Many people use plants as extra decoration around their homes or in their homes. We encounter plants so often in our lives that we rarely think about how dangerous some plants can really be. In fact some plants that look like simple flowers can be enough to kill a person in seconds, other plants can even eat small insects and animals. Below is a list of plants that you may want to watch out for in the future.
1. Western Water Hemlock
Like most of the plants on this list, this is one plant you really don’t want to eat. This plant contains a toxin which affects the central nervous system. This poison causes seizures which leads to loss of consciousness and violent muscle contracts and eventually death. This is not to be confused with poison hemlock which killed Socrates, instead the Water Hemlock paralyzes the nervous system.
2. Giant Pitcher Plant
This truly strange plant is one that was found 5000 ft above sea level at the top of Mount Victoria in the Philippines. The reason why this plant made this list is not because it is particularly deadly to humans but because this plant actually kills large insects and small animals. The large bowl of the plant secretes nectar that attracts animals into the bowl. The bowl is filled with a sticky substance which prevents the animal from getting out. The plant actually gets its nutrients from decaying victims because of the fact that it grows in a nitrogen deficient environment.
3. Jimson Weed
This plant is so deadly that it is the first plant ever to be reported for the death of a person in America. This plant killed one of the original Jamestown settlers and for that reason it is sometimes referred to as a Jamestown plant. This plant causes abdominal thirst, vision distortions, delirium, incoherence, come and most often leads to death. Though from the looks of this plant I am not sure who would think that taking a bite out of it would be a good idea, but this weed is definitely one that you want to leave alone.
4. Oleander
This plant is definitely beautiful and it is one that people will often choose to have in their backyards or even their front yards as a decoration. But for anyone with kids or pets, this is one plant you definitely want to stay away from. This plant is actually responsible for more deaths than any other poisonous plant on this or any list. In 2002 it was responsible for nearly 850 deaths in the U.S. alone many of which were young children. The reason for this is that while it may take a handful of leaves to kill an adult, it only takes one leaf to kill a young child. In India this plant is a popular method of suicide and there are even cases were people have tried to commit murder by using the oleander plant. The method of death? Severe digestive upset, heart trouble and contact dermatitis.
5. Belladonna
Belladonna or deadly nightshade is one of this most popular poisonous plants because it has been featured in so many films and books. There is a reason for this, deadly nightshade is one of the most poisonous plants in the Western Hemisphere. Children can die from eating as few as three berries off of this plant and it only takes a single leaf to kill a full grown adult. The effects of this poisonous plant include nausea, muscle twitches and paralysis. Be warned though, while the berries and leaves are deadly, the roots are even worse.
6. Mala Mujer
If you are someone that wants to keep criminals away from your home but you do not have the money or do not want your neighbors to wonder, this plant is a great substitute. Not only is it completely covered in nasty thorns but it also secretes a toxin that can cause painful and lasting skin irritations. While they will not be enough to kill anyone they will definitely make sure that people keep their distance from your home. Though you might want to give out a warning to anyone you want to return to your home.
7. Monkshood
This is another beautiful plant that you might want to refrain from keeping in your yard. But this is also a plant you have probably heard of, but by the name of wolfsbane. This plant got the name because it was commonly used to dispose of wolves by sprinkling it on raw meat. It was also believed to be an indicator of whether or not a person was a werewolf; simply by rubbing the plant under the nose, a priest could tell if the person was a werewolf by the color that appeared. Though I hope the priest was careful because this plant causes burning, tingling and numbness of the mouth, which then travels down to the intestine and is followed by vomiting and death.
8. Angel Trumpet
This plant is not only deadly but mind altering. It leaves the victim conscious but completely unaware of what they doing. This aspect has made it very popular with robbers who have turned the plant’s toxins into a powered form. Then they blow it into their victim’s face and the toxin is absorbed through the nose and mouth. After that their victims are more than willing to help the robbers take all of belongings and when the toxin wears off, the victims have no memory of what they have done. But if ingested this plant can be very deadly.
Plants are perhaps some of the most unsuspecting killers on the planet and while some of these plants will not actually kill you, they have their own evil qualities. It is always a good idea to check which plants you choose to plant in your yard because a number of popular gardening plants are very poisonous and can be deadly to children and pets.
Author: Stephanie Schoppert — Copyrighted © roadtickle.com
More from Road Tickle
-
Stari Viking
-
Stari Viking
