Beware of some DEADLIEST Flowers

 

Flowers are some of nature’s most wonderful creations.  Mostly come with amazing looks and ability to emit very pleasing scents, they are often used for decoration and romantic gestures.

(Black cat flower (Tacca chantrieri) this unusual plant is one of the only plants in the world to have black flowers. The big flowers (up to 12 inches across) have even longer “whiskers”, giving it its colloquial name. It is native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia.)

It is also a common habit for people to pluck flowers and smell instantly. Beautiful flowers like the  Japanese camellia (see below), can even make a nice cup of tea.

However not all flowers are the same and unless you are familiar with the species, the stake can be high in some instances. Harmless as they may appear, some flowers can be really dangerous. Cases of significant poisoning involves making tea out of flowers have been recorded.  Chewing on the leaves or seeds can pose big danger too. Plant toxicity is usually due to a wide diversity of chemical toxins that include anticholinergic alkaloids, glycosides, proteins and amino acids.

To help you know what flowers to stay away from, study the list of the world’s most attractive but FATAL flowers -

 

Autumn crocus

 

This plant has the habit of producing leaves only in the spring which die back in the summer followed by the flower appearing on its own in the autumn.

 

Contains colchicine and colchiceine, the former being the more toxic and more harmful. After ingestion, initial gastrointestinal symptoms during the first 24 hours are followed by more severe effects including convulsions, cardiac and respiratory arrest, multi-organ failure and blood clots forming all around the body. If critical can lead to a slow, agonising death but consciousness remains to the end. 

Oleander

Oleander is a poisonous evergreen shrub or small tree identified by its fragrant white, red, pink or purple flowers and long slender, leathery leaves. It grows in mild climates or as an indoor plant.

Oleander poisoning occurs when someone sucks nectar from the flowers or chews its leaves. Poisoning can also happen if you eat honey made by bees that used the oleander plant for nectar.

 

Reputed to be the most poisonous plant on our planet, it has been traditionally used in suicidal cases by South Indians. The numerous toxic compounds contained in the whole plant, including oleadrin and nerine, affect the nervous, digestive and cardiovascular system simultaneously. Its sap causes skin irritation and severe eye inflammation whilst oleander poisoning leads to drowsiness, tremors, seizures, coma and death. 

 

Rhododendron

 

All parts of the plant contain the poison, and two or three leaves may produce severe toxicosis. Sucking flowers free of nectar may produce serious illness. In ancient times, odd behaviour was observed of a group of Greek soldiers after consuming honey from its flowers.

 

Belonging to the same plant family as Azaleas, both are poisonous containing Andromeda toxin which can cause nausea, intense pain, paralysis and even death.

 

Angels Trumpet

Do not be deceived by its name as it can be very evil.

The Angels' trumpet flower is often found in home gardens and is known for its distinct fragrance and elegant look. However, experts warned all parts of the plant are poisonous, with the seeds and leaves being especially dangerous.

The toxins it contains are a variable amount of tropane alkaloids such as atropine and scopolamine, proven to be fatal to both humans and animals.  Misuse as hallucinogen for recreational purposes, the risk of an overdose is extremely high. Effects of ingestion can include paralysis of muscles, confusion, diarrhea, migraine headaches and even death.

Another specie of the same family found mainly in northern Africa and the America, the plant is so dangerous and considered  illegal in some countries!

Columbine magpie (Aquilegia) are found in the Northern Hemisphere, mainly in meadows and woodlands. The flowers are reported to be very sweet but should be consumed in moderation. The seeds, however, are extremely poisonous.

Belladonna

The innocently looking Belladona wins its awful title "Deadly Nightshade" for containing potentially lethal tropane alkaloids in the entire plant and its succulent berries, posing most danger especially to kids.

 

Symptoms of poisoning are dilated pupils, blurred vision, headaches, hallucinations, delirium and convulsions. In the worst case, it can kill a person by disrupting the nervous systems ability to regulate breathing, sweating and heart rate.

Lily of the Valley 

Easily found in the Northern Hemisphere, it looks beautiful and harmless, but is entirely poisonous.

 

Taken in large quantities, the chemical compounds known as Glycosides in its flowers or berries can wreak havoc on your gastrointestinal, circulatory and nervous systems. For those with heart conditions they can experience slow or irregular heartbeats. However, these compounds have been used in medicine since the ancient Roman Empire to treat arrhythmia and congestive heart failure with the appropriate dosage.

 

Incidentally, this is the national flower of Finland, and also used as the floral emblem of Yugoslavia.  

Daphne

Also known as Lady Laurel or Paradise plant, Daphne is grown for its beautiful and intensely fragrant blooms which are usually produced in spring or winter. It can be found planted along paths and doorways or at the front of borders to easily enjoy the heady scent when in flower. 

All parts of the plant contain two poisonous toxins but the most concentrations are in the sap and berries. The victim can suffer stomachache, headache, diarrhoea, delirium and convulsion. Consuming the berries can lead to coma or even death.

Recommendations

+  Do not touch or eat any part of a plant with which you are not familiar. Wash your hands after working in the garden or walking in the woods. (Sure you want to do that after touching theTitan arum (Amorphophallus titanum)  - world’s largest flower, whose blossom emits a very unusual smell of rotting flesh to attract flies, rather than bees, for pollination.)

+  Seek immediate medical help once suspect of plant poisoning. Do not make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a healthcare professional.

The healthcare provider will measure and monitor vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure.  Appropriate treatment to administer include: charcoal/laxative, blood and urine tests, breathing support, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram/heart tracing, fluids through a vein, and pump out poison from stomach using a tube through the mouth.

The recovery rate depends on the amount of poison ingested and how soon treatment is initiated. Symptoms may last for 1-3 days and may require a hospital stay.

If you happened to be in Southeast Asia and Northwestern Australia, a traditional physician may use a vine flower Snake Gourd to treat you!