|
Poison control centers throughout the
United States report that parts of certain plants, wildflowers, shrubs,
and trees top the list of products that are accidentally ingested by
children under five. Your knowledge of the toxicity of plants, flowers,
berries, and so on will help you plan a safe garden, get rid of
poisonous wild flowers and other shrubs near your house, and avoid
harboring potentially poisonous house plants.
To make your home safe, put the plants that you purchase on high
shelves beyond the reach of your own or visiting young children. Aside
from the possibility of touching or chewing the poisonous part of a
plant, there is the danger of your child's pulling a potted plant off a
table or knocking one over that was positioned on the floor. Never put
any plant in your young child's bedroom.
In case, despite your best efforts, there should be an incidence of
accidental plant poisoning immediately telephone your doctor, the
poison control center nearest you, or your local hospital emergency
room. Do not induce vomiting without express professional instructions
to do so. The degree of poisoning will depend upon the size of your
child, the season of the year, and the amount and part of the plant
that has been eaten.
Although poisonous plants rarely cause death, the reaction to contact
with the poisonous part of a plant can vary from a rash or itching to
violent illness that may require hospitalization.
List of Poisonous Plants, Shrubs & Trees
Below is a list of poisonous plants,
shrubs, trees, and fungi and their poisonous parts:
Amaryllis-bulb
Atropa-all parts
Autumn crocus-all parts
Azaleas-all parts
Baneberry-roots, foliage, berries
Belladonna-all parts
Bittersweet-all parts
Black locust-all parts
Bleeding heart-foliage, roots
Boxwood-leaves, twigs
Buckeye-sprouts
Caladium-all parts
Castor bean-seeds
Chinaberry tree-berries
Chokecherry-leaves, pits
Christmas rose-all parts
Daffodil-bulb
Daphne-leaves, bark, berries
Delphinium-young plants, seeds
Dieffenbachia-all parts
Dumb cane-stems, leaves
Elderberry tree-roots, stems
Elephant's ear-all parts
English holly-berries
English ivy-leaves, berries
Foxglove-all parts
Golden chain tree-seeds, pods, flowers
Horsechestnut tree-nuts
Hyacinth-bulb
Iris-rhizome, leaves
Jack-in-the-pulpit-all parts
Jerusalem cherry-berries, leaves, flowers
Jessamine-flowers, leaves
Jimsonweed-all parts
Laburnum-seeds, pods, flowers
Lantana-unripe berries
Larkspur-seeds, young plants
Laurels-all parts
Lily-of-the-valley-all parts
Mayapple-all parts
Mistletoe-berries
Narcissus-bulb
Nicotiana-leaves
Nightshades-all parts
Oak trees-all parts
Oleanders-all parts
Opium poppy-unripe seed parts
Philodendrons (some)-all parts
Poinsettia-leaves, flowers
Poison hemlock-roots, foliage, seeds
Pokeweed-roots, berries, foliage
Privet-berries, leaves
Rhododendron-all parts
Skunk cabbage-all parts
Toadstools-all parts
Wild black cherry tree-leaves, pits
Wisteria-seeds, pods
Yew-seeds, needles, bark
Potato and Rhubarb
In addition, some care must be taken
regarding the common potato and rhubarb. All the green parts (vines and
sprouts) and spoiled parts of potatoes should not be consumed. Death
has occurred from eating large amounts of the green parts of potatoes.
Spoiled white or sweet tubers should always be discarded.
If the leaf blades of rhubarb, whether raw or cooked, are consumed,
abdominal pain, vomiting, and convulsions will follow in a matter of a
few hours after ingestion. Without immediate professional treatment,
permanent kidney damage or even death may occur.
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac
Learn to recognize these common irritants
and teach your children to recognize them also -- and avoid them! The
danger of poisoning is greatest in spring and summer and least in late
fall and winter. Poisoning from poison ivy, poison oak, and poison
sumac is caused most often by contact with some of the bruised plant;
actual contact with the poison is necessary to produce skin irritation.
Even a very small amount of toxic substance can produce severe
inflammation of the skin in susceptible people and, unfortunately, most
of us are.
Dogs and cats often contact these plants and then transmit the toxins
to children and adults. Smoke from burning poison ivy, poison oak, and
poison sumac can carry the poisons and can cause severe cases of
poisoning. Washing with brown laundry soap within a few minutes after
contact may get rid of the poison on the skin. Mild poisoning usually
subsides with a few days. However, if the inflammation is severe or
extensive, consult your doctor.
|
