Dangerous tropical plants. poisonous plants around us

Poison is not only a weapon of snakes and arthropods. A large number of plant species that grow around the world contain toxins that are deadly not only for animals, but also for humans. Below is a list of the ten most poisonous plants in the world.

Oleander is an evergreen perennial undersized shrub native to India. Also common in East Asia. It can often be found near dry riverbeds and streams. Grows up to 2-6 m in height. Cultivated as an ornamental plant, blooming with red, white, yellow and pink fragrant flowers. Oleander is used in medicine, especially for cardiovascular diseases. Widely used throughout the world to decorate gardens and parks. Blooms in summer. All parts of it are poisonous and contain oleandrin, cornerin and other cardiac glycosides, which, if ingested, cause severe colic, vomiting, diarrhea and can cause cardiac arrest. It is said that even the smoke from a burning oleander is poisonous. It is the flower symbol of the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

manchineel tree

The manchineel tree is a species of flowering plant native to Central America (Florida, the Caribbean and the Bahamas), as well as Venezuela and Colombia. In the wild, it can be found on coastal beaches and in brackish swamps among mangrove trees. The manchineel tree grows up to 15 meters in height. All parts of it contain strong toxins, especially fruits and milky white juice - one drop on the skin leaves blisters, dermatitis, swelling or burns. Not surprisingly, the manchineel tree is called the "little apple of death."

Weh is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows up to 2.5 meters tall and is distinguished by small green or white flowers arranged in an umbrella shape. As a rule, they grow in damp meadows and other wet and swampy places. Three of the four species contain the strongest toxin (cicutoxin) that causes rhabdomyolysis, characterized by the destruction of muscle tissue cells and the development of acute renal failure.

White Brugmansia is a perennial flowering plant native to the rainforests of South America. These are small trees and shrubs containing psychoactive substances. Cultivated as an ornamental plant throughout the world. They can reach a height of 3–11 m. All parts of Brugmansia are poisonous, especially the seeds and leaves. They contain atropine, tropane alkaloids, scopolamine. When ingested, it leads to muscle paralysis, confusion, tachycardia, diarrhea, headaches, visual and auditory hallucinations, mydriasis, cycloplegia, and even death.

Ageratina highesta is a perennial plant native to eastern and central North America. Grows up to 1.5 m in height. It is used in medicine, in particular, against snake bites. Ageratina highest - poisonous, it contains the toxin tremetol, which, once inside, causes convulsions, vomiting and leads to serious intestinal disorders. Surprisingly, a person who eats meat or drinks the milk of a poisoned animal can develop all the symptoms of poisoning, and even be fatal.

Belladonna is a perennial plant up to 1.5 m high. It grows in deciduous moist forests, mainly in open areas in North Africa, Europe and Western Asia. All its parts are poisonous, with the highest concentration of poisonous alkaloids found in the roots and fruits. Symptoms of belladonna poisoning in humans are hallucinations, lack of recognition of the environment, photophobia, speech disturbances and, ultimately, loss of consciousness and death from paralysis of the respiratory center.

Aconite

Aconite or Wrestler is a genus of poisonous perennial plants common in Europe, Asia and North America. I grow about 1 meter in height. Used in medicine. Some species are grown as ornamentals. Blooms in July-September. All parts of the plant are extremely poisonous and contain the alkaloid aconitine, which, when ingested, causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, and confusion. The main causes of death are ventricular asystole, paralysis of the heart or respiratory center. Poisoning can also occur by skin contact; aconitine - easily absorbed through the skin.

Cerberus is a genus of evergreen small plants that grow in tropical Asia, Australia, Madagascar, as well as on various islands located in the Indian Ocean. Due to its toxicity, the genus was named after the dog Cerberus from Greek mythology. All parts of the plant are extremely poisonous: they contain cerberin, a substance that blocks electrical impulses in the body (including heart rate). Even the smoke emitted when burning Cerberus can cause severe poisoning and lead to death.

