present in the berry juice and other
parts. Other toxic constituents have also been
identified including the alkaloid
phytolaccine (in small amounts) and the alkaloid
phytolaccotoxin, as well as a
glycoprotein. If used as food, the water in which
they are boiled must be thrown away. Clinical signs
- In humans:
The eating of nonfatal quantities of poke, perhaps of
the shoots, may cause retching or vomiting after two
hours or more. These signs may be followed by dyspnea,
perspiration, spasms, severe purging, prostration,
tremors, watery diarrhea (often bloody) and, sometimes,
convulsions. If a fatal quantity is eaten, perhaps
including roots, the above signs are followed by
paralysis of the respiratory organs and other narcotic
effects, culminating in the death of the poisoned
person.
- In horses:
Colic, diarrhea, respiratory failure.
- In swine:
Unsteadiness, inability to rise, wretching. Jerking
movements of the legs. Subnormal temperature.
- In cattle:
Same general signs plus a decrease in milk
production.
Poppy
Potato
plant:
Pothos
Prince's
plume
Privet:
Berries and leaves are poisonous. Berries contain
ligustrin and
syringin, which causes difestive disturbances, nervous symptoms. Can
be fatal.
Privet is one of
several plants which are
poisonous
to horses.
In the some parts of the world where they are not native, some privet
species have become invasive
weeds,
spreading into wilderness areas and displacing native species. This is
particularly a problem in
North America, where no species of the genus occurs naturally.[4]
Privet is a huge problem in New Zealand. It is banned from sale or
cultivation in New Zealand due to the effects of its pollen on asthma
sufferers. Privet pollen is known to cause asthma and eczema in
sufferers. Privet can be removed by contacting the local government to
report its presence.
(Ligustrum spp.) – Privet species are introduced semievergreen or
evergreen shrubs commonly used as ornamental shrubs or hedges. They are
characterized by small opposite leaves, white flowers, and hard black
berrylike fruits that persist through winter. One privet species (L.
vulgare) frequently escapes cultivation in Ohio and is well scattered
throughout the state. It may be found in woods and bottomlands, at
abandoned home sites, and along fence rows.
Leaves and fruit of privet contain several toxic glycosides (e.g.,
ligustrin, syringin) which are primarily gastrointestinal irritants.
Poisonings have been reported for horses eating privet leaves. Symptoms
include diarrhea, abdominal pain, incoordination, partial paralysis,
weak pulse, hypothermia, convulsions, and sometimes death.
Pyrocantha
Rattlebox:
Daubentonia punicea
Shrub or small tree to 4 m tall. Leaves alternate, deciduous, 10 to
20 cm long, evenly pinnately compound with 12 to 40 leaflets. Flowers
conspicuous, orange to red, shaped like a sweetpea, 2 to 2.5 cm long; in
drooping, axillary clusters. Pods four-winged, 6 to 8 cm long,
indehiscent, tough and somewhat leathery. Found in lower coastal plain
Florida to Louisiana. Most abundant in moist fertile soils, marshes,
along ditches, fence rows, pastures and waste places; planted as an
ornamental and widely escaping.
TOXICITY - The seeds contain a saponin which is quite toxic to
poultry, cattle, sheep, goats and humans. It has been shown that as few
as nine seeds per bird can be fatal. Sheep can be killed by consuming as
little as 50 grams/ 100 pounds of body weight.
SYMPTOMS - Animals appear severely depressed, have a rapid
pulse and diarrhea. Poisoning usually occurs in the fall when other
forage is scarce.
TREATMENT - Saline purgatives should be given.
Rayless
goldenrod
Rhododendron
Rhubarb:
 
Rhubarb leaves contain
poisonous substances. Rhubarb leaves contain
oxalic acid, a
corrosive and
nephrotoxic acid that is present in many plants. The
LD50 (median
lethal dose) for pure oxalic acid is predicted to be
about 375
mg/ kg
body weight, [citation
needed] or about 25
g for a 65 kg (~140 lb) human. While the oxalic acid
content of rhubarb leaves can vary, a typical value is
about 0.5%, [4]
so a rather unlikely five kilograms of the extremely
sour leaves would have to be consumed to reach an
LD50 dose of
oxalic acid. However, the leaves are believed to also
contain an additional, unidentified toxin. [5]
In the petioles, the amount of oxalic acid is much
lower, especially when harvested before mid-June (in the
northern hemisphere), but it is still enough to cause
slightly rough teeth. [citation
needed]The roots have been used
as strong laxative for over 5,000 years.
