Page 49 - The world of dangerous PLants

Family:Fabaceae
Styphnolobium is a genus of 9 species of flowering trees and small
S.Japonicum
shrubs. All plants in this genus are toxic with seeds and pods of plants like,
Eve’s Neckless (S. affine) and the Pagoda tree (S. japonicum), being highly tox-
ic. They have a medium to high toxicity level. Symptoms of poisoning in hu-
mans are wide and varied usually resulting in facial swelling and even death.
Animals can suffer from salivation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, and lethargy.
However, many of the toxins in these plants are used by the Chinese in tradi-
Foliage tional medicines. This has prompted some to claim that some plants in the ge-
nus are edible. Treat this claim with caution; getting it wrong could be fatal. Al-
so, their sap is toxic and can penetrate the skin carrying the toxin into the blood
stream, so always wear gloves when handling them. Warn children of the dan-
ger they pose and keep your pets away from them and never allow them to eat
or chew any part of them.

Family:Apiaceae
Wild Parsnip Pastinaca, is a genus of 14 species of flowering plants the most im-
portant of the genus being the Parsnip (P. sativa,). There are two differ-
ent strains of the parsnip, the commercial, which is grown for its sweet
taproot, and the wild parsnip, which has a bland unsweetened taproot.
Apart from the taproots, which are edible, all other parts of the parsnip
are toxic with the wild parsnips foliage believed to be more toxic then
that of its commercial counterpart. Skin contact with the sap from the
parsnips leaves and stem, if exposed to sunlight, can cause serious and
painful skin irritation and blistering. If eaten by humans or grazing live-
stock it can cause mouth pain and oral dermatitis; it’s even been report-
ed to cause blindness. Although the taproots are safe to handle and eat,
you must never eat any other part of this plant, and always wear gloves
when handling the parsnips foliage.