Most poisonous plant
8 Most Poisonous Plants in the World
Plants have been used as a source of nourishment (their fruits and some leaves) and as a treatment for ailments since ancient times. Prior to technological advancement, humans had to distinguish the benefits of each individual by experimentation with themselves and putting their own lives at danger, as intake of certain plants can be fatal.
Plants may appear to be harmless, but they can contain many of the most lethal poisons known. Poisonous plants have indeed been responsible for human deaths across history, from Socrates' death from poison hemlock to toddlers accidentally ingesting deadly nightshade.
Even with so much scientific advancement, there are still poisonous plants, and here is a list of plants to be aware of.
1. Oleander Nerium
Every portion of this plant is packed of toxins, making it the most dangerous plant on the planet. Oleandrin and neriine are two of the most potent. The poison of an oleander is so potent that it can even poison someone who eats honey created by bees that have ingested oleander nectar.
Despite its lethal nature, it is used as a decorative plant. The oleander has a wonderful scent. They're frequently employed as road barriers. Its quick growth is utilised to keep new construction sites from eroding.
Most animals, as well as humans, are poisoned by oleander. Humans have died as a result of ingesting oleander leaves.
2. The Tree of Death (Hippomane mancinella)
A tree native to Mesoamerica and the Caribbean Sea islands, the chamomile of death is also known as the tree of death. Its fruit has a pleasant smell and a lovely apple-like appearance, but it is highly toxic.
Because it is harmful to humans and possibly all mammals, it is known as "the most dangerous tree in the world." A milky sap (containing phorbol) is created when you scratch the tree, which produces burning, inflames the skin tissues, and causes blisters and eruptions in the epidermis.
If ingested, severe vomiting and diarrhoea might lead to death. The smoke from this plant can cause temporary blindness as well as major respiratory problems if you are there while it is burned.
3.Snakeroot, White (Ageratina altissima)
White snakeroot, a seemingly harmless plant, was responsible for the death of Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks. White snakeroot is a North American herb that produces flat-topped clusters of little white flowers and contains trematol, a poisonous alcohol.
Animals graze on this plant from time to time, producing deadly milk for its consumers. Indeed, the toxin can be passed to humans through poisoned cattle meat and milk.
Loss of appetite, nausea, weakness, abdominal discomfort, reddish tongue, abnormal blood acidity, and mortality are all symptoms of "milk poisoning." Fortunately, farmers are increasingly aware of this potentially fatal hazard and are working to remove the plant from animal pastures.
4. Castor Oil (Ricinus Communis)
Castor oil is a type of vegetable oil that comes from (Ricinus communis)
Ricin, sometimes known as the infernal fig tree, is an African bush with a thick, woody stem and crimson or dark purple leaves (hence the common name), which are frequently covered in ricin, a very deadly white powder.
This drug causes nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, internal bleeding, and kidney failure, which leads to death 10 days after exposure. Ricin disrupts human cellular metabolism; by interrupting the chemical mechanism that keeps cells alive, cells die and organs gradually fail until death occurs.
For an adult, a deadly dose would be five castor beans; for a kid, just one. Castor oil is derived from the seeds of this plant.
5. Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius)
Abrin, a highly deadly ribosome-inhibiting protein, is found in these pompously titled seeds, also known as jequirity beans. While the seeds are not dangerous when whole, if scratched, fractured, or bitten, they can be lethal.
Rosary peas are a type of tropical pea that is widely used in rosaries and jewellery. Many jewellers have reportedly become ill or died as a result of accidentally pricking their hands when working with the seeds, because it only takes 3 micrograms of abrin to kill an adult, far less than the amount of poison in one seed.
Abrin, like ricin, stops cells from making protein and can cause organ failure in as little as four days.
6. Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna )
Without a doubt, Deadly Nightshade is one of the most lethal flowers for humans, with medical characteristics as well. The deadly nightshade, with its dull, dark green leaves and bell-shaped purple blooms, is perhaps the plant with the terrifying name.
It grows to a height of 1.5 metres and may be identified by its dull, dark green leaves and bell-shaped purple flowers. Belladonna, or deadly nightshade, is a plant that can cause death through causing hallucinations. The toxin targets the nervous system, causing involuntary muscle paralysis at nerve ends.