The second place in the ranking of the most poisonous plants in the world is occupied by Abrus prayer - a poisonous plant native to India. Cultivated in many tropical countries. Grows up to 10 m in height. Its seeds contain a poisonous substance - abrin, which is especially dangerous in contact with open wounds and eyes. Even ingestion of one seed can be fatal for an adult. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, convulsions, liver failure, and death, usually within a few days.

Castor oil is a species of plant widely distributed in regions with a tropical and subtropical climate. It is also cultivated in many parts of the world and is widely used as an ornamental plant in parks and other public places. Castor oil is an evergreen shrub up to 10 m high. All its parts are poisonous and contain ricin and the alkaloid ricinin, which are fatal to humans at a dose of more than 0.2 g. Ingestion of plant seeds causes enteritis, vomiting and colic, bleeding from the gastrointestinal a path, disturbance of water and electrolytic balance and death in 5–7 days.

Do you think poison is only a weapon of snakes, reptiles and spiders? Me not. Are you sure that only a person has penetrated the secrets of poison and learned how to use it? I'm not sure. Do you like plants, flowers? Their fragrance, beauty? I love. But…

As you know, most plants around the world contain poisonous substances in their "bodies" as a defense. And some of them are dangerous not only for the flora and fauna, but also for humans. Many people have died from simply touching these plants, not to mention other uses. You may be surprised to see that many of them are common in our area. We would like to provide you with a list of the ten deadliest and most poisonous plants in the world.

Oleander

Also known as Jericho Rose, Oleander (Nerium oleander) is one of the most poisonous plants and a common ornamental plant native to Southeast Asia.

All parts of the plant are poisonous, from the root to the nectar. The presence of toxins such as nerioside and starendrin greatly contributes to the lethality of the plant. The consumption of parts of the plant has been found to lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and heart rate variability. It is said that even the smoke from a burning oleander is poisonous.

Manchineel Tree (Manchineel)

The name "manchineel" (sometimes written "manchioneel"), as well as the specific epithet mancinella, comes from the Spanish manzanilla ("little apple"), from the superficial resemblance of its fruits and leaves to an apple tree. The modern Spanish name is actually manzanilla de la muerte, "little apple of death."

Native to the coasts of South America, the Manchineel (Hippomane mancinella) is an extremely dangerous tree. Aside from the fruit, which is considered poisonous, the most dangerous part is the milky juice of the manchineel, which contains phorbol, a strong skin irritant. Contact with phorbol may cause blistering of the skin. It is assumed that the inhabitants of the Caribbean islands used various parts of the tree in their weapons. No wonder the manchineel is called the "little apple of death".

Water Hemlock

One of the most poisonous plants. The name Hemlock reminds us of the famous Greek philosopher Socrates. An ancient philosopher was killed by Hemlock's poison.

There are many dangerous plants that belong to the hemlock family, but Water Hemlock is particularly poisonous. The toxins present in the plant, cicutoxin and tsikunol, cause convulsions and damage the nervous system. Even if the person survives, they will probably have amnesia.

Trumpets Angel (Angel's Trumpets)

Growing in the tropical regions of South America, angel trumpets are one of the most poisonous plants. These are large shrubs named for their tubular flowers.

Belonging to the genus Brugmansia, they come in many varieties and all of their parts contain toxins such as the tropane alkaloids scopolamine and atropine. Although this plant is used in the treatment of several diseases, uncontrolled consumption, especially of leaves and seeds, can lead to diarrhea and paralysis, and overdose can lead to death.

White Snakeroot

The white snake (Ageratina altissima) is commonly found in North America. It is believed that the poison of this plant caused the death of Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln.

The poisonous nature of Snakeroot is attributed to the presence of a chemical called Tremetome. Severe vomiting and hallucinations occur in the poisoned person, who eventually dies. Snakeroot has been used as a remedy for snake bites, from which its name is derived.

