Top 10 Most Dangerous Plants in the World

[free ranger]

Top 10 Most Dangerous Plants in the World

1. Most likely to eat a rat
Giant Pitcher Plant: Nepenthes attenboroughii





Discovered more than 5000 feet above sea level on Mount Victoria in the Philippines, the giant, carnivorous pitcher plant secretes a nectar-like substance to lure unsuspecting prey into a pool of enzymes and acid. A series of sticky, downward ribs makes it nearly impossible for trapped prey to escape. The plant's 30-centimeter diameter is large enough to trap unlucky rodents, but insects are its most common meal. Pitcher plants, of which there are about 600 different species, tend to grow in nitrogen-deficient environments, and therefore get their nutrients from decaying victims.


2. Most likely to be in your garden now
Castor Bean Plant: Ricinus communis





Castor-bean plants can be purchased at just about any garden center, despite containing the deadly poison ricin. Amy Stewart, author of Wicked Plants and poisonous plant expert, has an affinity for the plant and grows several in her poison garden. Concerned gardeners can simply pluck the seeds off the plant, Stewart says, which is where the ricin is stored. Though the process to extract enough ricin and process it into a weapon is complex, Las Vegas authorities have discovered the toxin in a hotel room in February 2008, and the KGB used it to permanently silence opposition.


3. Most violently toxic plant in North America
Western Water Hemlock: Cicuta douglasii





Deemed the most "violently toxic plant that grows in North America" by the USDA, the water hemlock contains the toxin cicutoxin, which wreaks havoc on the central nervous system, causing grand mal seizures—which include loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions—and eventually death, if ingested. Water hemlock is different from poison hemlock, Socrates' notorious killer, in that it contains coniine alkaloids that kill by paralyzing the respiratory system. Both are members of the carrot family.


4. The plant that killed a president's mother
White snakeroot: Eupatorium rugosum





Drinking milk from a cow that decided to chow down on white snakeroot could lead to deadly milk sickness, as was the case with Abraham Lincoln's mother Nancy Hicks. Every part of this perennial plant contains tremetol, an unsaturated alcohol that can cause muscle tremors in livestock before killing them. "People were trying desperately throughout the 19th century to figure out what was poisoning their animals," Stewart says. It wasn't understood until the turn of the century, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture pinpointed the cause and quickly got the word out. Now, white snakeroot still grows wild, but more control in the agricultural industry has helped to prevent cows from eating it.


5. The best plant to murder a dinner guest with
Monkshood: Aconitum napellus





Stewart was once asked what the best plant would be to murder a dinner guest with—after much deliberation she landed on monkshood. "You could just chop up the roots and make a stew," she says. "You don't need a chemistry plant to do it." The vibrant purple plant, commonly found in backyard gardens, is loaded with the poisonous alkaloid aconite, which tends to cause asphyxiation. While Stewart is certainly joking about cooking up a batch of monkshood stew, she urges anyone who has the plant in their garden to wear gloves when handling it.


6. Most gruesome killer
Common Bladderwort: Utricularia macrorhiza





This aquatic meat eater relies on several submerged bladders to capture prey such as tadpoles and small crustaceans. An unsuspecting passerby will brush against an external bristle-trigger, causing the bladders to spring open and capture it. Once inside, the victim dies of suffocation or starvation and then decays into a liquid that is sucked up by cells on the walls of the bladder.


7. Most animal-like
Venus flytrap: Dionaea muscipula





With the ability to clamp shut in a half-second, the Venus flytrap's reaction time seems fit for the animal kingdom. Insects need to touch two of the flytrap's hairs consecutively in order for the plant to react, but the precise mechanism that shuts the trap remains unclear. The Botanical Society of America notes that early theories suggested that a sudden change in the water pressure of cells triggered the response, but this theory has since been abandoned. It now seems that when the plant is touched, the electrical potential of the leaf is altered, triggering a host of cellular-level events.


8. The most likely plant to turn a person into a zombie
Angel Trumpet: Brugmansia





The droopy, gorgeous angel trumpet, native to regions of South America, packs a powerful punch of toxins, containing atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. As documented in the 2007 VBS.tv documentary "Colombian Devil's Breath," criminals in Colombia have extracted scopolamine from the plant and used it as a potent drug that leaves victims unaware of what they are doing but entirely conscious. Scopolamine can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes, allowing criminals to simply blow the powder in a person's face. The documentary is filled with scopolamine-related horror stories, including one account of a man moving all of his possessions out of his apartment (and into the hands of his robbers) without remembering any of it.