Dilated pupils, light sensitivity, impaired vision, headaches, and disorientation are some of the symptoms. A youngster can be killed by as few as two berries, whereas an adult can be killed by 10 to 20 berries.
7. Lily of the Valley
Walter White utilised this sweet-looking plant for some not-so-sweet crimes, as Breaking Bad fans will recall.
People who consume its hazardous components, known as cardiac glycosides, might have symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, rashes, and diarrhoea, which can lead to hospitalisation. Those tiny bells can potentially kill you if left unchecked.
8. Vulgar Dracunculus
Stink Lily, Voodoo Lily, and Snake Lily are all common names for Dracunculus Vulgaris. It emits the stench of decomposing flesh, which attracts flies. These fly assist in pollination, but the odour dissipates after a day.
The Voodoo Lily, as its name suggests, despises direct sunshine and prefers to be in the shade. You already know that every part of this plant is toxic if eaten. This deadly flower can induce skin damage or allergic reactions just by touching it.
These are our top picks for the eight most dangerous plants you should avoid. Keep these poisonous and toxic names in mind at all times because they might be life-threatening. We hope that this blog has been informative and helpful in keeping you safe and well.
Do you have any more names? Please let us know.
Filed in: #bloggers, #cultivators, #facts, #gardeners, #nurserylive, Castor Oil, Deadly nightshade, Kaner, lily of the valley, poisnous plants, Rosary Pea, Snakeroot, tree of death
10 of the world’s most poisonous plants
Like animals, many plants have evolved mechanisms to avoid predation. Unlike animals, they do not have the option to run away, and thus must rely on other ways of protecting themselves.
This may involve physical defences, such as thorns and spines, but can also involve the production of toxins – an array of chemical compounds that can induce anything from mild discomfort to death in an unlucky herbivore.
Such poisonous plants have a very important place in human culture, from their homicidal uses to their medicinal benefits. This list gives a rundown of ten of the most lethal.
We explain the differences between poisonous and venomous
10 of the world’s deadliest plants
Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
Deadly nightshade berries live up to their name. © Naturfoto Honal/Getty
Perhaps the most famously lethal on our list is Atropa belladonna, the aptly named Deadly Nightshade. This toxic plant belongs to the same family as tomatoes, potatoes and aubergines, and can be found across Europe, including in Britain, as well as North Africa, Western Asia and some parts of the USA and Canada.
Despite being one of the most toxic plants known, with as few as 10 berries thought able to kill an adult, its name actually comes from its use as a beauty product (bella donna being Italian for beautiful woman).
Drops prepared from the plant were used to dilate pupils to make ladies’ eyes seem bigger, brighter and more attractive.
Thankfully this is little practised today, due to adverse effects including visual distortions and even blindness.
Tobacco (
Nicotiana tabacum)A farmer examines ripe tobacco leaves for quality in Adairville, Kentucky, USA. © Andy Sacks/Getty
One of the world’s most famous, and for some beloved, plants is also one of the most toxic. Tobacco is the most widely grown commercial non-food plant in the world, and in 2020 it was used by an estimated 22.3% of the global population. Despite this popularity, all parts of the plant, especially the leaves, contain the toxic alkaloids nicotine and anabasine.
Tobacco is designated as a cardiac poison and if eaten directly may even result in death. Indirectly, tobacco is still remarkably dangerous, responsible for the deaths of 8 million people a year according to the WHO, primarily as a consequence of cigarette smoking.
It certainly deserves its place on our deadly list.
Learn about another ‘killer’ tobacco species
Manchineel (
Hippomane mancinella)Plants of manchineel or death apple (Hippomane mancinella) in the US Virgin Islands. © DEA/V. GIANNELLA /Getty
The lethality of this tree is made evident by one Spanish name for it, manzanilla de la muerte, or “little apple of death”. Manchineel trees are found in tropical parts of the Americas, and it is known as ‘the world’s most dangerous tree’ for a good reason. Every part of the tree, from the bark to the sap is highly toxic.
The fruits, as the part most likely to be unwittingly consumed, are the most dangerous. Just a single bite of the small green crabapples can cause agony, and potentially death. Even standing beneath the tree when it rains is perilous, as the dripping sap causes the skin to burn and blister. Definitely best left alone!