Deadly Nightshade

The deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) belongs to the same family of tomatoes and potatoes. It is one of the most poisonous plants. All parts of the plant, especially the root and fruit, are toxic.

The main toxic substances present in the plant are atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine. First of all, they disable the nervous system. It takes several days for the poison to show up. Common symptoms include dilated pupils, loud heartbeat, blurred vision, and hallucinations. Enough poison can also lead to death.

Aconite (Aconite)

Also known in sinister names such as Wolfsbane and Devil's Helmet, Aconite (Aconitum napellus) is often referred to as the "queen of poisons". We gave him a name - a wrestler.

The poison aconitine is responsible for the toxicity of the plant, which can harm an adult even when touched. The effects of poisoning are immediate, ranging from diarrhea to respiratory problems that can lead to death. This plant is mainly found in the northern hemisphere.

Suicide Tree

The suicide tree (Cerbera odollam) causes about 50 deaths per year in the Indian state of Kerala.

It also belongs to the oleander family, and its seeds contain a powerful toxin called cerberin, which disrupts the rhythm of the heart. The plant is also known for being used to commit suicide and murder more than any other plant. One of the reasons for its widespread use is that its taste can be masked in the use of spicy food. The plant is widespread in South India.

Rosary Pea (Rosary Pea)

Known by the names crab eye, rooster eye, love pea, this plant gives no idea of ​​its lethality.

Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) contains one of the most dangerous plant poisons, abrin. In most cases, it is similar to ricin, but hundreds of times stronger. However, it acts slowly in the human body, and if the anti-poison is given on time, the victim can be saved. The plant grows in Indonesia.

Castor plant (Castor Bean)

The castor plant (Ricinus communis) is known for producing castor oil, which is widely used in cuisine and medicine.

But it also produces one of the most powerful poisons in the plant world. The ricin found in castor bean seeds is more dangerous than snake venom and cyanide. Eating the seeds of this plant can also be harmful. When poisoned, a person may experience vomiting and convulsions. This eventually leads to kidney failure and death.

A lot of unknown, interesting, sometimes strange and terrible is fraught with this world. There are many things we would like to know with you. On the pages of our blog, we will share with you, dear readers, what we learn ourselves. See you again.

"Fabulous killers" are ordinary flowers, however, beautiful ones. Many are fond of traditional medicine, and they know that medicine is made from plants. But what in small doses is medicine, in large doses it is poison.

Delphinium, otherwise larkspur.

All organs of the flower are very poisonous. Especially a lot of alkaloids in fruits and root system. Their concentration depends not only on the type of plant. Even the place where the flower and the season grew is important. The poison contained in the delphinum is similar in type to the poison of aconites. Scientists refer to these substances as one type, since their mechanism of action is the same. Larkspur, thanks to alkaloids, has a complex negative effect.

The work of the digestive system is disturbed, the heart and other circulatory organs suffer, the central nerves are paralyzed. With a strong concentration, breathing stops, because due to damage to the nervous system, paralysis occurs. And since other organs also suffer, the outcome is fatal.

Cicuta

A very beautiful flower. He asks for a wedding dress. Delicate, snow-white umbrellas on a red stem. And it smells nice, like dried fruit. The taste is sweet. It would seem not a plant, but a treasure. In fact, it is a terrible poison. 15 minutes after penetration, toxic substances begin to work. Symptoms - unbearable pain in the abdomen, strong salivation, diarrhea and nausea to vomiting. After - convulsions. If measures are not taken, then the heart and respiratory organs stop working, and then - death.

hemlock

Most scientists are inclined to think that the executioner of the philosopher Socrates was speckled hemlock. This plant grew everywhere in Greece, and the symptoms that occur with hemlock poisoning are very reminiscent of what Socrates felt before his death. Once in the human stomach, the juice (or decoction) of hemlock causes nausea, often vomiting and diarrhea. There is a loss of sensation and a gradual paralysis starting from the legs. Then comes respiratory arrest, leading to death.

