” If not thousands, there are hundreds of poisonous plants in the world, some of which can turn out to be deadly. “
Looking around, we see plants almost every day. While they may look harmless, they can contain some of the most deadliest poison known to mankind. Some of these plants have been the reason for human death throughout history. While we cannot completely eliminate these plants from our lives, we can do our best to take precautions and know which one may or may not be harmful.
These plants, if undigested or touched, can result in fatal. Let us help you familiarise yourself with a list of the most common, dangerous, and deadliest plants that you need to avoid any kind of contact from.
Water Hemlock
This plant has been given the title of the “Most Violently Toxic Plant.” The plant is from the carrot family and is often confused with celery. The poisonous chemical is present in the root of the plant and is called Cicutoxin. Once in contact or indigestion – nausea, abdominal cramps, death, painful convulsions are its common symptoms. There is a rare chance of surviving but, if you do, amnesia and lasting terrors are its lifelong side effects.
Oleander
Even though this is widely used as a decorative element, it is one of the most deadliest shrubs. Its leaves, flowers and fruits contain a chemical called Cardiac Glycosides. You can suffer from Cardiac Arrest once in contact with the same. Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, seizures are its few symptoms. In fact, people who have consumed honey from bees that obtain pollen from this plant have often fallen ill with fatal after effects.
White Snakeroot
The plant is a herb and looks like a cluster of white flowers. Humans usually come in contact and are poisoned when they consume milk or meat from livestock that have eaten this plant. In fact, Snakeroot also bought with itself a sickness in the 19th century that was known as the “Milk Sickness”. The plant contains Trematol which is a toxic alcohol. Cramps, nausea, weakness, red tongue and blood acidity are some of the common symptoms.
Angels Trumpet
The name of the plant represents its large, hanging, trumpet-shaped flowers. If we go deeper into how the plant got its name, scientists think about how fatal the plant can be and how anyone who consumes it meets angels in their afterlife. While its symptoms and side effects vary from person to person, the plant is doomed to be fatal. It contains high levels of Scopolamine and Atropine which is deadly, no matter how many amounts you consume or touch it.
The Suicide Tree
This plant is also known as the Perfect Murder Weapon! When served in food, the taste of the plant can vanish with certain spices and so it makes it very easy to disguise others. The chemical this plant contains is known as Cerberin. A major symptom includes irregular heartbeat and can lead to death if consumed in high quantities.
Castor Oil Plant
The plant currently holds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most poisonous plant. A lethal dose of the seeds that can lead to death is between the range of 4-6 seeds. These seeds contain a chemical called Ricin. Burning sensations, acute abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea are experienced within 36 hours of consumption and can lead to death within 3-5 days.
Tobacco
This is without a doubt the most widely consumed plant all over the world. All parts of the plant, mostly the leaves contain toxic chemicals that can be fatal if consumed. It can not only be addictive, but is also designated as the heart toxin. The plant contains Nicotine and Anabasine, resulting in approximately 5 million deaths every year. We call this the most lethal plant all around the world.
Before concluding, it is important for you to know that all these plants produce natural poison and there is not much you can do except avoid contact. Once you are well aware of the most deadliest plants around you, it is important to make sure that you are aware enough to identify them and make sure no kind of contact is made.
We hope this piece of information will help you stay safe and smart in the future!
At ExperiHub, we teach Science and Mathematics by bringing concepts from the real world into the classroom. We conduct science experiments and have myriad science projects for better learning and understanding of concepts. If you want to learn more about Experiential Learning and cool home experiments, browse through our Online Sessions and Youtube Channel!