Lily-Of-The-Valley (
Convallaria majalis) In France, is it traditional to give sprigs of Lily-of-the-Valley to family members on 1st May.
© GEORGES GOBET/AFP/Getty
Beautiful, sweet-smelling… and poisonous. Lily-Of-The-Valley, an expensive flowering plant renowned for its delicate perfume and symbolism of love and happiness (it was even featured in the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding bouquet) is in fact highly toxic. This is due to a high concentration of heart-active cardiac glycosides, and its flowers and attractive red berries may be fatal if eaten.
Like many toxic plants, Lily-Of-The-Valley has been used in folk medicine for centuries, from a supposed treatment for gout to a cure for muteness. There is however no scientific evidence that the plant can treat human diseases.
Oleander (
Nerium oleander)Oleander flowers in bloom. © Molteni Motta/Getty
Another toxic but beautiful flower is Oleander. Known for its striking flowers, and portrayed by painters from Klimt to Van Gogh, unfortunately, this pretty pink plant is packed with poison. Like Lily-Of-The-Valley, it contains toxic cardiac glycosides.
Somewhat fortunately, however, it has a very bitter taste, meaning that people are not tempted to eat it, and oleander poisonings are rare.
The plant has a very long history of cultivation, with Pliny the Elder writing of its poisonous properties in his famous work Naturalis Historia in AD 77. Characteristic of the book’s dubious accuracy he also talks of its usefulness as a snakebite antidote, when in reality it would probably just kill you quicker.
Rosary Pea, or crab’s eye vine (
Abrus precatorius)Abrus precatorius seeds with bold red and black warning colours, indicating their dangerous toxin. © Auscape/Getty
The tiny beans of this plant pack a massive punch. Also known as the jequirity bean this climbing plant of the bean family (Fabaceae) is native to Asia and Australia but is highly invasive in other parts of the world, including parts of the Caribbean and the USA.
It is popular as an ornamental plant but also has a deeper cultural and religious significance in various countries.
For example, in Trinidad, the bright red beads are strung into bracelets and worn to ward off evil spirits. This is all despite the fact that ingestion of just a single seed can be fatal.
Its toxicity is such that it has been even used for the illegal killing of cattle, using just a small spike coated in the seed paste.
Cerbera odollamAn Indian man looks at the fruit of a Cerbera odollam tree in Trivandrum, Kerala, India. © STR/AFP/Getty
With the gruesome colloquial name of ‘suicide tree’ it’s not hard to see how this plant made it to our list. Native to south and southeast Asia and Australia, this tree bears a highly toxic fruit called othalanga which when ingested can stop a heart. It has been used both for homicidal and suicidal purposes.
Astonishingly a 2004 study found that the fruit was responsible for approximately one death per week in the southern Indian state of Kerala, primarily suicides. Its popularity as a murder weapon derives from the fact that it is difficult to detect in autopsies and its taste can be masked by strong spices.
Hemlock water-dropwort (
Oenanthe crocata)An illustration of hemlock water-dropwort. © Universal History Archive/Getty
Another plant with a gruesome moniker and an even creepier story is the hemlock water-dropwort, sometimes known as ‘dead man’s fingers’. This plant is actually a member of the carrot family, and although is reported to have quite a pleasant taste, is definitely something that should not be put in a stew. I
t is thought that this plant may have given rise to the term ‘sardonic grin’ as hemlock water-dropwort poisoning causes (in addition to lung collapse, brain haemorrhage and death) the facial muscles to spasm and contract, leaving a body with a striking ‘smile’. The ‘sardonic’ part of the name is thought to derive from the use of the plant for the ritualistic killing of the elderly and criminals in ancient Sardinia.
Monkshood, wolf’s bane, etc (
Aconitum genus) Aconitum Napellus, also known as monkshood or wolf’s wane, is a poisonous perennial herb.
© Josette Taylor / EyeEm/Getty
Monkshood, also known by names including wolf’s bane, leopard’s bane, mousebane, devil’s helmet and women’s bane, is actually a whole genus of plants, rather than a species. Almost all members of this genus are highly poisonous, but despite this their tall violet-blue flowers make them prized by gardeners and florists.
