Yesterday my mother gave me a book that outlines poisonous plants that were commonly found in houses and gardens. To my surprise some plants made the list that I would have never guessed could be poisonous or even fatal. Here is the list of plants with pictures and effects. I encourage all parents to print this out and keep it some place you can reference it.

Castor Bean


Although we use Castor oil, the Castor plant itself can be quite poisonous.

Toxic Parts: All parts, but mainly seeds.

Symptoms: Unrefined Castor plant causes burning sensations in the mouth. Two seeds may lead to serious poisoning; eight maybe fatal.

Potato


Potatoes are the staple of many diets and are grown commonly in urban gardens because they do not take up much room. Only the tuber is edible from a potato plant

Toxic Parts: Greenish sprouts on the tuber, shoots, sprouts, leaves and stems

Symptoms: May cause confusion, cardiac depression, and clammy skin. Has proven to be fatal in some instances.


Tomato


The tomato plant is surprisingly toxic. Be careful to only eat the fruit.

Toxic Parts: All Green parts of the plant.

Symptoms: Cardiac Depression. May be fatal.

Rhubarb

Only the stalk is edible.

Toxic Part: Large coarse leaf.

Symptoms: vomiting, severe abdominal pain, weakness and muscle cramps. In large amounts can cause convulsions, coma and death.

Cherry


Toxic Parts: Twigs, leaves, bark and fruit stones.

Symptoms: Ingestion of all but the fruit of either wild or cultivated cherries can cause death withing one hour with few outwards sings of poisoning other that vertigo, spasm, and, finally, coma. The rapidity of the reaction is reality understood: the toxic part of the plant combines in the body to form cyanide.

Sweet Peas


I love sweet peas, I pick them out of the garden and eat them raw. You have to eat quite a large quantity to have any adverse effects

Toxic Part: Seeds and Peas

Symptoms: can cause paralysis and skeletal deformities

Apples


Toxic Part: seeds

Symptoms: 50 or more seeds can cause cyanide poisoning. May be fatal.

Elderberry


My mother used to make elderberry jam from the bush we had in our backyard. Only the berries are edible.

Toxic parts: Shoots, leaves, bark, and roots.

Symptoms: Nausea and digestive upset caused from cyanide poisoning. The plant contains alkaloids and prussic acid which helps form the cyanide in the body.