Page 69 - The world of dangerous PLants

Family:Melanthiaceae

Veratrum is a genus of numerous species of herbaceous perennial
V.Album V.Californicum flowering plants commonly known as False Hellebore. All plants of this
genus are toxic, with roots and rhizomes being the most toxic. Veratrum
has a medium to high toxicity level. Symptoms of toxic poisoning, for hu-
mans and animals could be salivation, vomiting, irregular heartbeat,
nausea, abdominal pain, numbness, sweating, muscle weakness, difficul-
ty walking, seizures or coma and miscarriages in grazing livestock. These
V.Fimbriatum V.Insolitum plants are not normally found in gardens but grow in the wild. They have
a long history of being harvested during the winter when the toxin is at
its weakest and are used in western herbalism and traditional Chinese
medicine. However, these plants have toxins that can cause heart failure
and death. So, eating any part of these plants could be the last thing you
ever eat.

Family:Brassicaceae

S.Alba S.Arvensis Sinapis is a genus of 3 to 6 recognised species of annual and peren-
nial plants commonly known as Mustard plants. The plants of this genus
have a mix of poisonous and non-poisonous plants. Wild mustard
(S.arvensis) is toxic, especially its seeds, to humans, and in grazing live-
stock can cause serious problems and even death, while the White mus-
tard (S.alba) and (S.pubescensis), though toxic to cats and dogs, are
S.Pubescens safely eaten by humans and used in cooking. Symptoms of poisoning in
pets are likely dry nose, seizures, shaking, increased heart rate, panting,
dehydration, and excessive urination. Sinapis are often mixed and com-
pared in toxicity with other Mustard plants like those in the genus Bras-
sica and some have even moved to the revised genus Rhamphosper-
mum. Mustard plants are a large diverse species spread for the moment
across three genera; some toxic some not. If you are unsure about a
plant in your care you should research it before you at-
tempt to eat it.

Family:Fabaceae

Phaseolus is a genus of numerous species of herbaceous to woody
P.Lunatus P.Vulgaris
annual and perennial vines, known as Bean or Wild Bean. Most plants in
this genus eaten raw are toxic, especially the beans. Eaten raw they have
a medium to high toxicity level. Symptoms of poisoning for both humans
and animals are oral irritation, burning of the mouth and throat, in-
creased thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea kidney failure, convulsions and in se-
vere cases death. Contact with the skin can cause itching and irritation.
P.maculatus
Once prepared and cooked properly the highly toxic beans are edible.
The history of the bean goes back centuries and today it’s a major food
resource throughout the world. There are five species which make up this
nutritional food resource; Tepary, Runner, Year, Lima and Common
bean. If you grow these plants in your garden, warn children about them,
especially about eating the beans raw and the danger that poses, and
keep pets from eating them.