Toxic: Eight flowers that can make you ill
Digital Reporter
Thursday, April 17, 2014, 7:35 PM -
They’re pretty, but they pack a punch. Here are eight flowers you'll want to admire from afar.
1. Tropical Milkweed
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This flowering plant can be found in the American tropics and is also referred to as the blood flower, scarlet milkweed and Mexican butterfly. It's usually grown for ornamental purposes, but you don’t want to damage the steams or leaves. They exude a poisonous sap that can injure the eyes.
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2. Bloodroot
This seemingly innocent flower produces a toxic, red sap that can kill animals when ingested. When the sap is applied to skin, it can cause severe tissue damage.
3. American pokeweed
This perennial plant can climb to 3 metres high. Found in parts of the U.S., this plant has berries that serve as a tasty treat for local few bird species. Humans can eat the berries when cooked, but eating the roots, leaves and stems can cause convulsions, seizures and vomiting.
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According to cancer.org, this plant contains a protein that may be able to reduce tumors in mice.
4. Morning glory
The morning glory plant produces stunning indigo and pink flowers that bloom in the early morning hours, withering as the day goes on.
Ingesting this plant's seeds can cause vivid hallucinations, severe nausea and stomach discomfort. They’re poisonous to cats and dogs as well, depending on the amount ingested.
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5. The daffodil
This seemingly innocent flower has a dark side.
In May, 2008 a group of school children in Suffolk, England fell ill after a daffodil bulb was added to a soup. The bulbs are commonly mistaken for onions, which can lead to cases of accidental poisoning.
Symptoms of daffodil poisoning include nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.
6. The belladonna
Also referred to as deadly nightshade, this flower contains chemicals that can block functions of the body's nervous system, causing salivation, sweating and a change in pupil size, among other things.
It’s considered highly toxic, but controlled amounts have been used in ointments and herbal remedies.
7. Oleander
Considered one of the most poisonous plants in the world, every single part of this beautiful flower is infused with several strains of poison.
Its toxicity is so potent that it's capable of poisoning a person who ingests honey from bees that have been in contact with the flower.
The plant can cause blurred vision, irregular heart beat and, in some cases, death.
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In spite of this, Oleanders are often used for decorative purposes, particularly in the Mediterranean and in parts of the United States.
8. Angel's trumpet
This plant contains alkaloids that can be fatal in humans and animals. Overdoses can lead to comas and permanent damage to the heart, eyes and brain.
Typically used as an ornamental flower, it’s the seeds and leaves you have to watch out for.
Angel’s trumpets are native to tropical portions of South America, but they can also be found in parts of North America, Africa, Australia, and Asia.
All photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
