| Common Poisonous Plants |
(Reprint of list from Parkway Veterinary Clinic - Canton, MI.)
TOXIC PART
SYMPTOMS
PLANT
Hyacinth Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Narcissus Bulbs May be fatal.
Daffodil
Oleander Leaves, branches Extremely poisonous. Affects the
heart, produces severe digestive
upset, and has caused death.
Poinsettia Leaves Fatal. One leaf can kill a child.
Dieffenbachia
(Dumb Cane) All parts Intense burning and irritation of the
Elephant Ear mouth and tongue. Death can
occur if the base of the tongue
swells enough to block air
passage of the throat.
Rosary Pea Seeds Fatal. A single rosary pea seed has
Castor Bean caused death. One - two castor
seeds are near the lethal dose
for adults.
Mistletoe Berries Fatal. Both children and adults have
died from eating the berries.
FLOWER GARDEN PLANTS
Larkspur Young plant Digestive upset, nervous excitement,
depression. May be fatal.
Monkshood Fleshy roots Digestive upset, nervous excitement.
Autumn Crocus Bulbs Vomiting and nervous excitement.
Star of Bethlehem
Lily of the Valley Leaves, flowers Irregular heartbeat and pulse, usually
accompanied by digestive upset and
mental confusion.
Iris Underground Severe, but usually not serious
Stems digestive upset.
Fox-glove All parts One of the sources of the drug
"Digitalis" used to stimulate the heart.
In large amounts, the active principle
causes dangerously irregular heart-
beat and pulse, usually digestive
upset and mental confusion. May be
fatal.
Bleeding Heart Foliage, roots May be poisonous in large amounts.
(Dutchman's Britches) Has been proven fatal in cattle.
VEGETABLE GARDEN PLANTS
Rhubarb Leaf blade Fatal. Large amounts of raw or cooked
leaves can cause convulsions, coma,
followed rapidly by death.
ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
Daphne Berries Fatal. A few berries can kill a child.
Wisteria Seeds, pods Mild to severe digestive upset. Many
children are poisoned by this plant.
Golden Chain Bean like capsules Severe poisoning. Excitement,
in which seeds are staggering.
suspended
Laurels Fatal. Produces nausea and vomiting,
Rhododendron All parts depression, difficult breathig,
Azaleas prostration and coma.
Jessamine Berries Fatal. Digestive disturbance and
nervous symptons.
Lantana camera Greenberries Fatal. Affects the lungs, kidneys, heart,
and nervous system. Grows in the
Southern U.S. and in moderate
climates.
Oaks Foliage, acorns Affects kidneys gradually. Symptons
appear only after several days or
or weeks. Takes a large amount for
poisoning. Children should not be
allowed to chew on acorns.
Elderberry Shoots, leaves, bark Children have been poisoned by using
pieces of pithy stems for blowguns.
Nausea and digestive upset.
Black Locust Bark, sprouts, foliage Children have suffered nausea,weakness
and depression after chewing the bark
and seeds.
PLANTS IN WOODED AREAS
Jack-in-the-Pulpit All parts Like dumb-cane, contains small needle
especially roots like crystals of calcium oxalate that
cause intense burning and irritation
of the mouth and tongue.
Moonseed Berries Blue-purple color, resembling wild grapes.
Contains a single seed. May be fatal.
Mayapple Apple, foliage, Contains at least 16 active toxic principles
roots primarily in the roots. Children often eat
the apple with no ill effects, but several
apples may cause diarrhea.
PLANTS IN SWAMPS OR MOIST AREAS
Water Hemlock All Parts Fatal. Violent and painful convulsions. A
number of people have died from hemlock
PLANTS IN FIELDS
Buttercups All parts Irritant juices may severely injure the
the digestive system.
Nightshade All parts - especially Fatal. Intense digestive disturbances
unripe berries and nervous symptons.
Poison Hemlock All parts Fatal. Resembles a large wild carrot. Used
ancient Greece to kill condemned
prisoners.