It only takes a hemlock two hours to finish off its prey. No wonder he served in ancient Greece as the official executioner.

foxglove purple

Foxglove is the queen of flower beds and ... detective novels. Perhaps most often the name of this plant flashes in the works of the most widely read author of detective stories - Agatha Christie. In her short story "Dead Grass", foxglove caused the death of a young girl and the illness of other characters. Plucked along with sage, this plant was mixed with onions, and duck was stuffed with the resulting mixture.

Belladonna

Belladonna, or sleepy dope, has been known to the medical world for about 1500 BC. The Venetians called this plant "herba bella donna" because the ladies used it in distilled water as a cosmetic. The plant, especially the leaves, contains the well-known atropine, as well as asparagine, then lime and other alkaline substances. The root also contains atropine, although in varying proportions. Belladonna is highly poisonous to humans, although herbivores eat it with impunity.

Aconite

This tall plant, decorated with tassels of dark blue flowers, resembles royalty with its majesty. However, in terms of its toxicity, aconite can also be considered the king of plants. The ancient Germans, comparing its flowers with Thor's helmet, soaked weapons in aconite juice before going hunting or engaging in a fight with an enemy.

The plant contains a deadly poison - aconitine. All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the tubers, which are often mistaken for celery.

Colchicum autumn

This flower is an ideal candidate for decorating any suburban area. But each barrel of honey has its own fly in the ointment. Unfortunately, Colchicum is extremely poisonous. Moreover, all parts of the plant are poisonous, both external and underground. Therefore, even taking a flower in your hands should be in mittens - without them, you can get burns.

Henbane black

The whole plant is poisonous, but more often poisoned by seeds, which (like all other parts of the plant) contain potent alkaloids - hyoscyamine, scopolamine and atropine. In case of poisoning, dryness in the oral cavity, reddening of the skin, then rash, thirst, nausea and vomiting, impaired cardiac activity, convulsions and, finally, a mental disorder occur first. Symptoms appear very quickly: from 10 minutes. up to 15 hours. At the first signs of poisoning, you must call a doctor.

sleep-grass

Backache dream grass in its raw, freshly picked form is a poison, and when dried it is a medicine. This property is due to the content in the backache of a toxin called protoanemonin. During the drying process, the toxin is destroyed, and the poisonous properties disappear. Fresh, not dried plants should not be used for oral administration, this can lead to severe poisoning and even death. And its juice, once on the skin, can cause severe burns.

Tamariscifolia

Many summer residents want to decorate their plots with decorative conifers. This always creates coziness on the territory. Just be careful when buying Tamariscifolia juniper, unlike its prickly counterparts, it is poisonous. Having tasted a berry, you can get serious poisoning, but this is not all the trouble. When planting or processing a plant, it is difficult not to get hurt on needle branches. After such close contact, especially if you prudently did not put on gloves, irritation appears on your hands caused by poisonous juice getting into the wound.

Rhododendron

Unpretentious and beautiful flower. In a shady area, it will delight you with a wide variety of shades of its flowers. And he knows how to protect his beauty. It is worth someone out of ignorance or out of curiosity to taste any part and the sad consequences will not keep you waiting. The first symptoms will be salivation and tearing, then all this will turn into vomiting, slowing of the pulse and a drop in blood pressure. If the dose of poison received by the body is large, then convulsions, coma and death are possible.

Hydrangea

This beautiful flower, which can be seen so often in park flower beds and flower beds, just makes you want to plant it in your summer cottage or garden plot. And if you are seduced by its beauty and let it grow near your home, then you will place a potential killer near you, which will be nearby from early summer until late autumn. The plant is dangerous from the roots to the tips of the leaves, but the most dangerous part is the bud. The consequences of ingesting even a piece of this plant into the body will be the same as with the use of potassium cyanide! Suffocation, loss of consciousness, convulsions, rapid pulse, drop in blood pressure and even death - this is the price of careless handling of this cute flower. So try to isolate yourself and your loved ones from potential danger.