[6] The roots and
stems are rich in
anthraquinones, such as
emodin and
rhein. These substances are
cathartic and
laxative, which explains the sporadic abuse of
Rhubarb as a
slimming agent. Anthraquinones are yellow or orange
and may colour the
urine.[citation
needed]
Rye
Grass:
It usually grows in the same production zones as
wheat and
is considered a
weed. The similarity between these two plants is so extensive that
in some regions cockle is referred to as "false wheat." It bears
a close resemblance to wheat until the ear appears.
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
Rubberweed
Russian
thistle
St.
Johnswort, Klamath weed
Sandcorn(Deathcamas, Star Lily):
Sesbane
Silverling
Skunk
cabbage
Snow-on-the-mountain
Sorghum
Spathe
flower
Spurges
Stagger
grass
Star
of
Bethlehem
String
of pearls
Tansy
ragwort
Thornapple,
Jimsonweed:
There is a mnemonic device for the physiological effects
of datura/atropine intoxication: "blind as a bat, mad as
a hatter, red as a beet, hot as hell, dry as a bone, the
bowel and bladder lose their tone, and the heart runs
alone." Another rhyme describing its effects is, "Can't
see, can't spit, can't pee, can't shit." Regarding
Datura, among the
Navajo is the folk admonition, 'Eat a little, and go
to sleep. Eat some more, and have a dream. Eat some
more, and don't wake up.' The actual effects are
reported to be:
cycloplegia and
mydriasis (extreme dilation of the pupil), flushed,
warm and dry skin, dry mouth, urinary retention and
ileus (slowing or stopping of intestinal movement),
rapid heart beat,
hypertension or
hypotension, and
choreoathetosis/jerky movements. In case of overdose
the effects are
hyperthermia,
coma, respiratory arrest, and
seizures. The vast majority of atropine-poisoning
cases are accompanied by delirium with visual and
auditory hallucinations. The effects of Datura have
been described as a living dream: consciousness falls in
and out, people who don't exist or are miles away are
conversed with, etc. The effects can last for days.
Tropane alkaloids are some of the few substances which
cause true
hallucinations which cannot be distinguished from
reality. It may be described as a "real" trance when a
user under the effect can be awake but completely
disconnected from his immediate environment. In this
case, the user would ignore most stimuli and respond to
unreal ones. This is unlike
psilocybin or
LSD, which only cause sensory distortions.
Tobacco
tree, tobacco
Tomato
leaves:
Trumpet
vine
Tulip
Vetch
Violet
seeds
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.
The plant is occasionally mistaken for
parsnips, due to its clusters of white tuberous
roots; this is an often fatal error, as the
Cicuta is extremely poisonous. Indeed, some consider
water hemlock to be North America's most toxic plant. [1]
Cicuta is fatal when swallowed, causing violent and
painful
convulsions. Though a number of people have died
from water hemlock poisoning over the centuries,
livestock have long been the worst affected (hence
the name "cowbane"), causing death in as little as 15
minutes.
[2], [3]
The chief poison is
cicutoxin, an unsaturated aliphatic alcohol that is
most concentrated in the roots. Upon human consumption,
nausea,
vomiting, and tremors occur within 30-60 minutes,
followed by severe
cramps, projectile vomiting, and convulsions. There
are occasional long-term effects, like
retrograde amnesia.[4]
White
ragweed
White
snakeroot:
All parts are poisonous, causing nausea and vomiting. Often fatal.
White Snakeroot contains the toxin
tremetol and when consumed by cattle the meat and
milk becomes contaminated. When milk or meat from cattle
feeding on White Snakeroot is consumed by humans, the
poison is passed onto humans and can result in tremetol
poisoning called
milk sickness (notably the cause of death of
Nancy Hanks, mother of
Abraham Lincoln). It is also poisonous to horses,
goats, and sheep. Signs of poisoning in these animals
include depression and lethargy, hind feet placed close
together (horses, goats, cattle) or held far apart
(sheep), nasal discharge, excessive salivation, arched
body posture, and rapid or difficult breathing.
