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POISONOUSPLANTS IN THEGARDEN
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POISONOUS PLANTS IN THE GARDEN
Since the beginning of time, people the world over have lived close to hundreds of plants that can cause irritation, illness, The authors ore John M. Tucker, Associate Professor ol or death. Over the years, many new plants hova been brought Botany, University of California, Davis, and M. H. Kimball, into gardens from their native meadows and mountains. A few Agriculturist Emeritus, of these plants are seriously poisonous; a for greater number are moderately p.oisonous, producing varying degrees of illness or irritation. Some cause dermat'1tis, hoy fever, or other illness Acknowledgements as a result of the allergic sensitivity of the person rather than the direct toxicity of the plant. Some of the most poisonous plants ore used in the manufacture of valuable drugs used in medicine. Digitalis, obtained from the leaves of our common The authors greatly appreciate the assistance and cooper garden foxglove, Digitalis purpureo, is a good example. ation of several staff members in the University of California Medical Schools in Son Francisca and Los Angeles; University Other plants ore attractive garden flowers or shrubs, highly of California Botany Departments at Berkeley, Los Angeles, and prized for their beauty or landscape usefulness al1hough they Davis; Departments of Biology and Botany in several state and ore poisonous! Popular ard widely planted oleander, Nerium ;unior colleges; and the State Clearinghouse for-Poison Control oleander, is on example. of the California Department of Public Health and its affiliated poison control centers. EDUCATION TO PROTECT CHILDREN
Because of the genera-] usefulness of this large group of plants we will doubtless continue to use them; but we should be aware of their potential danger. Small children, because of their curi osity and tendency to put things in their mouths, ore the most common victims of poisonous garden plants. Parents should be aware that these plants exist in their yards or in the neighbor hood, Children should be taught not to eat any plant ports - leaves, seeds, or flowers - other than those given them as ve getables. It is the porents'responsibllityto protect their children
Co-oo,,o,l,o O•t<•>;o, ,,o,1' Jo /lgOcol10•• on FIRST AID IN EMERGENCIES In spite of education -cmd precautions, however , acc idents will happen. Therefore it is well to be prepared for emergencies. The following steps are recommended as f irst aid treatment: • Induce vomi--ting by giving a tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water if the patient is consc ious-give nothing to drink if he is unconscious. • Keep patient warm and quiet and observe closely. • Apply art ificial respirat ion if patient is ·not breafhing. • Call your phys ician immediately or take the patient to the closest medical facility. GROUPINGS OF -po1SONOUS GARDEN PLANTS In 'this leaf let, irritating andtoxic plants are div ided into 1) com• monly planted ornamentals that can be violently toxic; 2) some common weeds that can invade the garden and ·are dangerous; and 3) garden plants usual ly not considered dangerous but which can produce ii lness in some people. Ca star bean. SECT! ON I - DANGEROUSLY TOXIC PLANTS The seeds and the foliage of young seedlings are poisonous. Most of the toxic or poisonous material (ricin) is cont ained in Castor bean (Rici nus communis) grows wi Id along roads and the fleshy part of the mature seed. Susceptibi lity to ric in varies streambed s in al I warm sect ions"' of California. It a I so is used somewhat with the ind ividual, but small quantities can produce wide ly as an ornamenta l and as an agricu ltural c rop in some serious results. Two or three seeds eaten by a child can cause areas where it is grown for the oil in the seed . Some of the hi s death, and as few as si x can cause the death of on adult. several hundred varieties are str ikingly beautiful as colored This danger can be elim