The toxin derived from these plants is called aconite and in several parts of the world, it has been used as an arrow poison to hunt ibex and bears for example.
It has also been used in grisly historical human ‘medical’ trials. In 1524, Pope Clement VII is said to have intentionally administered aconite to two condemned prisoners in order to test the efficacy of a potential antidote. The prisoner that was given the antidote survived and was rewarded with a life sentence rather than death, the prisoner that was not given it died an agonising death.
Thornapples (
Datura genus) The thornapple, a highly toxic plant whose leaves are used for pharmacy, on Euboea, Greece.
© Wassilios Aswestopoulos/NurPhoto/Getty
Another deadly and dangerous genus is that of thornapples, also appropriately known as devil’s trumpets, and hells bells. All species in this genus are extremely toxic, as well as potentially psychoactive.
Their hallucinogenic properties have led to them being used by indigenous groups of the Americas to elicit visions and go on spiritual ‘trips’. This can be a very dangerous practice however as the difference between a recreational dose and a lethal one is very small. Only very intimate knowledge of its properties can make it a remotely safe experience.
The plants have also been associated with western witchcraft and are said to have been used by witches in their hallucinogenic ‘flying ointments’.
More deadly species
- 10 most venomous animals
- What’s the world’s most dangerous mammal?
Authors
Leoma Williams
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Animal behavior researcher and science writer
Leoma Williams is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Manchester, and writes periodically for both the website and print magazine
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- Poisonous Plants
The World's Most Dangerous Plants - Merzlikin's Library
There are many plants in the world that look safe and even cute.
But be careful with what you can touch or taste - there are plants that can kill in a matter of hours or from just touching them cause terrible, unbearable pain, which can last for a very long time. Before you - the most dangerous plants in the world, from which it is better to stay away in the truest sense of the word.
Manchineel tree
Manchineel tree is considered the most poisonous tree in the world.
This sprawling tree with poisonous fruits similar to small apples can be found on the coasts of the Caribbean, South and Central America, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Galapagos Islands.
The fruits of this tree have a sweet, inviting smell. At one time, they claimed more than one hundred lives of Spanish conquistadors, pirates and ordinary European sailors who tried to satisfy their hunger with pleasantly smelling fruits.
But the fruits are not the main danger of this tree. All parts of this plant: leaves, bark, flowers, fruits contain a very poisonous milky sap, which, on contact with the skin, can cause severe and painful burns, accompanied by blistering and inflammation.
The juice is said to be so toxic that it can burn through thin cotton fabric and even car paint.
Even just standing under this tree is deadly, especially in rainy weather - drops of rain and dew flowing from the leaves of the manchineel tree become as toxic as its juice.
At various times attempts have been made to eradicate the manchineella. When trying to cut down trees, poisonous juice splashed in different directions, getting on the skin and in the eyes and leading to serious injuries and even blindness. Burning trees also turned out to be dangerous to health - the smoke caused problems with the eyes and lungs. The only way to safely cut down this tree is to surround the tree with fires and dry it on the vine, after which you can start felling.
In places where the manchineel grows, you can often find signs warning tourists not to rest under these trees and not touch their fruits.
Gympie Gympie
The Australian plant Gympie Gympie is a distant relative of the nettle, but it burns a hundred times more.
The hairs of this plant contain a dangerous neurotoxin that causes very painful burns when touched. People who have had to deal with a gimpy-gimpy say it feels like being burned by fire, acid, and being electrocuted at the same time. The pain can last from several days to several months.
The problem is that the most pungent plant in the world is not very conspicuous. It looks like a shrub with spreading leaves, like a harmless burdock.
But the danger of this plant is not only in touch - the hairs can break off the leaves and soar in the air, causing throat burns and nosebleeds.
Castor bean
I think everyone is familiar with this plant, they love to plant it in flowerbeds and gardens because of its beauty. But few people know that the seeds of this plant contain the deadly poison ricin, which, due to its exceptional toxicity, was even listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
The consequences of getting this poison into the body can be very deplorable - deadly dehydration will begin, blood pressure will drop critically, and all this will be accompanied by unbearable pain in the abdomen, vomiting and diarrhea.