Narcissus

Delicate flower, a symbol of the coming spring. Well, how not to buy a bouquet home to enjoy the first sunny and warm days, looking at the beautiful flowers! Bringing such a bouquet into the house, know that even without eating parts of this flower, you can harm your health. Just being around, you can feel a headache. Possible manifestations of allergies. But if you taste it, the consequences will be much more ambitious: nausea and vomiting, convulsions and loss of consciousness, paralysis and death. So, even just holding them in your hands, make sure that the juice does not get on open wounds, it is best to protect yourself with gloves.

Oleander

When decorating your garden with this flower, remember that this flower is dangerous! Even one leaf is poisonous enough to kill a small child. And even if death does not occur, then serious consequences will forever remain, in the form of malfunctions in the activity of the heart and central nervous system.

Mountain laurel or kalmiya

This flower is a relative of the rhododendron, and therefore no less dangerous! Even its pollen is dangerous, so in no case try to pick and smell this flower! Ingestion of any part of the flower will result in watery eyes, runny nose, salivation, suffocation, kidney failure, paralysis, convulsions, or death.

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Everyone should know about this! Everything about the most poisonous plants - those that are grown culturally, for medicinal purposes, about wild and indoor plants, mushrooms and trees.

poisonous indoor plants

The enemy must be known by sight, as they say. If you came to the garden store to choose a new green pet for yourself, or a friend suggested pinching off a sprout, you should clarify in advance whether the new plant will harm you or your pets, especially animals and children.

For example, all plants of the spurge, aroid, amaryllis families have dangerous juice that causes burns on the skin, and if ingested, rather severe poisoning follows - the gastrointestinal tract, mucous membranes, and even the nervous system are damaged.

Among the potential indoor poisoners are such popular plants as poinsettia, dieffenbachia, monstera, philodendron, beautiful callas, and even tulips, hyacinths, daffodils! If their juice gets on the skin, you should immediately wash your hands, and even though you cut and shaped the bouquet very carefully, you should not touch your eyes with the same hands.

In some plants, for example, nightshade or kutrovye, only some parts are poisonous, as luck would have it, the most attractive to unintelligent children (bright fruits, sometimes tubers). Therefore, you should not keep such flowers in the public domain.

However, life-threatening representatives of the flora are waiting for us almost everywhere: in the forest, in the meadow, and in the middle lane, there are no less of them than in the exotic jungle. Take the same quiet hunting or collecting medicinal herbs: everywhere you need to know which mushroom or flower is better to bypass.

The most poisonous mushrooms

The most famous poisonous representative of the mushroom world is, of course, the pale grebe, an indispensable ingredient in Baba Yaga's potion and a 100% guarantee of being sent to the next world if it accidentally gets into the mushroom picker's pan. The poison contained in the pale toadstool is resistant to heat, and the dried toadstool also does not go anywhere, so they cannot be eaten in any form. Distinctive features are white plates and a characteristic skirt. Mushrooms, with which grebe is confused, also have a skirt, but the plates are dark. Even in toadstools, the leg grows as if from a bag, although this sign is not so accurate - the lower part of the leg is hidden in the soil.

Also, various fly agarics are confused with champignons - not bright red, but panther or smelly. If the brown panther fly agaric most often does not lead to the death of an unfortunate taster, then the white smelly fly agaric is almost as poisonous as the pale grebe.

The following deadly poisonous mushrooms - gallerinas - disguise themselves as mushrooms. They also grow on stumps of the same color. Only experienced mushroom pickers can immediately distinguish. And these are not false mushrooms: they are also poisonous, but differ in the shape of the hat.

