corrosive – Forage Me Not

Published July 13, 2015

Arum lily

Common name: Arum lily, Calla lily, Jack in the Pulpit

Scientific name: Zantedeschia aethiopica

Hazard associated: Ingestion of the leaves causes blistering and swelling.

Notes:

Berries are initially green then turn yellow; may therefore be attractive to children
Commonly grows wild as a weed.
Leaves may be completely green or mottled with white patches.
Other related species may have pink or yellow “flowers”.
Sap may also irritate the skin.

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

Image credits:

1) “Calla lily” by User:Fir0002 – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calla_lily.jpg#/media/File:Calla_lily.jpg

Published September 15, 2015

Ivy

Common name: Ivy

Scientific name: Hedera helix, other Hedera species

Hazard associated: Irritant to the skin and corrosive if ingested.

Notes:

Ivy is commonly found in gardens even when not planted there, i.e. it is an invasive weed in many situations.
Some varieties have variegated leaves.
The reaction to ivy sap varies from person to person.
The berries may look attractive to children although the taste is reported to be very unpleasant.
Ivy extract has been used medically in measured doses as a decongestant.

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

Image credits:

“Hedera helix1” by Petr Filippov – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hedera_helix1.JPG#/media/File:Hedera_helix1.JPG

Published July 12, 2015

Peace lily

Common name: Peace lily

Scientific name: Spathiphyllum spp. ( Many related species)

Hazard associated: Extremely irritant to the skin and corrosive if ingested.

Notes:

A number of different species are known commonly as Peace lilies.
All parts are toxic.
It is commonly grown as an indoor plant in cooler climates and as a garden plant in warmer areas.

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

Image credits:

1. “Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum RTBG” by JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com) – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spathiphyllum_cochlearispathum_RTBG.jpg#/media/File:Spathiphyllum_cochlearispathum_RTBG.jpg

Published October 11, 2015

Petty spurge

Common name: Petty spurge

Scientific name: Euphorbia peplus

Hazard associated: Extremely irritant sap. Can cause blindness if sap enters eyes.

Notes:

The plant is a common weed in gardens and parks.
As in all the euphorbias, the sap of the plant is milky white and somewhat viscous.
This plant is unlikely to be eaten due to its unpalatable taste, but it will cause blistering if chewed. It also has the potential to cause blindness if the sap is smeared in the eyes.
It has commonly been used as a folk remedy for skin cancers.

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

Image credits:

“Euphorbia peplus sap1 (15245781142)” by Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia – Euphorbia peplus sap1. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euphorbia_peplus_sap1_(15245781142).jpg#/media/File:Euphorbia_peplus_sap1_(15245781142).jpg