When we talk about threats from living creatures to human life then things those come in mind are Cobra, Crocodile, Shark, Black Mamba etc. We never think about certain plants like this. Following is the list of 13 fruit/simple plants whose poison can ultimately cause human death.
Apples
An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but the same can't be said for apple seeds. The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, and if you consume enough of the seeds, you could ingest a fatal dose. If you cut up apples for your children or prefer to eat whole apples down to the core, make sure you remove those seeds. (Johnny Appleseed never seemed so villainous!)
Oleander
Oleander is one of the most toxic, commonly grown garden plants in the world — and oddly enough, it's often found in schoolyards. Ingesting any part of this plant can be deadly, especially for children. Even smoke from burning oleander can be fatal. In fact, according to the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS), there were 847 known human poisonings in the United States related to oleander in 2002.
Rosary pea
This plant may sound pious, but it's actually deadly. Rosary peas got their name from their traditional use as ornamental beads for rosaries. They are used in jewelry around the world. Many jewelry makers have died after pricking a finger while handling a rosary pea. The poison contained within the seed is abrin — a close relative of ricin and one of the most fatal toxins on Earth.
White snakeroot
White snakeroot contains the toxin tremetol, which can be poisonous if consumed directly or second-hand. When snakeroot is consumed by cattle, the animals' beef and milk become contaminated with the toxin, and ingesting those substances can lead to a condition called milk sickness. Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, reportedly died after swallowing snakeroot-contaminated milk. Human disease is uncommon today because of current practices of animal husbandry and the pooling of milk from many producers, but milk sickness does still occur.
Monkshood
Monkshood has a long tradition as a deadly plant and was used by ancient warriors to poison the water of their enemies. It was once used as a popular werewolf-detection tool. The flower was held near the alleged wolf’s chin, and if a yellow-tinged shadow appeared, that was confirmation that the person was a werewolf.
Angel's trumpet
Angel's trumpets are woody-stemmed bushes with pendulous flowers that hang like bells. They are prized as decorative additions to the garden because of their elegant flowers. The catch is that all parts of these plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or animals. Angel's trumpets have occasionally been used to create a recreation drug, but the risk of overdose is so high that these uses often have deadly consequences.
Castor beans
If you have consumed castor oil before, you might be surprised to learn that castor beans contain one of the most poisonous substances in the world, ricin. Just one castor bean has enough ricin to kill an adult within a few minutes. Despite this grim quality, castor bean plants are frequently grown for decorative purposes.
Doll's Eye
It's a good thing the creepy-looking berries of this plant aren't enticing, because consuming the fruit of a doll's eye plant (or white baneberry) could kill you. The berries contain cardiogenic toxins that can have an immediate sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue. Ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
Hemlock
This is one of the most famous poisonous plants in history — it's the flora responsible for killing Socrates. All parts of the plant contain the relatively simple alkaloid coniine which causes stomach pains, vomiting and progressive paralysis of the central nervous system. Hemlock is also known by several common names, including devil's porridge, beaver poison or poison parsley.
Stinging tree
Found in forests in Queensland in Australia and Indonesia, Dendrocnide moroides is the deadliest and most potent stinging nettle in the world. Accidentally brushing past any part of this plant can deliver a potent toxin that will cause a painful stinging sensation lasting for days or even months. A severe sting from this plant has been known to kill humans, and it is certainly deadly to pigs, horses, dogs and most other animals.
Deadly nightshade
The name says it all — both the foliage and the berries of this plant are extremely toxic. Deadly nightshade has a long, colorful history of use as a poison, but what many people don't realize is that the nightshade family includes common food plants, including potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and chili peppers. In fact, all of these plants contain toxins — usually in their foliage — that can be harmful. In particular, humans and pets should avoid potato and tomato foliage and vines in the garden.
European yew
Relatively common in Europe, northwest Africa and the Middle East, nearly all parts of this slow-growing tree can be poisonous. The exception is the red fleshy aril that surrounds the toxic seeds. The aril is frequently eaten by birds. Some people have chosen to commit suicide by ingesting the leaves or the seeds, both of which contain a poison called taxanes.
Daffodils
Prized for their beauty, daffodils grow from bulbs that could be mistaken for an edible food, like an onion. Daffodils — also known by their Latin name Narcissus — are common ornamental plants with a bright, cheery and mostly toxin-free flower. Most daffodils are deer- and vermin-resistant, but gardeners shouldn't overlook the dark side of this plant. The Greek philosopher Socrates sometimes referred to daffodils as the "Chaplet of the infernal Gods" because of the plant's numbing effect.