The most insidious mushroom poisoner is called "the most beautiful cobweb". Accidentally crammed into a basket, it is eaten and digested, but its poison is such that the symptoms of fatal poisoning appear after a couple of weeks. No one even suggests poisoning, so most often the case ends in death.

Poisonous plants of Russia

And among the green inhabitants of central Russia, quite common species that are familiar to almost everyone are very poisonous.

Take, for example, a plant such as aconite, also known as wrestler. Tall grass with conspicuous flowers-pipes is completely poisonous, leaves and roots are especially dangerous. A couple of grams of any part of aconite, ingested, can kill an adult - death occurs from respiratory arrest. Previously, aconite was deliberately used for bad purposes, for example, they poisoned melee weapons with it.

Belladonna is also poisonous, as well as its close relatives dope and henbane - they are all from the nightshade family.

We also meet the famous hemlock, which is poisonous. It is often mistaken for an edible plant such as celery, as its roots have a pleasant smell and taste. The poison of the hemlock affects the nervous system. Cattle also suffer from hemlock, accidentally eating it along with other grass - 200 g of roots kill a cow.

Everyone knows both the wolf's bast (wolf berries) and the crow's eye - most often children get poisoned by their unusual berries. There are few deaths, since the berries, to put it mildly, are much more attractive in appearance than in taste, so a large dose can be eaten only consciously. Another danger is the cow parsnip - its giant umbrella inflorescences are often found along the roads. When hogweed juice comes into contact with the skin or simply in contact with the leaves, human skin becomes extremely sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. The result is severe sunburn, even in the shade. And if you eat enough cow parsnip, then in addition to somatic signs of poisoning, even reversible mental disorders are observed.

Popular forest and wild flowers are also very poisonous - for example, buttercups, lilies of the valley. Lilies of the valley are often grown in gardens as ornamentals, but all of their parts are poisonous, from the roots to the berries. You can even get poisoned by water in which there was a bunch of lilies of the valley. Poison affects the activity of the heart.

But buttercups are dangerous only when fresh - when dried, the poison is destroyed, so hay from buttercups is safe for animals.

Interestingly, almost all of the listed poisonous plants are widely used in medicine, as well as other plants not mentioned above. For example, celandine in dermatology, hemlock in oncology and much more. The question is in quantity: the wrong dosage of a medicinal plant kills. But there are also such representatives of the flora, which you should not even approach, let alone use in homeopathic doses. And they look, so to speak, quite casual. It's good that they don't grow here.

The most poisonous plant in the world

So, the most poisonous plant in the world from the Guinness Book of Records is called manchineel. This tree is a common deciduous tree found in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Everything is poisonous with him - both apple fruits, and juice, which causes terrible burns and swelling, and bark. It is difficult to cut it down, and even burning it is not possible: the smoke is also poisonous and causes blindness!

In general, you just need to stay away from the manchineel. Therefore, it is often surrounded by a red marker. Remember and avoid.

But the most poisonous substance on earth is not a plant. According to the site, the most dangerous creature in this regard is the box jellyfish.
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For thousands of years, through trial and error, people have learned which plants are edible and tasty, and which are best avoided. In our urbanized age, we began to forget the valuable experience of our ancestors, and today in the gardens and on the windowsills of many flora lovers you can meet very insidious representatives of the kingdom planta, contact with which can end badly. 13 similar plants are collected here.

Apple tree ( Malus)

Yes, don't be surprised. One apple a day is very healthy and rich in vitamins, which cannot be said about its seeds, which contain cyanogenic glycosides (hydrocyanic acid is formed when they are split). Of course, nothing bad will happen from 1-2 seeds, especially if they are eaten whole, but in large quantities they can be dangerous, especially for children.

stinging tree

In the forests of Australia and Indonesia, there is the most dangerous plant in the world, known as the stinging tree or Dendrocnide moroides. Like other members of the nettle family, all parts of the shrub are covered with trichomes containing the neurotoxin moroidin. Unbearable pain from burns with this plant lasts from several days to weeks and even months, while at the moment there is no effective antidote. A second burn can cause anaphylactic shock and death. So, be careful walking through the forests of Australia!

