Page 53 - The world of dangerous PLants

Family:Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia is a genus of numerous and diverse annual, biennial
E.Pulcherrima E.Peplus or perennial flowering plants, commonly called Spurge. All plants, es-
pecially the selected few, are toxic, and have a low to medium toxicity
level. Symptoms of toxic poisoning can show as nausea, vomiting, diar-
rhoea, and difficulty swallowing. The sap of these plants is highly toxic
and sensitive to sunlight. It can cause severe skin irritation and blister-
ing. Entering the eyes it can cause burning, blurred vision and other
E.misera E.Obesa ocular problems, like severe redness and inflammation. Left unattend-
ed it could cause blindness. When in close proximity to these plants al-
ways make sure your skin is covered and always wear gloves. Eye pro-
tection is also advisable. Keep children away from these plants and
school them in the danger they pose, especially the danger to their eyes.
Never let your pets near them or eat or chew any part of them.

Family:Apocynaceae

A.Oblongifolia A.Oppositifolia Acokanthera is a genus of 5 species of flowering plants. All five,
A.laevigata, A.oblongifolia, A.oppositifolia, A.rotundata and A.schimper,
are highly toxic and have a medium to high toxicity level. Symptoms of
toxic poisoning, for both humans and animals, could be lethargy, rest-
lessness, seizures, and severe gastro-intestinal irritation with abdominal
pain, excessive salivation, and vomiting. The highly poisonous sap of
these plants has a long history of being used by Bushmen on the tips of
A.Rotundata A.Schimperi
arrowheads and spears to kill, hence the name, ‘Poison arrow plant’. It’s
so poisonous it can bring down a fully grown elephant. If you have one of
these plants in your care, treat it with extreme caution, always wear
gloves when handling it, and warn children about the danger they pose.
Keep pets at bay, and never allow them to eat of chew any part of it.

Family:Solanaceae
Solanum is a genus of numerous and diverse species of flowering
plants which includes the tomato, the eggplant, and the potato. The potato
plant, S.tuberosum, is toxic, with its leaves and stem, being more toxic than
its underground tubers which are mildly toxic, but edible. It has a low to me-
dium toxicity level. If eaten in large amounts, symptoms of poisoning can be
abdominal pain, diarrhoea, headache, nausea and vomiting, delirium, fever,
hallucinations, vision changes, and breathing problems. Although its tubers
are mildly toxic, they do form the staple diet of many countries around the
world. Problems with the tubers occur when they are exposed to long periods
of sunlight. This turns them a highly toxic green colour. Green tubers or
‘potatoes’ are highly toxic and dangerous, even cooking does little to reduce
their toxicity. Some say, peeling or cutting off the green parts renders the po-
tato safe. However, the safest rule is, never eat a green potato.