World's most deadly plants
Plants are found all over the world. Most plants are harmless, or harmless to humans at least, but it is important to know that some plants are very dangerous to humans. You could run into some of these deadly plants, whether camping, bushwalking or surviving in the wild. This is a list of 10 of the most deadly plants in the world, and hopefully from this article you will be able to identify what plants to watch out for and how to avoid them.
Article by Alister
Article by Alister
10. Jimsonweed
Jimson weed (Datura stramonium) is a bad-smelling plant with white or purple flowers. All parts of the plant is toxic and filled with the toxins atropine and scopolamine. Side effects of consumption of Jimsonweed are quite unpredictable, and depend on things like the plant species and time of year, but some side effects include dry mouth and skin, trouble breathing, hallucinations and sometimes even seizures or comas.
What it looks like:
Jimsonweed has pointy leaves that grow on a purpley-red stem. Its fruit is a ball of sharp spikes, with roughly a 5 cm diameter. The whole plant grows about a metre tall.
Where's it found:
Jimsonweed can be found in the United states, the West Indies and Canada, even though it is native to China. More specifically, it can be found in fields, the sides of roads and large waste areas.
How to avoid it:
The easiest way to avoid Jimsonweed is to keep your distance from it. If you are suffering from the side effects of Jimsonweed you should definitely seek medical attention straight away.
What it looks like:
Jimsonweed has pointy leaves that grow on a purpley-red stem. Its fruit is a ball of sharp spikes, with roughly a 5 cm diameter. The whole plant grows about a metre tall.
Where's it found:
Jimsonweed can be found in the United states, the West Indies and Canada, even though it is native to China. More specifically, it can be found in fields, the sides of roads and large waste areas.
How to avoid it:
The easiest way to avoid Jimsonweed is to keep your distance from it. If you are suffering from the side effects of Jimsonweed you should definitely seek medical attention straight away.
9. English yew
English yew (Taxus baccata) is a type of tree that can live for a very, very long time (Over 100 years!). All parts of the tree are poisonous and have alkaloids in them. If you eat the leaves of English yew, you can possible experience some increasingly dangerous symptoms: dizziness, dry mouth weakness, odd heart beats and even death!
What it looks like:
English yew grows about 15-25 meters high, with pointy leaves and reddish branches / bark. It has red fleshy arils, which cover the seeds.
Where's it found:
English yew is found commonly across England, typically in graveyards (People saw the tree as a sign of death). It can also be found in some parts of the USA.
How to avoid it:
If you stay away from English yew, it won't bother you, but whatever you do, don't consume any part of the tree!! If you happen to feel some of the symptoms of eating the tree leaves, seek medical attention immediately.
What it looks like:
English yew grows about 15-25 meters high, with pointy leaves and reddish branches / bark. It has red fleshy arils, which cover the seeds.
Where's it found:
English yew is found commonly across England, typically in graveyards (People saw the tree as a sign of death). It can also be found in some parts of the USA.
How to avoid it:
If you stay away from English yew, it won't bother you, but whatever you do, don't consume any part of the tree!! If you happen to feel some of the symptoms of eating the tree leaves, seek medical attention immediately.
8. Aconite
Aconite (Aconitum napellus) is very toxic, and thought to be one of Britain's most poisonous plant. Each part of the plant contains aconitine, a dangerous toxin. Even if you touch the plant, you might experience tingling numbness! Side effects of eating any part of the plant include salivation, vomiting, irregular heart function, coma and sometimes death.
What it looks like:
Aconite has a height ranging from 0.5 - 1.5 meters high. It consists of dark green leaves and clusters of dark purple flowers. The main reason people are poisoned by it is because they mistake it's root for horseradish, or another plant that is safe to eat.
Where's it found:
Aconite is generally found in the Northern Hemisphere. It likes to grow in shady, damp spots, like in the shade of a hill or tree.
How to avoid it:
As it is not safe to even touch, always be on the look out for aconite when camping or travelling on foot. To avoid food poisoning, always double check that what you are about to eat is in fact safe to eat. Check with a professional botanist if you're still unsure.