inated if the seed heads are clipped off fo liage ornamentals. In cold er are as it is grown as an annual. before they- mature,ond destroyed. If this is done, castor bean In areas of moderate temperature the tops may die back, but new may be grown with s9fety for its qui ck shade or as a garden or growth may appear from st e m buds near or slightly below ground~ namental. Castor beans also carry an allergen that causes In s ubtropical re gions, plant s frequent ly grow for years and may severe reactions in some people when hand I ing castor pomace become smal I tree s. as a fert i I izer. 2 3 .. Oleander (Ne~ium oleander) is an evergreen shrub widely use d in all the warmer portions of the world. This valuable orna mental plant grows from 15 to 25 feet high, with a profusion of white, pink, or red flowers in summer. The shrub's ability to withstand heavy irrigation or dry conditions makes its use ex tremely varied and extensive. For centuries, the oleander has been known as poisonous. All parts of the plant are poisonous, even the dried leaves. A child can become severely ill from eating a few leaves. Even the smoke from burning oleander brush affects some persons. The effects of the toxic material are similar to that of the drug digi talis, and can be treated by a physician. Seeds of eostor beon. The color and pattern of castor bean seeds make them particu 7 3 larly attractive to children. The seeds are about /4 to ¼ inch long, mottled brown, gray, or black, shiny and interesting in ap pearance. They make natural playthings, and any small child who happens to find one will, almost inevitably, put the seed into his mouth. If he swallows it whole, there is little danger. There is no available antidote for the poison, so it is necessary to follow first aid procedures and immed iate ly get the affected person to a physician or hospital. Oleande r. 4 5 ' SECTION II - POISONOUS PLANTS THAT MAY .OL - C ~ • 1: ~ INVADE THE GARDEN - C .! ~ -g ,l 0 ~ >- C: u - C t • Poison ook(Rhus diversilobo)is by far the worst of these plants. .C CL . 0 - [L C In wooded, suburban areas where poison oak grows naturally, it 0 0 > ~ g. II) u •6 • ..!! g [L ~ Cl • may invade uncultivated margins of yards and gardens, •0 "'a ·-X 0 0 ~• C 0 ... • OL ~ Cl C U - fil u E :!:, • 3: >- ~ . - . ·-0 0 8. "' • Mushrooms in California include several poisonous wUd mush ~ 0 0 • [L - -. -. • • E • E • • •0 •E ' -C - 0 .• rooms, or toadstools. Since some of these are very similar to o • E ..!!• • ~~- •0 L - 0 • 0 0 - • 1 < • "' "' .,,· a. ,ii -• edible species, much knowledge and training ore needed to tell • 0 t -:: "' ·~ 0 0 ~ ' ~ E 0. _,; 0. 0. • ~~~.,,g,~g, them apart. Unless you are completely sure of the difference, j ·- • 000~::JO::J '• - • -0 • G> G> G> ;:, 0 G> 0 any attempt to use wild mushrooms for food is like ploying Rus . , . E • ...J...J...JtO>-...J>- • E o ~ C << sian roulette!! As with other plants, susceptibility to po-isoning 0 g ... u •• 0 ~ . varies with the individual. 0 ' - 0 C 0 0. • L • 0 0. u ~ . C ' ..r:. E = Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) occasionally shows up in ~ 0 ·- ~• C •. • 6 •E 'I. gardens. It was formerly sold os on ornamental. The large leaves . ~ ·-• • z• .l! u~ . •~ u ore finely divided and fernlike, similar to wild carrot. All ports , • E • -~• C C of the plant ore poisonous. 0. •• 0 0 • E • ~ E • • "'' C ~ , E - '5 II) - ..!! C C 6 e:::. S 8. > 0 - 0 0 • ,; J ~ 0. • ~ . ~ C ..E! U'I U'I C 0 .. C '+- ""'O ::J Block nightshade (So/onum nodiflorumJ is a rather common weed ~ ~ 0 . o • I 0 0 ,-. ~ ~ E • L - ~ E -,; ..ga>$8' in gardens, The green berries ore reported to be poisonous, but z ai ai • ~ ~ 0 0 ::J ~ ... > - C L ~ •u < ~ :'.! ...... g_ ' a>C g C • C E :=,g- when fully ripe and glossy black they ore apparently harmless, ...J 0 , 0 ::J O ._ G> ti '.':: "' [L ~ E ; * Delphinium spp. 4 Larkspur, Delphinium Young plants, seeds Dicentra spp. 4 Dutchman's breeches, Bleeding- Leaves, tubers heart Dieffenbachia seguine 5 Dumb cane Stems, leaves *Digitalis purpurea 4 Foxglove Leaves