And the worst thing is that the antidote could not be created, this poison is invincible.
Sosnovsky's hogweed
This is a fairly common plant, including in our latitudes.
The juice of this plant, when it comes into contact with the skin, causes increased sensitivity to sunlight, which leads to severe and long-lasting burns that do not always disappear without a trace, and if it gets into the eyes, complete blindness can occur.
If you are not lucky and the juice gets on your skin, it should be isolated from light as soon as possible, and then thoroughly washed with soap and water in a dark place and avoid exposure to sunlight for at least 2 days.
The pollen of this plant can also be dangerous - at high concentrations it can lead to swelling of the upper respiratory tract and upper parts of the esophagus.
Cerberus
You can meet him in India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
One of the most dangerous trees in the world contains toxic sap called cerberin. It blocks the passage of calcium ions in the heart muscle, which causes a gradual slowdown in the heartbeat until it stops completely.
Cerberus is so poisonous that even the smoke from a fire made with branches causes intoxication.
Cerberus is still used by some peoples of Madagascar as a "God's judgment" in determining the guilt of a particularly dangerous criminal. He ate a leaf, his heart could not stand it - it means guilty!
Tropical tourists need to remember what Cerbera odollam looks like. Outwardly, this is a very beautiful plant with long glossy leaves, beautiful white flowers and mango-like fruits. Looking at it, you would not think that it is fraught with so many dangers.
Khura - dynamite tree
Khura, or dynamite tree, belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. The distribution area is the American continents.
One of the main dangers of the dynamite tree is its fruits, which look like small pumpkins.
When they become ripe, they break into segments with a very strong sound with lightning speed, catapulting their seeds to a distance of up to 100 meters. The speed of such an emission can reach 70 meters per second!
Another danger is the milky sap of this plant. It is capable of corroding the skin, causing poisoning, and if it gets into the eyes, it can cause loss of vision. If you burn a tree, you can go blind from the fumes and cause serious respiratory irritation.
Ongaonga - ferocious nettle
Ongaonga is found only in one place in the world - on the islands of New Zealand. This is the most dangerous variety of nettle, which has a tree-like trunk. It can grow up to 5 meters in height.
All leaves and stems of ongaonga are strewn with long and highly poisonous spikes filled with formic acid and histamine.
If a person accidentally touches a branch of a nettle tree, hundreds of burning needles instantly dig into his skin, causing severe pain, blisters and burns.
Then uncoordinated movements appear, a drop in pressure, convulsions, and in some cases blindness is possible.
New Zealand doctors regularly treat uninformed tourists or locals who unknowingly wander into the ongaong thicket and suffer severe burns.
Top 10 most poisonous plants in the world
We used to think that poison is the weapon of snakes and arthropods. But some plants can also be dangerous. 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.
10. Oleander
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 meters in height. Cultivated as an ornamental plant, blooming with red, white, yellow and pink fragrant flowers.
Oleander is used in medicine, especially in cardiovascular diseases.
Widely used throughout the world to decorate gardens and parks. Blooms in summer. All its parts 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 symbol flower of the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
9. Manchineel tree
A species of flowering plant native to Central America (Florida, the Caribbean and the Bahamas), Venezuela and Colombia. In the wild, it can be found on coastal beaches and in brackish swamps among mangrove trees.
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. No wonder the manchineel tree is called the "little apple of death".
8.
Vex
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, it grows in damp meadows and other wet and swampy places. Three out of 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.
7. White Brugmansia
A species of 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.
6. Ageratina highest
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 is very 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 die.
5. Belladonna
A perennial plant up to 1.5 m high. It grows in deciduous moist forests, mainly in open places 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 respiratory paralysis.
4. Aconite, or wrestler
A genus of poisonous perennials native to Europe, Asia, and North America. They 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 is readily absorbed through the skin.
3. Cerberus
A genus of evergreen small plants growing 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. Visit the official website pin up online play registration goes through it. However, if access to the main resource is blocked due to legislative prohibitions, you can always use a mirror site.
2. Prayer Abrus
This poisonous plant is 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.
1. Castor bean
Plant species widely distributed in regions with tropical and subtropical climates.