What it looks like:
Aconite has a height ranging from 0.5 - 1.5 meters high. It consists of dark green leaves and clusters of dark purple flowers. The main reason people are poisoned by it is because they mistake it's root for horseradish, or another plant that is safe to eat.
Where's it found:
Aconite is generally found in the Northern Hemisphere. It likes to grow in shady, damp spots, like in the shade of a hill or tree.
How to avoid it:
As it is not safe to even touch, always be on the look out for aconite when camping or travelling on foot. To avoid food poisoning, always double check that what you are about to eat is in fact safe to eat. Check with a professional botanist if you're still unsure.
7. Castor bean
Castor beans come from the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis). Even though the plant itself isn't very deadly, the beans it produces certainly are. A high concentration of the toxin ricin can be found in the beans. Ricin is poisonous to many animals, including humans. 1 milligram of ricin can kill an adult! Symptoms of castor bean poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, internal bleeding and eventually death.
What it looks like:
Castor bean plants are roughly 12 metres high, with big jagged leaves. The castor beans themselves are brown and have a slight marble-like texture to them, as seen in the picture.
Where's it found:
Castor bean plants can be found globally, but some say it originated from Africa. They can be found in places ranging from barren areas to in some people's garden! The reason they are common is for the use of castor oil, which is found in the seeds.
How to avoid it:
You don't necessarily have to avoid the castor bean plant, but make sure you don't eat the beans. Fun fact: Ricin was used to assassinate Georgi Markov in 1978 using a toxic capsule on the end of an umbrella.
What it looks like:
Castor bean plants are roughly 12 metres high, with big jagged leaves. The castor beans themselves are brown and have a slight marble-like texture to them, as seen in the picture.
Where's it found:
Castor bean plants can be found globally, but some say it originated from Africa. They can be found in places ranging from barren areas to in some people's garden! The reason they are common is for the use of castor oil, which is found in the seeds.
How to avoid it:
You don't necessarily have to avoid the castor bean plant, but make sure you don't eat the beans. Fun fact: Ricin was used to assassinate Georgi Markov in 1978 using a toxic capsule on the end of an umbrella.
6. Deadly nightshade
Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) is, of course, a deadly plant. Its leaves, stems, roots and berries all contain the toxins atropine and scopolamine. These poisons affect the nervous system, and if enough is ingested, it can paralyze nerves in the involuntary muscles, causing circulation failure. Symptoms of deadly nightshade poisoning include dry mouth, blurred vision, vomiting, hallucinations, coma and sometimes death.
What it looks like:
Deadly nightshade grows about a metre tall, has dull green leaves and purple, scented flowers. The berries that grow on it start green, but turn black as they ripen.
Where's it found:
Deadly nightshade is native to Europe, and some places in Africa and Asia. It also grows in other parts of the world, like America and Australia. They tend to be found in moist, rich soil, usually in a shady spot.
How to avoid it:
Even though the berries of a deadly nightshade look appetising, and are juicy and sweet, they can be very fatal. So, simply don't eat the berries. If you feel like you are suffering from symptoms mentioned above, seek medical attention straight away.
What it looks like:
Deadly nightshade grows about a metre tall, has dull green leaves and purple, scented flowers. The berries that grow on it start green, but turn black as they ripen.
Where's it found:
Deadly nightshade is native to Europe, and some places in Africa and Asia. It also grows in other parts of the world, like America and Australia. They tend to be found in moist, rich soil, usually in a shady spot.
How to avoid it:
Even though the berries of a deadly nightshade look appetising, and are juicy and sweet, they can be very fatal. So, simply don't eat the berries. If you feel like you are suffering from symptoms mentioned above, seek medical attention straight away.
5. Rosary pea
The rosary pea (Abrus precatorius) is a plant with very unique seeds. They are quite pretty, and commonly used in jewelry. However, the contents of these innocent-looking peas is enough to make your heart literally stop. The coating of the peas won't kill you, and if you swallow a pea whole, you will most likely be fine. But as soon as the coating is cracked or damaged, the pea is lethal. Rosary pea seeds have the toxin abrin in them, which is much more deadly than ricin. Each pea has more than three micrograms of abrin inside them, and three micrograms of abrin can be fatal to humans.