Castor bean ( Ricinus communis)

As a source of the textbook "castor oil" or castor oil, castor bean fruits contain one of the most toxic substances in the world - ricin and the alkaloid ricinin. In just one castor bean fruit, ricin is enough to kill an adult, despite this, in Europe and the United States, many grow castor beans as an ornamental plant.

Angelic Horn or Brugmansia

Representatives of the genus Brugmansia are welcome exhibits in the collection of flora lovers, of course, because the large elegant flowers of these shrubs and trees leave no one indifferent. Not surprisingly, these plants are often used in decorative landscaping. However, all parts of Brugmansia, especially the leaves and seeds, contain large amounts of poisonous alkaloids, including scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and atropine.

Aconite pharmacy

The poisonous properties of aconite have been known to mankind since ancient times. The barbarians used it to poison the water of their enemies. Later it was used as "an effective means of detecting werewolves." All parts of the plant contain a dangerous alkaloid with a neurotoxic effect, aconitine, to which no antidote has been found. It is known that with the help of aconitine, the first vice-president and minister of war of Egypt, Abdel Hakim Amer, committed suicide.

Poskonnik

This very insidious plant contains the toxin tremetol, which has a devastating effect both directly and indirectly. For example, when goats or cows eat skep, their meat and milk becomes “contaminated” with the toxin tremetol, and human consumption leads to severe poisoning, also known as “milk sickness.” It is known that Nancy Hanks, the mother of Abraham Lincoln, died from poisoning with just such milk. Today, shipments of milk with tremetol of the skeeter are rare, but still occur.

Sleepy dope or belladonna

Belladonna, belladonna or sleepy dope is a plant famous for its poisonous properties, has a rich history of poisoning, both accidental and deliberate, but many people do not even realize that among the closest relatives of this dangerous beauty we are familiar with potatoes, tomato, eggplant and spicy chilli. Their leaves, like belladonna, although in smaller quantities, contain toxins that can cause serious poisoning.

Abrus prayer

This creeper from the legume family got its religious name because rosaries were made from its seeds. There are many cases when jewelers died by pricking their finger with a needle that pierced the seeds, stringing them on a thread. The fact is that the seed juice contains the toxin abrin - chemically very similar to ricin - one of the most deadly compounds on Earth.

Oleander

Oddly enough, but one of the most poisonous plants on the planet is actively used in urban gardening in the US and Europe, moreover, it can be found even on playgrounds. Any part of this plant is highly poisonous, even inhaling smoke from burning oleander leaves, stems or flowers can be fatal. It is known that in 2002 in the United States 847 deaths from contact with this plant were recorded.

Yew berry or European

Relatively common in Europe and even in the botanical gardens of Russia, this plant is by no means harmless. Especially poisonous are the beautiful red seedlings surrounding its seeds containing taxanes. The medical literature describes many cases when people tried to commit suicide by eating "berries" and yew leaves. However, today this plant has a different glory. Taxanes have been found to have anti-cancer activity.

Narcissus

These beautiful flowers, delighting gardeners with their flowering in early spring, have been known since ancient times. Their bulbs, from which they grow, are poisonous. Even Socrates referred to them as the "Crown of Hades" for their strong analgesic effect, however, overdoses often led to death.

Voronet thick-legged

The very sight of these creepy berries of the thick-legged corow warns that you should not eat them. After all, they contain cardiogenic toxins that can cause cardiac arrest.

Milestone poisonous or hemlock

Perhaps there is no more famous plant in history than milestones or hemlock, the extract of which poisoned Socrates. All parts of the plant contain coniin, a toxin that causes severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and progressive paralysis of the nervous system. The plant is also known as Devil's porridge and poisonous parsley.