Plants are not always friends!!!

Plants, an amazing creation of Almighty, provide oxygen to supports the animal kingdom on earth. However, there are many venomous or poisonous plants do exist in nature, which we are not aware of.  It is also believed by some people that there are some man eating tree do exist somewhere in the Middle East. Although there is no strong evidence reported regarding the existence of such trees, current world, however, deadly poisonous plants do exist.

Below is a brief compilation of some of the most dangerous plants that are still found in nature.

Nerium Oleander

Nerium Oleander is believed to be the most poisonous plant on Earth. The plant is filled with poisonous chemicals including two most powerful toxins namely oleandrin and nerine. The poison of oleander so powerful, that it can poison the human body even on ingestion of the honey made by the bees that consumed oleander nectar. Even though it is noxious in nature, Oleander plants are used for decorative purposes because of it a lovely fragrance.

Cicuta or Water Hemlock

Primarily found in the marshy areas of America, Cicuta, commonly known as Water Hemlock, contains a poisonous toxin, cicutoxin, in its roots. Unfortunately, the white roots of Cicuta are often mistaken for the parsnip. The chemical cicutoxin causes nausea, cramps, vomiting and muscle tremors. People survive the cicutoxin suffer from long-term health conditions, such as amnesia. Ingestion of this plant material can cause death in the animal within 15 minutes of consumption.

Abrus Precatorius or Rosary Pea

The beautiful red and black colored seeds, of rosary pea plant popularly known as rosary prayer beads, are widely known for making imported jewelry.  These beautiful seeds contain the poison abrin, however, the seeds are absolutely safe until they are broken or the outer coating is damaged. Each pea of the pod contains approximately 2.5 milligrams of abrin, which is sufficient to kill a human. Abrin inhibits protein synthesis by bonding with the plasma membranes. Symptoms of abrin poisoning include tough breathing, nausea, vomiting, fever, and fluid in the lungs. It also leads to dehydration and ends with the kidneys, liver, and spleen shutting down causing death within four days.

Atropa Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade

Atropa Belladonna, commonly known as ‘Deadly Nightshade’ grows to a height of 1.5 meters and can be recognized by its bell-shaped purple flowers and the dull, dark green leaves. The plant is completely safe for animals and birds, however deadly for human beings. Symptoms of Belladonna poisoning include dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, headaches, confusion, and convulsions. The deadly poison doses disturb the nervous system, rendering the nerve endings in involuntary muscle paralysis.

Castor Oil Plant

Castor plant contains the deadly toxin, ricin, found in high concentrations in the seed coating. Symptoms of castor poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, internal bleeding, and kidney and circulation failure. Exposure to the dust is most common in areas where the beans are processed for commercial use.

Taxus Baccata or the English Yew

These plants are believed to be a symbol of the immortality of the soul and seen in plenty at church graveyards across Great Britain. The 22 meters giant trees contain poison in all of its parts except the bark. Consumption of the leaves and seeds can lead to dizziness, dry mouth, dilation of the pupils, weakness, irregular heart rhythm, and possibly death. It also possesses medicinal values, such as a cure for water elf disease and potential as an anti-tumor. Yew extract is used for Taxol, which inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Ageratina Altissima or White Snakeroot

The white snakeroot is a shadow loving weed mostly found in the eastern and southern United State. The plant contains high levels dangerous toxic substance called trementol, which acts as a powerful poison for horses, goats, and sheep and symptoms poisoning include depression and lethargy, placement of hind feet close together or far apart, nasal discharge, excessive salivation, arched body posture, and rapid or difficulty breathing. In humans, the poisoning symptoms include bad breath, loss of appetite, listlessness, weakness, vague pains, muscle stiffness, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, severe constipation, coma, and possibly death.

Aconitum or Aconite

Aconite is a beautiful but poisonous plant that contains toxins in every part of it and is known to poison people who mistake its white carrot-like root for horseradish or some other herb. Its poisoning symptoms cause numbness, tingling, and cardiac problems as well. When ingested, the poison leads to a burning sensation in the mouth followed by increased salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, a tingling sensation in the skin, changes in blood pressure, heartbeat irregularities, coma, and sometimes even death.

Datura Stramonium or Jimsonweed

Jimsonweed or Datura with its pointed leaves and fruits looks scary itself. The parts of the plant contain toxic alkaloids with hallucinogenic properties that can cause hospitalization and death when consumed in high dosage. Even beautiful white or lavender trumpet-shaped flower of Datura also contains the poisonous toxins atropine and scopolamine. It is also widely known for its medicinal values such as relieving asthma symptoms and as an analgesic during surgery or bone-setting.

Hippomane Mancinella or Machineel

Manchineel or the ‘little apple of death’ found in plenty Found across the Florida Everglades, Central America, and the Caribbean. Its white sap can cause damage, including rashes, skin irritation, coughing, loss of voice, etc. These tiny apple-like fruits, if ingested, can cause blisters in the mouth, swell the throat to shut it off, and even cause gastrointestinal problems.