Wild
carrots
Wild
cherry:
(Prunus spp.) – Many species of cherry and peach are poisonous. These
species are characterized by alternate toothed leaves, white or pink
flowers, and fleshy fruits (cherries or peaches). Crushed twigs and
leaves yield a strong cyanide odor. Two native species of cherry are
common in Ohio. Wild black cherry (P. serotina) is a large tree that is
distributed widely throughout the state in woodlands, old fields, and
along fence rows. Choke cherry (P. virginiana) grows as a large shrub or
small tree and is scattered throughout Ohio in a variety of habitats,
though it is more frequent northward. Peach (P. persica) is a small
introduced tree that occasionally escapes from orchard cultivation
through seed.
Seeds, twigs, bark, and leaves contain a glycoside (amygdalin) that
quickly breaks down by hydrolysis (from bruising, wilting, frost damage)
to form the highly toxic compound hydrocyanic (prussic) acid (or
cyanide). Poisonings occur most frequently when wilted leaves are eaten,
but have also been reported when leaves are consumed directly from the
tree, or sprouts, or in dried hay. The amount of hydrocyanic acid formed
once the plant material is ingested is affected by the type of stomach
juices and the kind of feed the animal had previously consumed. Ruminant
animals appear to be more susceptible to poisoning than horses.
Wild
cucumber
Wild
parsnip
Wild
peas
Wild
plums
Wisteria
Yellow
Jessamine:
All parts are poisonous, causing nausea and vomiting. Often fatal.
It's possible to become ill from ingesting honey made from jessamine
nectar.
All parts of this plant contain the toxic
strychnine-related
alkaloids
gelsemine and
gelseminine and should not be consumed. The
sap may cause
skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Children, mistaking this
flower for
honeysuckle, have been poisoned by sucking the
nectar
from the flower. The nectar is also toxic to
honeybees, and causes brood death when gathered by the
bees.
Yew tree:
  
All parts of the plant, except for the fleshy red bit of the fruit,
contain
taxane alkaloids. The seeds are especially poisonous and are quickly
fatal when ingested.
All parts of the tree are
toxic, except the bright red aril surrounding the
seed, enabling ingestion and dispersal by birds. The
major toxin is the alkaloid
taxine. The foliage remains toxic even when wilted
or dried.
Horses have the lowest tolerance, with a lethal dose
of 200–400 mg/kg body weight, but
cattle,
pigs, and other livestock are only slightly less
vulnerable. [7]
Symptoms include staggering gait, muscle tremors,
convulsions, collapse, difficulty breathing, and
eventually heart failure. However, death occurs so
rapidly that many times the symptoms are missed. The
tree should be fenced off or removed from pasture land
to prevent grazing animals from consuming it.
(Taxus spp.) – Yews are evergreen shrubs characterized by linear
leaves that are glossy dark-green above and yellowish-green below with a
distinct mid rib, and by fruit consisting of a single seed within a
bright red fleshy cup-shaped structure resembling a berry. Leaves are
alternate and are spirally arranged along the twig, although they appear
to be in two rows. One native species of yew grows in Ohio, the Canada
yew (or ground-hemlock) (T. canadensis). It is patchily distributed
throughout the state and is most common in the northeast. Many
cultivated species are used as ornamentals, including Japanese yew (T.
cuspidata) and English yew (T. baccata).
Leaves, bark, and seeds (but not the fleshy pulp) of yews contain
alkaloids (taxine) that affect the nervous system and are toxic whether
green or dry. In small quantities, yew may be harmless. Canada yew is
heavily browsed by deer. But when large quantities are eaten, death may
follow rapidly due to cardiac failure, with few preceding symptoms.
Poisoning often occurs when clippings are placed where they are
accessible to animals. Symptoms include gaseous distress, diarrhea,
vomiting, tremors and convulsions, dilated pupils, respiratory
difficulty, weakness, collapse, slowed heart rate, circulatory failure,
coma, and death.
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