Plants that contain toxic materials sufficient to cause serious symptoms.
Plants that cause an allergic or direct chemical reaction on the skin. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are three of the most common causes of allergic reactions from plants. Most people develop an allergic reaction or allergic contact dermatitis when they are exposed to these plants. The cause of the resulting rash, blisters, and itch is urushiol, an oily substance in the sap of the plant that sticks to almost all surfaces and can be carried in the wind if burned in a fire.
Plants containing a poisonous substance that may be fatal if ingested, including azalea, castor bean, chinaberry, European bittersweet, wild or black cherry, oleander, berries of holly and mistletoe, dieffenbachia, horse chestnuts, poison hemlock, laurel, death cup, black nightshade or deadly nightshade, rhododendron, choke cherry, Japanese yew, unripe fruit of akee, cassava roots, betel nut, seeds and pods of bird-of-paradise, belladonna, angels trumpet, fava bean (if eaten by a person with glucose-6-phosphate deficiency), foxglove, bulb of hyacinth, Indian tobacco, iris root, poinsettia, pokeroot, apricot kernels, apple seeds, green tubers and new sprouts of potatoes, privet, rhubarb leaves, wild tomatoes, skunk cabbage, and jimsonweed; and plants containing irritating substances, such as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
Various plant species, such as foxglove, holly, deadly nightshade, and laburnum, possess poisonous attributes or can trigger significant allergic responses.
Ironically, numerous toxic plants also serve as origins for beneficial medications. Instances include deadly nightshade, which yields atropine, and foxglove, a source of digitalis drugs.
Plant toxins can induce poisoning via two pathways: externally, when the skin comes into contact with the plants through touching or handling, or internally, if an individual, often a child, consumes them.
Contact with nettles, hogweed, poison ivy, and primula can result in skin responses like rashes, itching, and blistering. These reactions can be exceptionally intense in certain individuals.
Plants that possess toxicity when ingested comprise foxglove, aconite, hemlock, laburnum seeds, holly, and deadly nightshade berries. Internal poisoning is most frequently observed in young children who have ingested vibrant berries. Poisoning symptoms differ depending on the plant but can encompass abdominal discomfort, vomiting, flushing, breathing challenges, delirium, and even coma. Swift medical intervention is imperative.
To address skin reactions, the affected area (along with any garments that came into contact with the plant) should be washed. Additionally, applying alcohol or calamine lotion can be beneficial. In cases of intense reactions, corticosteroid medications might be recommended.
For cases of internal poisoning, gastric lavage is typically necessary. Fatal poisoning incidents are infrequent.