Duranta repens 3 Golden dewdrop Fruits, leaves Echium vulgare4 Blue weed Leaves, stems - D Euonymus europaea 4 European burning bush Leaves, fruit E upator i um rugosu m 4 White snakeroot Leaves, stems Euphorbia spp. 4 Euphorbias, Poinsettia, co Milky sap - D Snow-on-the-mountain Ficus spp. 6 Figs Milky sop - D Fragoria spp. 6 Strawberry Fruit - D Gelsemium sempervirens ◄ Yellow jessami ne Ffowers, leaves, roots - D Ginkgo bi loba 4 Ginkgo, Maidenhair tree Fruit juice - D 5 Glorioso spp. Climbing l ily All parts 4 H~dera he/ix English ivy Leaves, berries Helenium spp. 4 Sneezeweed Whole plant He/ leborus ni ger 4 Christ mas rose Rootstocks and leaves - D * Contains very poisonous substances. D - Plant causes dermatitis. Scientific Name and Poisonous Part Common Name Reference Number of the Plant Heteromeles arbutifolia 4 Toyon, Christmas berry Leaves Hydrangea macrophyl la 5 Hydrangea Leaves Hymenoca/1 is americana 4 Spider-I ily Bulbs 4 Hypericum perforatum St. Johnswort All parts, when eaten - D //ex aquifoNum 4 English holly Berries lmpati ens spp. 2 Impatiens Young stems and leaves Iris spp. 2 4 Iris Rhizomes - D c:, Jug/ans spp. 6 Walnut Green hull juice - D Kalmia latifo/ia 4 Mountain laurel Leaves * Laburnum vulgare 1 Golden chain Leaves, seeds Lantana spp. 4 Lantana Foliage Ligustrum spp. 2 4 Privet Leaves, berries Linum usita.tissimum 4 Flax Whole plant, especially immature seed pods 4 Lobelia spp. Lobelia Leaves, stems, fruit - D 4 Lupinus spp. Lupines Leaves, pods, especially seeds 4 Lycium halimifolium Matrimony vine Leaves, young shoots 3 Macadamia ternifolia Queensland nut Young leaves .. Maclura pomi fera 4 Osage orange Milky sap - D Me/-ia azedarach 4 Chinaberry Fruit, flowers, bark * Myoporum laetum 1 Ngaio Leaves * Narcissus spp. 4 Narcissus, Daffodil Bulbs Nepeta hederacea 4 Ground-ivy. Leaves, stems Nicotiono spp. 4 Tobaccos Foliage Ornithogalum umbel latvm 4 Star-of-Beth I ehem All parts Oxalis cernva 3 Bermuda-butter cup Leaves * Popover somnifervm 4 Opium poppy Unripe seed pod Past inaca sativa 4 Parsnip Hairs on leaves and stems -D - Philodendron spp. 6 Philodendron Stems, leaves * Pittosporvm spp. 6 P ittos_porum Leaves, stems, fruit 4 Primvla spp Primrose Leaves1 stems -D Prvnvs spp. 2 4 Cherries, Peaches, Plums Seeds, leaves Ranvnculus spp. 4 Butter cup Leaves - D Rhamnus spp. 2 Coffee berry, Bue kthorn Sap and fruit - D Rheum rhapont icvm 4 Rhubarb Leaves - D Rhododendron spp. 4 Rhododendron, Azalea Leaves Robinia psevdo-acacia 2 4 Black locust Young shoots, bark, seeds Rumex acetosa 4 Sour dock Leaves * Contains very poisonous substances. D - Plant causes dermatitis. Scientific Name and Poisonous Part Common Name Reference Number of the Plant 4 Saponaria voccaria Cow cockle Seeds 1 Senecio mikanioides German-ivy Leaves, stems Solanum dulcomoro 4 European bitter sweet Leaves, berries 4 Solanum nigrum Garden huckleberry, Night- Unripe berries, leaves shade Solonum pseudo-capsicum 4 Jerusa Iem-cherry Fruit 4 Solanum tuberosum lri sh potato Green skin on tubers ~ Tanacetum vufgare 4 Common tansy Leaves 1 T axus baccata Yew Foliage, bark, seeds Thevetio peruviono 5 Yellow oleander Al I parts 4 Veronica virginica Cul,vers root Roots Zephyronthes spp._ 4 Zephyr-Ii ly LeaveS, bu lbs * Contains very poisonous substances. D - Plont causes dermatitis. 1 Connor, H. E., and Nancy M. Adorns. The Poisonous Plants of New Zealand, Bull. No. 99; Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Resecrch, New Zealand, 1951. 2 Fernald, Merritt Lyndon, Alfred Charles Kinsey, and Reed C. Rollins. Edible Wild Plants of Eastern North America, Harper & Bros., New York, Revised 1958. 1 Hurst, Evelyn. The Poisonous Plants of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 1942. 4 Muenscher, W. C. Poisonous Plants of the United States, revised edition, Macmillan Co., New York, 1951. 5 West, E. Poisonous Plants Around the Home. University of Florido Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin S-100, 1957. & Miscel loneous sources and personal experience of authors and cooperators.