Above information is taken from www.mnn.com
Apples
An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but the same can't be said for apple seeds. The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, and if you consume enough of the seeds, you could ingest a fatal dose. If you cut up apples for your children or prefer to eat whole apples down to the core, make sure you remove those seeds. (Johnny Appleseed never seemed so villainous!)
Oleander
Oleander is one of the most toxic, commonly grown garden plants in the world — and oddly enough, it's often found in schoolyards. Ingesting any part of this plant can be deadly, especially for children. Even smoke from burning oleander can be fatal. In fact, according to the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS), there were 847 known human poisonings in the United States related to oleander in 2002.
Rosary pea
This plant may sound pious, but it's actually deadly. Rosary peas got their name from their traditional use as ornamental beads for rosaries. They are used in jewelry around the world. Many jewelry makers have died after pricking a finger while handling a rosary pea. The poison contained within the seed is abrin — a close relative of ricin and one of the most fatal toxins on Earth.
White snakeroot
White snakeroot contains the toxin tremetol, which can be poisonous if consumed directly or second-hand. When snakeroot is consumed by cattle, the animals' beef and milk become contaminated with the toxin, and ingesting those substances can lead to a condition called milk sickness. Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, reportedly died after swallowing snakeroot-contaminated milk. Human disease is uncommon today because of current practices of animal husbandry and the pooling of milk from many producers, but milk sickness does still occur.
Monkshood
Monkshood has a long tradition as a deadly plant and was used by ancient warriors to poison the water of their enemies. It was once used as a popular werewolf-detection tool. The flower was held near the alleged wolf’s chin, and if a yellow-tinged shadow appeared, that was confirmation that the person was a werewolf.
Angel's trumpet
Angel's trumpets are woody-stemmed bushes with pendulous flowers that hang like bells. They are prized as decorative additions to the garden because of their elegant flowers. The catch is that all parts of these plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or animals. Angel's trumpets have occasionally been used to create a recreation drug, but the risk of overdose is so high that these uses often have deadly consequences.
Castor beans
If you have consumed castor oil before, you might be surprised to learn that castor beans contain one of the most poisonous substances in the world, ricin. Just one castor bean has enough ricin to kill an adult within a few minutes. Despite this grim quality, castor bean plants are frequently grown for decorative purposes.
Doll's Eye
It's a good thing the creepy-looking berries of this plant aren't enticing, because consuming the fruit of a doll's eye plant (or white baneberry) could kill you. The berries contain cardiogenic toxins that can have an immediate sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue. Ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
Hemlock
This is one of the most famous poisonous plants in history — it's the flora responsible for killing Socrates. All parts of the plant contain the relatively simple alkaloid coniine which causes stomach pains, vomiting and progressive paralysis of the central nervous system. Hemlock is also known by several common names, including devil's porridge, beaver poison or poison parsley.
Stinging tree
Found in forests in Queensland in Australia and Indonesia, Dendrocnide moroides is the deadliest and most potent stinging nettle in the world. Accidentally brushing past any part of this plant can deliver a potent toxin that will cause a painful stinging sensation lasting for days or even months. A severe sting from this plant has been known to kill humans, and it is certainly deadly to pigs, horses, dogs and most other animals.
Deadly nightshade
The name says it all — both the foliage and the berries of this plant are extremely toxic. Deadly nightshade has a long, colorful history of use as a poison, but what many people don't realize is that the nightshade family includes common food plants, including potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and chili peppers. In fact, all of these plants contain toxins — usually in their foliage — that can be harmful. In particular, humans and pets should avoid potato and tomato foliage and vines in the garden.
European yew
Relatively common in Europe, northwest Africa and the Middle East, nearly all parts of this slow-growing tree can be poisonous. The exception is the red fleshy aril that surrounds the toxic seeds. The aril is frequently eaten by birds. Some people have chosen to commit suicide by ingesting the leaves or the seeds, both of which contain a poison called taxanes.
Daffodils
Prized for their beauty, daffodils grow from bulbs that could be mistaken for an edible food, like an onion. Daffodils — also known by their Latin name Narcissus — are common ornamental plants with a bright, cheery and mostly toxin-free flower. Most daffodils are deer- and vermin-resistant, but gardeners shouldn't overlook the dark side of this plant. The Greek philosopher Socrates sometimes referred to daffodils as the "Chaplet of the infernal Gods" because of the plant's numbing effect.
Above information is taken from www.mnn.com
No comments:
Post a Comment