Dr. Sharon M. Douglas Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station 123 Huntington Street, P. O. Box 1106 New Haven, CT 06504 Phone: (203) 974-8601 Fax: (203) 974-8502 Founded in 1875 Email:
[email protected] Putting science to work for society Website: www.ct.gov/caes POISONOUS PLANTS INTRODUCTION only attractive but also tastes sweet. The Poisonous plants have always been part of situation of plant poisoning of children is daily life. In the nineteenth century, quite different than with adults since poisonings due to plants reached near- children have great curiosity and will often epidemic levels as people often foraged for chew on anything within their reach, sources of food from natural plantings. especially attractive berries or fruit. Today, potentially dangerous plants can still Children are also less likely than adults to be found all around us. Poisonous plants are spit out unpleasant-tasting substances. frequently part of interiorscapes in homes as Since much smaller quantities are necessary well as in landscape plantings outdoors. to produce a toxic reaction in children, the This has become increasingly problematic as risks of poisoning due to ingestion are much more and more cultivated, exotic plants greater than for adults. However, regardless from throughout the world are introduced of age, reactions to poisonous plants vary into the landscape. Recent studies have with the individual and can be influenced by estimated that 3.5% of all poisonings in the diet, metabolism, and medications being United States are due to plants. taken. All types of native and introduced plants can The term “poisonous” designates many be poisonous including ferns, herbaceous kinds of reactions or effects.