cardiovascular distress – Forage Me Not

Published September 7, 2016

Hyacinth

Common name: Hyacinth, oriental hyacinth, Dutch hyacinth

Scientific name: Hyacinthus orientalis

Hazard associated: Ingestion of all parts but most especially the bulb leads to vomiting, increased salivation, an increased heart rate and laboured breathing. Handling of bulbs can lead to skin irritations.

Notes:

These plants are grown in gardens for their attractive flowers and pleasant smell.
Selective breeding has resulted in many different variations of blue, purple, pink and white shades in the flowers.
The bulbs of hyacinths might be mistaken for onions by children and inexperienced gardeners.
Hyacinths contain the same toxin found in tulips. It is known as tuliposide.
Handling hyacinth bulbs frequently can lead to conditions such skin rashes and lesions.

Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyacinth_(plant)

Image credits:

By ElenaSchifirnet – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15124702

Published November 12, 2015

Wintersweet

Common name: Wintersweet, Bushman’s poison

Scientific name: Acokanthera oblongifolia

Hazard associated: All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.

Notes:

Children may be attracted to this plant as the fruit may be mistaken for olives.
The leaves of Acokanthera oblongifolia have been mistaken for bay leaves.
Used as a screening plant in landscaping.
The spa of the plant is milky and may cause skin and eye irritation.
Used by South African bushmen to poison arrow tips for hunting.

Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acokanthera_oblongifolia

Image credits:

Published November 8, 2015

Cherry laurel

Common name: Cherry laurel

Scientific name: Prunus laurocerasus

Hazard associated: Leaves, fruit and seed are toxic if ingested.

Notes:

Children may be attracted to the berries which change from green to red to black.
Used for landscaping purposes e.g. hedges, street trees as it is a hardy, attractive plant
May become an invasive weed in parts of Australia.
Leaves are sometimes mistaken for Bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) which has led to cases of poisoning.
The leaves and seeds contain cyanogenic glycoside and amygdalin hence having the “typical almond smell” of cyanide when macerated. It is even dangerous to shred clippings from this plant.

Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_laurocerasus

Image credits:

“Prunus laurocerasus fruit detail – geograph.org.uk – 567699” by Evelyn Simak. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prunus_laurocerasus_fruit_detail_-_geograph.org.uk_-_567699.jpg#/media/File:Prunus_laurocerasus_fruit_detail_-_geograph.org.uk_-_567699.jpg

Published October 31, 2015

Yellow oleander

Common name: Yellow oleander

Scientific name: Cascabela thevetia or sometimes listed as Thevetia peruviana

Hazard associated: All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Notes:

These plants are commonly used in gardens for their showy flowers.
The fruit is deliberately eaten as a suicide method in some countries.
The fruits are green initially, then red then black when ripe.
The seeds are brown and irregularly shaped.
Once they drop from the tree, the fruit are thought to pose a particular hazard to cats and dogs who ingest them.

Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascabela_thevetia

Image credits:

“Cascabela thevetia1MTFL” by Bernard Loison – http://www.mytho-fleurs.com/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cascabela_thevetia1MTFL.jpg#/media/File:Cascabela_thevetia1MTFL.jpg
“Thevetia peruviana – Fruits” by Genet at German Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thevetia_peruviana_-_Fruits.jpg#/media/File:Thevetia_peruviana_-_Fruits.jpg

Published October 16, 2015

Coral tree

Common name: Coral tree, Bat’s Wing Coral tree

Scientific name: Erythrina vespertilio, Erythrina x sykesii, other Erythrina spp.

Hazard associated: Leaves, bark and seeds are toxic if ingested.

Notes:

Children may be attracted to the bean shaped seeds.
These plants are grown in gardens for their attractive flowers.
Erythrina contains more than 100 species which display differential toxicity.

Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythrina

Image credits:

Published October 16, 2015

Yew

Common name: Yew

Scientific name: Taxus baccata

Hazard associated: All parts poisonous except the berry flesh. Allergenic pollen.

Notes:

Poisonings have occurred when children have eaten the seed along with the berry flash (technically the aril)
Yew leaves should never be available to animals as fodder.
Varieties of yew have been developed with variegated leaves and golden leaves.
Yew trees are very long lived and commonly used for topiary in gardens.

Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxus_baccata

Image credits:

“Taxus baccata MHNT” by Didier Descouens – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taxus_baccata_MHNT.jpg#/media/File:Taxus_baccata_MHNT.jpg
“Yew Sheared”. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yew_Sheared.jpg#/media/File:Yew_Sheared.jpg