Poison Plants

There are many kinds of plants that have risk of high poison, and cause serious illness and sometime could be fatal to humans and animals. We might have it in our garden, in our parks where children play, or out in the woods. These poison substances in plants may cause us injury, illness or even death if ingested accidentally. Below is a list of poison plants that I have compiled.

1) Apple (Malus Domestica)

The apple seeds contains Cyanogenic Glycosides; but in some species, the amount of a single fruit can’t kill a person, but the possibility to ingest enough seeds can provide a fatal dosage of the poison. Some people experienced skin allergy due to falling off pollen of raw apples, and it is called Oral Allergy Syndrome. The pollen is the main irritant  poison that cause allergy reactions.

2) Peach

Peach are member of Rosaceae family, same with the hazelnuts and apples. A person who have allergy reaction with apple pollen, then he is also allergic to peaches, hazelnuts and other Rosaceae species. Swelling and itching around the mouth or lips, watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, diarrhea and abdominal pain, hives or skin rashes or uticaria are the most common symptoms of allergy reactions.

3) Cherry (Prunus Cerasus)

Leaves and seeds of Cherry (Prunus Cerasus), and other species of Prunus spp, contain Cyanogenic glycosides (Cyanide level or group). Other members of these species are: Prunus Persica (peach), Prunus Domestica (plum), Prunus Cerasus (almond), Prunus Armenica (apricot).

4)  Cashew

Cashew is a member of Anacardiaceae family. The cashew apple have a single seed, though it is considered as nuts, it is described as a seed, with thick covering shell, containing an allergenic phenolic resin, anacardio acid, that cause skin irritation due to its allergenic urushiol oil, a toxin found in the poison ivy plants. Roasting cashew seeds should be done properly, and be done outdoors due to toxic smoke which is threatening to lungs if inhaled. If accidentally you can hold on the roasting seeds, the oil causes burning sensation to the skin. Smoke of roasted cashew seeds cause smallpox to fowls and birds.

5) Passion Fruits (Paasiflora Caerulea)

The passion plant is a member of Passiflora Caerulea, also known as the Blue Passion Flower, or Common Passion flower, a vine found commonly in Argentina and Paraguay, and called as the Mburucuya in Guarami, Uruguay and Brazil. It is also known as Passiflora Edulis (passion fruit), famously grown by gardeners or farmers. The passion flower is used for tea, and believed to lessen stress and anxiety. But the leaves of passion plant contains cyanogenic glycoside (breaks down to cyanide), and could be boiled away. Sap and rotten leaves of Passion plant can cause death or heart attack. The Blue Passion flower is the national flower of Paraguay.