Poisonous Plants

	Poisonous Plants
Azalia		Azalia is the common name for this bonsai favorite, dwarf type Rhododendron. Although a low toxicity plant it is best to keep children and pets away. Treat all Rhododendrons as poisonous.
Caladium		Pictured is one of the pink cultivars commonly sold in garden centers. Ingestion can cause severe irritation to the mouth and throat and may also be an irritant to the G.I. tract.
Castor Bean		The Castor Bean plant produces seeds that are often very attractive, which is why they are popular in certain costume jewelry. Unfortunately, they also look good enough to eat, which is why small children are the most common victims of castor poisoning.
Philodendron		Philodendrons are an indoor ornamental that can cause poisoning in humans and pets because of the oxalates they contain. General symptoms of poisoning are: erythema (reddening and inflammation of the skin), itchiness.
Dumbcane or Dieffenbachia		The distinctive leaf pattern of the very popular Dieffenbachia is seen in many homes. Painful and immediate swelling of the mouth and throat occurs after chewing on dumbcane. Speech impediment can occur, sometimes lasting for several days.
Jimson Weed		The plant and seeds are extremely toxic, this plant is abused as a hallucinogen in humans, and deaths in humans and animals have been reported. All animals, including pets and poultry, may be affected.
Mistletoe	Photo from stevensandson.com	The entire plant is poisonous, especially the berries, which as with many other white-berried plants, are extremely toxic. Eating the berries will cause acute stomach and intestinal pains, diarrhea, weak pulse, mental disturbances, and the collapse of blood vessels. Death has occurred with some ingestions.
Poison Ivy/Oak		Poison ivy may look different depending on the time of year. The leaves of poison plants release urushiol when they're "injured," meaning if they get bumped, torn, or brushed up against. Urushiol is considered an allergen because it causes an allergic reaction - a rash and sometimes swelling. This reaction can appear within hours of touching the plant or as late as 5 days later. Typically, the skin becomes red and swollen and blisters will appear. It's itchy, too. After a few days, the blisters may become crusty and start to flake off. It takes 1 to 2 weeks to heal.
Pokeweed		Roots, berries, and leaves are toxic. Poisonous when eaten raw or improperly cooked. Symptoms - Burning in mouth. Severe digestive upset, convulsions.
Silver Leafed Nightshade	PeanutPhoto from Peanut.tamu.edu	All parts of the plant, particularly the green or ripe fruit, can be toxic to humans and animals. Symptoms include bloating, trembling, nasal discharge, salivation and breathing difficulties. Once this plant is established, it is very hard to remove. The root system can go to a depth of more than 6 feet. Chemical control is often ineffective because the chemicals don't reach all of the roots. PLOUGHING INCREASES THE PROBLEM as the broken roots grow into new plants. The only way control can be achieved is by preventing plants from producing seed. And, because the seeds can remain viable in the ground for 15 years, eradication is a long term project.

Azalia

Azalia is the common name for this bonsai favorite, dwarf type Rhododendron.

Although a low toxicity plant it is best to keep children and pets away. Treat all Rhododendrons as poisonous.

Caladium

Pictured is one of the pink cultivars commonly sold in garden centers.

Ingestion can cause severe irritation to the mouth and throat and may also be an irritant to the G.I. tract.

Castor Bean

The Castor Bean plant produces seeds that are often very attractive, which is why they are popular in certain costume jewelry.

Unfortunately, they also look good enough to eat, which is why small children are the most common victims of castor poisoning.

Philodendron

Philodendrons are an indoor ornamental that can cause poisoning in humans and pets because of the oxalates they contain. General symptoms of poisoning are: erythema (reddening and inflammation of the skin), itchiness.

Dumbcane

or Dieffenbachia

A beautiful plant, the Diffenbachias are present in many homes.

The distinctive leaf pattern of the very popular Dieffenbachia is seen in many homes. Painful and immediate swelling of the mouth and throat occurs after chewing on dumbcane. Speech impediment can occur, sometimes lasting for several days.

Jimson Weed

The plant and seeds are extremely toxic, this plant is abused as a hallucinogen in humans, and deaths in humans and animals have been reported.

All animals, including pets and poultry, may be affected.

Mistletoe

Photo from stevensandson.com

The entire plant is poisonous, especially the berries, which as with many other white-berried plants, are extremely toxic. Eating the berries will cause acute stomach and intestinal pains, diarrhea, weak pulse, mental disturbances, and the collapse of blood vessels. Death has occurred with some ingestions.

Poison Ivy/Oak

Poison ivy may look different depending on the time of year. The leaves of poison plants release urushiol when they're "injured," meaning if they get bumped, torn, or brushed up against. Urushiol is considered an allergen because it causes an allergic reaction - a rash and sometimes swelling. This reaction can appear within hours of touching the plant or as late as 5 days later. Typically, the skin becomes red and swollen and blisters will appear. It's itchy, too. After a few days, the blisters may become crusty and start to flake off. It takes 1 to 2 weeks to heal.

Pokeweed

Roots, berries, and leaves are toxic. Poisonous when eaten raw or improperly cooked.

Symptoms - Burning in mouth. Severe digestive upset, convulsions.

Silver Leafed Nightshade

PeanutPhoto from Peanut.tamu.edu

All parts of the plant, particularly the green or ripe fruit, can be toxic to humans and animals. Symptoms include bloating, trembling, nasal discharge, salivation and breathing difficulties.

Once this plant is established, it is very hard to remove. The root system can go to a depth of more than 6 feet. Chemical control is often ineffective because the chemicals don't reach all of the roots. PLOUGHING INCREASES THE PROBLEM as the broken roots grow into new plants. The only way control can be achieved is by preventing plants from producing seed. And, because the seeds can remain viable in the ground for 15 years, eradication is a long term project.