Let's take it Castor oil: Great look into autumn with these characteristic blue-green, huge leaves embellished with red veins, the bristle-like bright red flowers and the highly toxic ricin. 25 milligrams or one seed of it is enough to kill you within two days if no one helps.
Somehow nature seems to have got it wrong with the poisonous plants. Most of them are particularly attractive plants, i.e. ornamental plants, with which we are not only used in Gardens have to do, but which can also be admired in public parks and of course in the great outdoors can. Take a look for yourself to see if you can find old friends in our list:
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The official list of poisonous plant species (an excerpt!)
| growth | German name | Botanical name | toxicity | poisonous plant parts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| herb | Arum | Arum maculatum | Rhizome, berries, leaves | |
| shrub | ivy | Hedera helix | Berries, leaves | |
| Shrub & herb | Angel trumpet | Datura suaveolens | * | all parts of the plant |
| herb | thimble | Digitalis purpurea | Leaves, flowers, seeds | |
| herb | Fire bean | Phaseolus coccineus | unripe raw fruits, leaves | |
| Tree & shrub | Laburnum | Laburnum anagyroides | Flowers, green fruits, seeds | |
| shrub | Cherry laurel | Prunus laurocerasus | Leaves, seeds | |
| shrub | Tree of life | Thuja spec. | Branch tips, cones | |
| Houseplant | oleander | Nerium oleander | Leaves, flowers, bark | |
| shrub | daphne | Daphne spec. | * | Bark, seeds, flowers, leaves |
| herb | Milkweed | Euphorbia spec. | Milky juice | |
| herb | Red bryan | Bryonia dioica | Root, berries, seeds |
Source: "Official List of Poisonous Plants" from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
* * = Consumption of small amounts can lead to moderate poisoning;
* * * = The ingestion of small amounts can lead to severe to fatal poisoning;
First aid, what should be done?
Some varieties are not perceived as alarming or even dangerous in terms of taste and are perceived as typical of fruit. Others contain bitter substances or burn in the mouth and have an above-average arousing effect on the central nervous system. Symptoms typical of the disease such as fever, stomach cramps and vomiting, in worse cases even cardiac arrhythmias, are diagnosed in some toxic plants after an hour. Effective antidote for household use, with the exception of the well-known medicinal charcoal - nonexistent! Do not even try self-medication in the form of traditional poison cocktails from grandma’s traditional medicine cabinet, as they would be "dead safe" in the truest sense of the word. The only possible option if poisoning is suspected: an emergency call and as soon as possible.
The TOP-10 of the most dangerous poisonous plants
- Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum): 2 to 4 meter high perennial with 30 to 50 cm large umbels, which forms up to one meter large leaves; not fatal, but causes severe and painful burns if one comes in contact with the juice.
- Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna): Perennial grows up to two meters high and forms red-brown, bell-shaped leaves; towards autumn green berries then black develop with a diameter of 10 to 20 mm and a sweetish taste; the poisons scopolamine, atropine and L-hyoscyamine in the berries are fatal in children (3 to 4 pieces).
- yew (Taxus baccata): conifer can grow up to 20 meters high; to be found in the garden as a hedge; the red seed coats contain the poison taxine, which is already toxic when it comes into contact with the skin; Symptoms and a. Diarrhea, dizziness, vomiting, unconsciousness, palpitations, heart failure (death after approx. 90 minutes);
- lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis): the up to 30 cm high spring bloomer is very interesting for the garden because of its attractive, white flowers; also grows in mixed or deciduous forests; forms red, approx. 5 mm berries; Plant is altogether poisonous and contains toxic glycosides, which mainly have an effect on the circulatory system; causes blurred vision, drowsiness, blood pressure fluctuations, and abnormal heart rhythms that lead to heart failure.
- daphne (Daphne mezereum): popular in the garden but also at home in deciduous and mixed forests; pink flowers on bushes up to 2 meters in size, which are already strongly scented in spring and later develop into red berries; Toxins in the seeds and bark cause a burning sensation in the mouth, swelling of the mucous membranes followed by diarrhea, vomiting and dizziness; often death occurs as a result of a collapsing Krauslauf;
- Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides): small tree with decorative yellow flowers and pea-like fruits within closed pods; The alkaloids contained in the entire plant lead to muscle cramps and severe fever to paralysis of the central nervous system and even to respiratory arrest.
- Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale): small-growing flowers with lilac-colored resp. pink flowers that grow mainly in damp meadows; the arsenic-like poison in the seeds causes rapid symptoms of intoxication (vomiting, stomach cramps, drop in blood pressure and a drastic drop in body temperature); Cause of death after a maximum of two days: respiratory paralysis;
- Pfaffenhütchen (Euonymus europaea): the up to six meter high shrub is mainly native to forests; The reddish capsules during the flowering period from May to June contain the poisonous Evonin in their seeds, which leads to diarrhea and stomach cramps; the deadly dose, however, is when consuming more than 30 capsules, so that the chance of survival is comparatively high;
- Monkshood (Aconitum napellus): its attractive appearance has led to the highly poisonous, blue-flowering plant, mainly found in mountain regions, being valued in ornamental gardens; Contamination (with the alkaloid aconitine) occurs through skin contact with the tuber; Symptoms: numbness of the hands, especially on the skin, and palpitations; Contact can lead to heart failure due to respiratory paralysis within three hours.
- Castor oil (Ricinus communis): one to two meters high ornamental plant with blue-green leaves, red outgrowths on the flowers and highly toxic seeds that contain ricin; After cramps, diarrhea and massive balance problems, inflammation, thrombosis and acute kidney failure lead to death.
Important to know: What is growing in my garden!
It is not uncommon for particularly beautiful plants that are found during a walk to be taken into the garden and planted there without any malicious intent. Those who know what they are doing will also tell their children about it and warn them of the possible dangers. Nevertheless, caution is advisable or, in case of doubt, the cultivation of these plants, also in the interest of possible pets do without, as you can also enjoy plants that are just as or even more beautiful, as our following article shows.