What it looks like:
The rosary pea plant has large leaves and red flowers. Did you know they can grow up to 6 metres in 3 months? The actual rosary peas are mostly red with a black end, as seen in the picture.
Where's it found:
The rosary pea is native to India, but it has also been introduced to some tropical areas.
How to avoid it:
You are most likely to be in danger of rosary peas through jewelry; one scratch of a rosary pea bead could cost you your life. Fun fact: there have been reported cases of jewelry makers dying after accidentally scraping rosary peas.
What it looks like:
The rosary pea plant has large leaves and red flowers. Did you know they can grow up to 6 metres in 3 months? The actual rosary peas are mostly red with a black end, as seen in the picture.
Where's it found:
The rosary pea is native to India, but it has also been introduced to some tropical areas.
How to avoid it:
You are most likely to be in danger of rosary peas through jewelry; one scratch of a rosary pea bead could cost you your life. Fun fact: there have been reported cases of jewelry makers dying after accidentally scraping rosary peas.
4. Mala Mujer
Mala mujer (Cnidoscolus angustidens) is Spanish for "Bad woman", because the plant is covered in razor sharp thorns. Notice how the plant is covered in white dots. At the centre of these dots, there are tiny hairs, known as "stinging hairs" that can cause excruciating pain even touched! Another severe danger from this plant is the sap: it can cause intensely painful skin irritations, and even slight skin discolouration.
What it looks like:
Mala mujer grows about a metre tall, and sprouts little white flowers from the top. The leaves tell you enough about themselves just by looking at them, as seen in the picture. In addition to its barbed-wire characteristics, the white stinging hairs are located all over the leaves and stem, visible by their white dot.
Where's it found:
Mala mujer is found in the Sonoran Desert, and also in parts of Mexico.
How to avoid it:
There is no real way to avoid this painful peril other than just watch where you step, or where big, protective boots. If you do happen to see a Mala mujer, give yourself a good 10 metre distance from it, just to be sure.
What it looks like:
Mala mujer grows about a metre tall, and sprouts little white flowers from the top. The leaves tell you enough about themselves just by looking at them, as seen in the picture. In addition to its barbed-wire characteristics, the white stinging hairs are located all over the leaves and stem, visible by their white dot.
Where's it found:
Mala mujer is found in the Sonoran Desert, and also in parts of Mexico.
How to avoid it:
There is no real way to avoid this painful peril other than just watch where you step, or where big, protective boots. If you do happen to see a Mala mujer, give yourself a good 10 metre distance from it, just to be sure.
3. White snakeroot
White snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum) is a highly poisonous plant that contains the toxin tremetol. Most people are poisoned by this plant through milk sickness: a dangerous sickness caused by drinking milk produced by a cow that has eaten white snakeroot. Thousands of people died in the early 1800's because of milk sickness, one of which was Abraham Lincoln's mother! Symptoms include bad breath, weakness, vague pains, vomiting, constipation, coma and possibly death.
What it looks like:
White snakeroot is 0.5 - 1.5cm tall and has attractive white flowers that bloom on the end of the branches. Its leaves are 10cm wide and they have toothed edges.
Where's it found:
White snakeroot is native to forests in the United States. It often grows in shady spots.
How to avoid it:
Don't eat, touch or approach white snakeroot. To avoid milk sickness, check that your milk is safe to drink by reading the news for milk sickness reports, checking with the milk seller or just don't drink milk for a while, even though milk sickness in the 21st century is highly unlikely.
What it looks like:
White snakeroot is 0.5 - 1.5cm tall and has attractive white flowers that bloom on the end of the branches. Its leaves are 10cm wide and they have toothed edges.
Where's it found:
White snakeroot is native to forests in the United States. It often grows in shady spots.
How to avoid it:
Don't eat, touch or approach white snakeroot. To avoid milk sickness, check that your milk is safe to drink by reading the news for milk sickness reports, checking with the milk seller or just don't drink milk for a while, even though milk sickness in the 21st century is highly unlikely.