9. The most enticing poison
Oleander: Nerium oleander





This extremely common evergreen shrub is one of the most poisonous plants in the world. "If I were a parent and covering every electrical outlet in the home to protect the kids, I would really have to ask myself why I had an oleander plant growing," Stewart says. The leaves, flowers and fruit contain cardiac glycosides, which have therapeutic applications but are likely to send someone into cardiac arrest should he eat part of the plant. Stewart points out that there is a woman in California currently on death row for trying to poison her husband with the plant, and two young boys were found dead after ingesting oleander a few years back. "People tend to be blasé, because the flowers are bright and pretty, sort of candy-colored. But it is a very poisonous plant that will stop your heart."


10. Best home-security system
Mala Mujer: Cnidoscolus angustidens





Stewart describes this garden plant as more painful than poisonous. Mala mujer, which translates to "bad woman," can be found in parts of the southwest and Mexico and is covered with nasty thorns, which could be turned into makeshift barbwire if needed. The real danger, however, comes from the caustic, milky sap that can leak from the plant. The sap, a common feature among many plants in the Euphorbia genus, can cause painful skin irritations and unsightly discoloration. "I've had several people tell me they had euphorbia saps in their eyes," Stewart says. "And they had pretty surprisingly long-term eye damage."

[andy]

There is an error in this list.

[andy]

...an error of omission.

[free ranger]

Please share with us, Andy...

[flourbug]

Scopolamine can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes, allowing criminals to simply blow the powder in a person's face. The documentary is filled with scopolamine-related horror stories, including one account of a man moving all of his possessions out of his apartment (and into the hands of his robbers) without remembering any of it.

I like this one. I could be very evil with a bottle of that stuff. Oh Jason.... c'mer honey.

Rhubarb is missing, as is foxglove.

[blue gecko]

Thanks for the post free ranger. Its a good list to start with. There are many plants that are toxic in "large" amounts but have medicinal benefits in small amounts....all good things in moderation and all that. Anytime you look to herbal remedies its a good caution to do your homework and not rely on only one source.

Another good addition is death angel mushroom.

Here's some more:

