Poisonous & Allergy Plants

discouraging herbivores, manipulating animal behavior, and territorial competition

reasons plants would manufacture poisons

Allelopathy

biochemical interactions b/t plants

American/Canadian yew

contains taxine, an extremely toxic and very poisonous alkaloid that causes sudden death

Buttercups

contains ranunculin, which causes diarrhea and vomiting

Bowood

cotains buxene which causes convulsions and death

Poison hemlock

has coniine, which causes paralysis of the diaphragm, leading to death from asphyxiation

has fern like leaves and umbel Inflorescences

Strychnine tree seeds

native to India, cause convulsion and death, and used as rat poison

Oleander

a common ornamental shrub that contain cardiac glycosides nerioside and oleandroside

a single leaf can kill an adult

Do not use these sticks to grill hotdogs

Lily of the valley

a beautiful but deadly plant which containsa cardiac glycoside called convallarin which causes irregular heartbeat (similar to digitalis)

Rhododendron and azaleas

common ornamental plants that have poisonous compounds and grayanotoxins

Grayanotoxins

stimulate and then block nervous regulation of the heart

Castor bean

a very common house plant that contains ricin, one of the most potent compounds that contains a very toxic protein

oil was used a purgative; it didn’t contain the protein

seed has a tough protective coat

ricin is a lectin or toxalbumin, which causes blood cells to aggregate and cause severe problems

Wisteria

has wistarine; causes death

Mistletoe

cotains a viscotoxin and can be fatal if eaten in large amounts

Pokeweed

its roots and berries cause respiratory depression and possibly even death

Philodendron and dumbcane

have calcium oxalate crystals that cause painful burning and swelling of the mouth and throat, making breathing difficult

Rhubarb

contain oxalic acid crystals that paralyze the vocal chords

stalks are safe to eat

Poison ivy and poison oak

have urushiol, an oil that triggers your body’s defenses, creating a reaction like an infection: reddening, warning, and bubbling of skin,