Jimson Weed All parts Abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium,
(Thorn Apple) incoherence and coma. Common cause
of poisoning. Has proven fatal.
Narcissus Bulbs May be fatal.
Daffodil
Oleander Leaves, branches Extremely poisonous. Affects the
heart, produces severe digestive
upset, and has caused death.
Poinsettia Leaves Fatal. One leaf can kill a child.
Dieffenbachia
(Dumb Cane) All parts Intense burning and irritation of the
Elephant Ear mouth and tongue. Death can
occur if the base of the tongue
swells enough to block air
passage of the throat.
Rosary Pea Seeds Fatal. A single rosary pea seed has
Castor Bean caused death. One - two castor
seeds are near the lethal dose
for adults.
Mistletoe Berries Fatal. Both children and adults have
died from eating the berries.
FLOWER GARDEN PLANTS
Larkspur Young plant Digestive upset, nervous excitement,
depression. May be fatal.
Monkshood Fleshy roots Digestive upset, nervous excitement.
Autumn Crocus Bulbs Vomiting and nervous excitement.
Star of Bethlehem
Lily of the Valley Leaves, flowers Irregular heartbeat and pulse, usually
accompanied by digestive upset and
mental confusion.
Iris Underground Severe, but usually not serious
Stems digestive upset.
Fox-glove All parts One of the sources of the drug
"Digitalis" used to stimulate the heart.
In large amounts, the active principle
causes dangerously irregular heart-
beat and pulse, usually digestive
upset and mental confusion. May be
fatal.
Bleeding Heart Foliage, roots May be poisonous in large amounts.
(Dutchman's Britches) Has been proven fatal in cattle.
VEGETABLE GARDEN PLANTS
Rhubarb Leaf blade Fatal. Large amounts of raw or cooked
leaves can cause convulsions, coma,
followed rapidly by death.
ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
Daphne Berries Fatal. A few berries can kill a child.
Wisteria Seeds, pods Mild to severe digestive upset. Many
children are poisoned by this plant.
Golden Chain Bean like capsules Severe poisoning. Excitement,
in which seeds are staggering.
suspended
Laurels Fatal. Produces nausea and vomiting,
Rhododendron All parts depression, difficult breathig,
Azaleas prostration and coma.
Jessamine Berries Fatal. Digestive disturbance and
nervous symptons.
Lantana camera Greenberries Fatal. Affects the lungs, kidneys, heart,
and nervous system. Grows in the
Southern U.S. and in moderate
climates.
Oaks Foliage, acorns Affects kidneys gradually. Symptons
appear only after several days or
or weeks. Takes a large amount for
poisoning. Children should not be
allowed to chew on acorns.
Elderberry Shoots, leaves, bark Children have been poisoned by using
pieces of pithy stems for blowguns.
Nausea and digestive upset.
Black Locust Bark, sprouts, foliage Children have suffered nausea,weakness
and depression after chewing the bark
and seeds.
PLANTS IN WOODED AREAS
Jack-in-the-Pulpit All parts Like dumb-cane, contains small needle
especially roots like crystals of calcium oxalate that
cause intense burning and irritation
of the mouth and tongue.
Moonseed Berries Blue-purple color, resembling wild grapes.
Contains a single seed. May be fatal.
Mayapple Apple, foliage, Contains at least 16 active toxic principles
roots primarily in the roots. Children often eat
the apple with no ill effects, but several
apples may cause diarrhea.
PLANTS IN SWAMPS OR MOIST AREAS
Water Hemlock All Parts Fatal. Violent and painful convulsions. A
number of people have died from hemlock
PLANTS IN FIELDS
Buttercups All parts Irritant juices may severely injure the
the digestive system.
Nightshade All parts - especially Fatal. Intense digestive disturbances
unripe berries and nervous symptons.
Poison Hemlock All parts Fatal. Resembles a large wild carrot. Used
ancient Greece to kill condemned
prisoners.
Jimson Weed All parts Abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium,
(Thorn Apple) incoherence and coma. Common cause
of poisoning. Has proven fatal.