2. Water hemlock
The water hemlock (Cicuta maculata) is considered to be the most poisonous plant in North America. The toxin cicutoxin is contained throughout every part of the plant, making a small mouthful of water hemlock enough to kill a man. You can get seriously sick just by a little bit of the juice. If you do accidentally consume part of the plant, you are most likely to have a violent death. Side effects of the poison includes nausea, vomiting, painful seizures, muscle spasms and eventually death. If you manage to survive water hemlock poisoning, you could be facing some long term health issues, like amnesia.
What it looks like:
The water hemlock can grow nearly 2 meters high and sprouts little white blooms at the top of the stem. The stem is slightly purple and the leaves are toothed.
Where's it found:
The plant is native and found in North America. It tends to grow in wet areas, spite the name water hemlock.
How to avoid it:
Water hemlocks are sometimes mistaken for edible plants, making them a risk to campers or backpackers. You should always double check if a plant is suitable to eat, and if you can't tell, don't eat it: better safe than sorry. If you think you are suffering from water hemlock poisoning, seek serious medical attention before it's too late.
What it looks like:
The water hemlock can grow nearly 2 meters high and sprouts little white blooms at the top of the stem. The stem is slightly purple and the leaves are toothed.
Where's it found:
The plant is native and found in North America. It tends to grow in wet areas, spite the name water hemlock.
How to avoid it:
Water hemlocks are sometimes mistaken for edible plants, making them a risk to campers or backpackers. You should always double check if a plant is suitable to eat, and if you can't tell, don't eat it: better safe than sorry. If you think you are suffering from water hemlock poisoning, seek serious medical attention before it's too late.
1. Oleander
Oleander (Nerium oleander) is thought to be the most poisonous plant in the world. Surprisingly, it's commonly used globally for decorative purposes. However, don't let those beautiful flowers fool you: this plant contains a number of deadly toxins, including oleandrin and neriine. This plant is so toxic, that if a bee makes honey using oleander's nectar, and you simply eat that honey, you will get poisoned! Ingestion of any part of the oleander can result in dizziness, vomiting, tiredness, diarrhoea, severe stomach pain, unusual heart beat and often death.
What it looks like:
Oleanders have pretty flowers, ranging in colour from pink to white to yellow to red. The leaves are dark green, and grow about 15 cm long. One of the shocking things about oleander is its growth rate: the plant itself grows from 2-5 metres high easily without any help!
Where's it found:
Oleander is native to the Mediterranean, but it can also be found in places like Asia, the United States, and even Australia. Oleander grows surprisingly well despite negative conditions, such as poor soil, dry weather and cold climate. They can be found from barren areas to people's backyard, usually in a spot where they can get plenty of sunlight.
How to avoid it:
If you see a pretty flower, don't approach it if you're not sure if it's oleander or not. You should know by now that it's potentially dangerous to eat unknown plants, so don't do that. If you feel that you're suffering from oleander poisoning, seek professional medical attention immediately. Don't worry, though; if you are still alive after 24 hours of being poisoned by oleander, your chances of surviving increase largely.
What it looks like:
Oleanders have pretty flowers, ranging in colour from pink to white to yellow to red. The leaves are dark green, and grow about 15 cm long. One of the shocking things about oleander is its growth rate: the plant itself grows from 2-5 metres high easily without any help!
Where's it found:
Oleander is native to the Mediterranean, but it can also be found in places like Asia, the United States, and even Australia. Oleander grows surprisingly well despite negative conditions, such as poor soil, dry weather and cold climate. They can be found from barren areas to people's backyard, usually in a spot where they can get plenty of sunlight.
How to avoid it:
If you see a pretty flower, don't approach it if you're not sure if it's oleander or not. You should know by now that it's potentially dangerous to eat unknown plants, so don't do that. If you feel that you're suffering from oleander poisoning, seek professional medical attention immediately. Don't worry, though; if you are still alive after 24 hours of being poisoned by oleander, your chances of surviving increase largely.