![]() The Tree of Death (Hippomane mancinella)Ī tree native to Mesoamerica and the Caribbean Sea islands, the chamomile of death is also known as the tree of death. Humans have died as a result of ingesting oleander leaves.Ģ. Most animals, as well as humans, are poisoned by oleander. Its quick growth is utilised to keep new construction sites from eroding. They're frequently employed as road barriers. The poison of an oleander is so potent that it can even poison someone who eats honey created by bees that have ingested oleander nectar.ĭespite its lethal nature, it is used as a decorative plant. Oleandrin and neriine are two of the most potent. ![]() Poisonous plants have indeed been responsible for human deaths across history, from Socrates' death from poison hemlock to toddlers accidentally ingesting deadly nightshade.Įven with so much scientific advancement, there are still poisonous plants, and here is a list of plants to be aware of.Įvery portion of this plant is packed of toxins, making it the most dangerous plant on the planet. Plants may appear to be harmless, but they can contain many of the most lethal poisons known. Prior to technological advancement, humans had to distinguish the benefits of each individual by experimentation with themselves and putting their own lives at danger, as intake of certain plants can be fatal. 5.Plants have been used as a source of nourishment (their fruits and some leaves) and as a treatment for ailments since ancient times. If there were cuts on his hand, it would enter his bloodstream and affect his heart very quickly,” causing arrhythmia or paralysis. ![]() Chelsea Physic Garden representative Tom Wells calls wolfsbane one of the most dangerous plants found in Britain’s gardens: “The roots are where the highest level of poison is found, although it is still found in the flower. The toxin entered his blood, causing multiple organ failure, and within five days, he was dead. In 2014, a gardener in Hampshire, England, was rushed to the hospital after handling the plant without protective clothing. Like the manchineel tree, wolfsbane causes its fair share of accidental deaths. Aconite contains large quantities of pseudaconitine, a toxin that can paralyze an animal as large as a whale, allowing it to be brought down by hunters. Like the manchineel tree, it has historically been used to poison arrowheads for hunting. Jean-Pol Grandmont, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0Īconite ( Aconitum napellus), more commonly known as wolfsbane, is a flowering perennial that grows in mountain meadows in the Northern Hemisphere. It's also worth noting that age doesn't diminish the danger: Dry samples, preserved for decades, still retain their stinging abilities. The pain is so bad that during WWII, an Australian army officer reputedly killed himself after realizing he had accidentally used the plant’s leaves as toilet paper. And if you don’t remove all the hairs, they can keep releasing the torturous toxins for up to a year.”Įntomologist and ecologist Marina Hurley describes coming in contact with a plant-which she did many times-as “being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.” And even with repeated exposure, your system never adapts symptoms only get worse over time. In severe cases, this can lead to shock, and even death. “Shortly after this, your joints may ache, and you might get swelling under your armpits, and that can be almost as painful as the original sting. “The first thing you’ll feel is a really intense burning sensation and this grows over the next half hour, becoming more and more painful,” virologist Mike Leahy describes in a video in which he intentionally stings himself with the gympie-gympie. Simply breathing near the plant can cause nosebleeds and rashes due to the inhalation of shed needles. ![]() Moroidin, the neurotoxin found in the gympie-gympie plant, causes painful itching so excruciating that it’s been known to drive humans mad with agony. The leaves and fruits of this poisonous nettle, native to Australia, Indonesia, and the Moluccas, are covered with hollow stinging “hairs” shaped like hypodermic needles that are notoriously difficult to remove from skin. Don't let its cutesy name or heart-shaped foliage fool you: The gympie-gympie ( Dendrocnide moroides) is not to be trifled with. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |