Plants of Doom – Part II

Following on from my exciting yet painful exploits with the Pencil Cactus, here in our aquaponics garden in the Caribbean, I though that I would take a closer look at some of the other ‘killer flora’ happily growing in gardens around the world.

Technically, these are mostly wild flowers (downright furious, in some cases) but it’s good to know say, what Jimson Weed will do to you if you put it in a salad.

Here we go:

1. Deadly Nightshade

Belladonna, which means “beautiful woman” in Italian, received its name because the plant’s berry juice was used to enlarge the pupils of women, giving them a “striking appearance,” according to the National Institutes of Health. But little did the Italians know the plant can also be poisonous.

2. Castor Oil Plant

The prickly fruits of the castor oil plant contain ricin, a highly poisonous substance that has been used in biological and chemical weaponry, according to the National Defence Research Institute. Although all parts of the plant contain the toxin ricin, the seed, or beans as they are sometimes called, contain the highest level of the poison and are most harmful when swallowed or chewed.

3. Jimson Weed

This white-flower producing weed single-handedly caused the mass poisoning of soldiers in Jamestown, Va., in 1676 after the plant was boiled and put in a salad, according to the Cornell University Department of Animal Science. The soldiers experienced the hallucinogenic properties of the plant for 11 days, according to the university.

4. Oleander

Oleander is commonly grown as a decorative plant in subtropical regions because it can withstand harsh, drought-ridden soil. But the resilient plant is also highly poisonous. Although you are unlikely to suck the nectar or chew on the plant’s leaves, poisoning can also occur when consuming honey made by bees that used the plant for nectar

5. Water Hemlock

Water hemlock is thought to be one of the most poisonous plants in North America, according to WebMD. Lurking in swampy areas, the plant is often mistaken for a wild parsnip or celery and accidentally consumed, killing in as fast as 15 minutes. It’s also deadly to the touch, unlike most other poisonous plants on this list.

Well, there you have it, the top five most poisonous plants in the world (nearly).

I was a little disappointed that the Pencil Cactus wasn’t on the list but there’s always next year’s top five to look forward to and I’m sure that my favourite killer plant won’t disappoint.

And remember, if you see a beautiful Italian woman in the garden with big pupils – dial 911.

Listing and descriptions courtesy of: http://www.weather.com