http://landscaping.about.com/od/pois...ogs_Humans.htm

.Filed In:Landscape Plants Poisonous Plants for Cats, Dogs, Humans Here's a resource for learning about poisonous plants for cats, dogs and humans. Tiger lilies are among the worst poisonous plants for cats and jasmine for dogs, while castor bean is the source of toxic ricin and is a poor choice to grow if you have kids. Most of these resources focus on plants poisonous to humans; the bottom 2 resources pertain to pets. Bittersweet Nightshade: Infamously Poisonous Plants -- and Very Common Article distinguishes between 3 plants named "bittersweet," one of which (bittersweet nightshade) is quite poisonous. Characteristics of each are presented, environmental concerns raised about Oriental bittersweet, and name origins supplied. Bittersweet nightshade is especially dangerous to have around kids, as they're attracted to its brightly colored berries. Foxgloves Foxglove plants are toxic, although they are used medicinally by those who know what they're doing! Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) produce gorgeous flowers, making them popular -- despite their infamously toxic quality. "Kiss of Death" Poisonous Plants: Mistletoe At Christmas we kiss under the mistletoe, then forget about mistletoe for another year. There's more to mistletoe than kisses: Druids and Norse, diverse botany, medical controversy, literary fame. And how about the origin of the term? But mistletoe's mention here is due to the toxic nature of its berries, warranting mistletoe's inclusion on my list of poisonous plants. Wisteria Vines If ingested in sufficient quantities (which, for a young child, would be a relatively small amount), the seeds and pods of wisterias can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea. Winterberry Shrubs Various parts of winterberry holly shrubs were used by Native Americans as medicine. However, ingesting the bright red berries commonly causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mountain Laurels Don't confuse these shrubs with the more famous laurel, "bay laurel." While bay laurels are famous in cuisine (bay leaf), mountain laurels are toxic, for both humans and cattle. Ingesting the leaves or flowers of mountain laurels can cause nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and watering of the eyes and nose. And there have been reports of even more severe cases. Azalea and Rhododendron Bushes Azaleas and rhododendrons are among the most popular landscape plants. But ingesting their leaves or flowers can cause vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea -- or worse. Holly: Christmas Shrubs, Poisonous Plants Holly shrubs may be a Christmas favorite, but ingesting their berries causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Castor Beans Castor bean plants possess a rather striking form and are sometimes used as ornamentals in landscape design. But the seeds of castor bean plants contain ricin, a deadly toxin. English Boxwood Shrubs English boxwoods make excellent hedges and topiaries. But ingesting the leaves can cause gastric problems and vomiting. Juniper Shrubs Using juniper groundcovers controls erosion and weeds, and also eliminates your having to mow steep slopes. But ingesting too many of juniper's berry-like cones can lead to kidney damage. Bulb Plants Hyacinths and narcissus (daffodils) bring much delight in spring with their blooms. But ingesting the bulbs of these poisonous plants brings nausea, vomiting, diarrhea -- and in some cases, even death. Clematis Vines Clematis vines are very popular in landscaping. The 'Jackman' variety is especially prized, due to its showy blooms (including a rich purple). But all the parts of these poisonous plants can cause gastrointestinal irritation if eaten. Periwinkle Flower (Vinca Minor Vine) Periwinkle flower (Vinca minor) is one of the more widespread ground covers you'll find in the Northeastern U.S. Along with pachysandra, I often see its vines even out in the woods, where it had been grown on what are now long-abandoned homesteads. Unfortunately, ingesting any part of Vinca minor can cause intestinal irritation. Virginia Creeper Vines When we think of fall foliage, we think primarily of trees, and perhaps shrubs. But the fall foliage of Virginia creeper vines holds its own with any trees or shrubs. Ingesting any part of the vine, however, can cause vomiting, nausea, stomach ache, headache and, in severe cases, even kidney damage. Privet Hedges (Ligustrum) Ingesting any part of these poisonous plants may cause stomach ache, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, or headache. Eating the berries of privet shrubs may even cause death. Creeping Charlie Weed Creeping charlie vines are very common lawn weeds that used to play a part in, of all things, beer production. But they're poisonous plants for dogs and cats, so make sure your pets aren't nibbling on them. Japanese and English Yews English and Japanese yew bushes (and crosses between them) are widely used as hedges. But all parts of yew bushes are poisonous, except for the berry. And since yew seeds are poisonous, and the seed matures within the berry, even the latter can be considered "off limits." Keep small children away from these poisonous plants! Winter Jasmine Vines Jasmine vines are poisonous to humans and dogs alike! Lantana Plants Lantana plants are a tropical shrub and grow as perennials in Florida landscaping, for instance. But in cooler climates they are often treated as annual flowers. Don't let your pets chew on lantana; it will make them sick. Peony Plants Peony plants have been grown and admired for centuries, due in part to the beauty of their blooms and foliage, their fragrance and their longevity. But peony plants are toxic to dogs. The "Big 3" of Poisonous Plants: Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac Index to the material on my site dealing with the poisonous plants that are responsible for a great many cases of rashes every year: poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Use the links provided to navigate to information on the identification, eradication and treatment of poison ivy, oak and sumac. Both chemical and organic weed control methods are discussed.

[shalym]

Mountain Laurels
Don't confuse these shrubs with the more famous laurel, "bay laurel." While bay laurels are famous in cuisine (bay leaf), mountain laurels are toxic, for both humans and cattle. Ingesting the leaves or flowers of mountain laurels can cause nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and watering of the eyes and nose. And there have been reports of even more severe cases.

Wow...I never knew this--the woods around here are FULL of mountain laurel--I was always told that the deer were attracted to them. I know that a lot of fawns are born in stands of mountain laurel--I can see the evidence of that when I walk the woods behind my house.

Shari

[A.T. Hagan]

I wouldn't have mixed carnivorous and toxic plants like that. Rather apples and oranges to my view.

One I would have put on the list is the Rosary Pea



Rosary Pea
http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/node/23

Hugely toxic. They're common on the Florida east coast and kids (including myself back when) love to play with them because of their red and black coloration. I think the only reason there aren't more poisonings from it is because it has a very hard seed coat so does not crack easily. Swallowing one whole is likely to be harmless because it will just pass on through and out. Crack one however....

.....Alan.

[andy]

The toxin present in Abrus precatorius is a close relative to ricin called abrin. It is a dimer consisting of two protein subunits, termed A and B. The B chain facilitates abrin's entry into a cell by bonding to certain transport proteins on cell membranes, which then transport the toxin into the cell. Once inside the cell, the A chain prevents protein synthesis by inactivating the 26S subunit of the ribosome. One molecule of abrin will inactivate up to 1,500 ribosomes per second. Symptoms are identical to those of ricin, except abrin is more toxic by several orders of magnitude; the fatal dose of ricin is approximately 75 times greater than the fatal dose of abrin. Abrin can kill with a circulating amount of less than 3 μg (micrograms).

per Wiki

Alan, I think you might have the one I was thinking about.....? I just remember that it made ricin look mellow!