Posts Tagged: Poisonous Plants
High Prevalence of Bur Buttercup
The weather pattern this year in the Intermountain Region of Northern California has been radically...
Holiday Season Brings Poisonous Plants into the Home
Plant poisoning can range from simple rashes and blisters all the way to organ damage and in severe cases death. Be safe this holiday season by being mindful of what plants and flowers you are either giving, receiving or decorating with. Common holiday plants that pose a toxic risk are; Amaryllis (bulb portion), Chrysanthemums, Holly (berries), Mistletoe (berries and leaves) and Poinsettia.
Seven simple steps can be taken to help minimize the risk that poisonous or toxic plants cause when brought into the home:
- Know what plants you have in your home and the health risks they pose
- Place poisonous plants out of reach of children and pets
- Teach children not to put any part of a plant in their mouth
- Discard plant leaves and flowers in a safe way so that children and pets cannot get to them
- Use protective gloves and clothing when handling plants that may be irritating to the skin
- Wash your hands after handling plants
- Don't garnish food trays or tables with poisonous plants
Signs of poisoning range from dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea to stomach cramps. Some plants cause irritation to the skin, mouth and tongue and immediate burning pain. The signs of poisoning may not appear immediately so if you suspect that someone has been poisoned by a plant, telephone your doctor of the Poison Control Center 1(800)222-1222.
If you are advised to go to an emergency room, take the plant or a part of it with you (take more than a single leaf or berry). Take the label, too, if you have it. The correct name can result in the proper treatment if the plant is poisonous. If the plant is not dangerous, knowing the name can prevent needless treatment and worry.
To view a list of safe and toxic plants for humans or pets visit:
http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/
Sources:
UC ANR Safe and Poisonous Plants
California Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 20 Poisonous Plants
Kids & Pets & Toxic Plants … oh my!
Kids and pets and toxic plants are certainly not a good combination, and most of us would not knowingly combine them, of course! But recently I visited the new beautiful “dream home” of friends with a dog and a two-year old child, plus a baby on the way. The home and the grounds are absolutely gorgeous, until I spied not one or two, but FIVE Oleanders (Nerium spp.) along the side yard. I immediately expressed my concern, because Oleanders are highly toxic and I had removed a few from my own yard when I got a new puppy. Since that was actually Moving Day, the Realtor stopped by to check in and when my friend shared the news, they immediately made arrangements to have the nefarious plants removed!
This got me thinking … there are many other plants that are common and/or quite beautiful that many people do not realize are very dangerous for pets and/or children. Since they all have different toxicity levels, refer to the following resources to help you avoid them. Of course, if your pet ingests any of these, call your Vet immediately, and if your child ingests them, call your doctor or the Poison Control Center @ (800) 222-1222.
Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants: http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/Toxic_Plants_by_common_Name_659/
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ccah/health_information/plants_pets.cfm
Pets and Toxic Plants
(the first 12 plants are responsible for the majority of calls to the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital about possible plant poisoning. The list was compiled by Director of Pharmacy, Dr. Valerie Wiebe)
- Lilies (Lilium, all spp.)
- Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
- Anemone (Anenome and Pulsatilla, family Ranunculaceae)
- Aloe Vera (family Liliaceae)
- Amaryllis (family Amaryllidaceaea, incl. Hippeastrum spp.)
- Asparagus Fern (family Liliaceae)
- Daffodil (Narcissus)
- Philodendrons
- Jade Plants (Crassula argentea).
- Chrysanthemums
- Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
- Cycads (including Sago palm; cardboard palm; etc.)
Common plants that are highly toxic but only rarely ingested by pets include:
- Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)
- Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
- Daphne (Daphne spp.)
- Deathcamas & Meadow Deathcamas (Zigadenus venenosus)
- English yew (Taxus baccata)
- Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
- Jimson weed or Devil's Trumpet (many common names) (Datura spp.)
- Nicotiana/Tobacco plants (all spp.)
- Oleander (Nerium oleander)
- Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
- Pokeweed (Phytilacca americana)
- Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)
- Western water hemlock (Cicuta douglasii)
- Yew (Taxus cuspidata)
Deadly, and beautiful 'Jetfire' daffodils. (photo by Jennifer Baumbach)
UC IPM Releases New Pest Note on Poison Hemlock
The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program has recently released another within its popular Pest Notes series. This latest covers poison hemlock which is very common in both Mendocino & Lake Counties and is especially prevalent along the coast. The note can be downloaded as a pdf at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PDF/PESTNOTES/pnpoisonhemlock.pdf. I've excerpted a bit of the note below.
"Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum, is a member of the plant family Apiaceae, which contains a few important vegetable crops such as carrots, celery, and parsnip, and herbs such as parsley, cilantro, chervil, fennel, anise, dill, and caraway. It is a tall, invasive, highly poisonous weed that is sometimes mistaken for one of its crop relatives.
Poison hemlock was introduced from Europe as an ornamental plant, probably during the 1800s. It is now widely distributed in the western United States and is commonly found at lower elevations in regularly disturbed areas such as roadsides, ditch and stream banks, creek beds, and fence lines, as well as on the edges of cultivated fields. It can also invade native plant communities in riparian woodlands, floodplains of natural aquatic systems, and grazing areas, particularly pastures and meadows.
In grazing areas, poison hemlock can crowd out more desirable forage species, and its toxicity causes serious livestock losses when animals feed on fresh forage, harvested silage, or, to a lesser degree, contaminated hay. Silage does little to reduce the plant's toxicity. Poison hemlock is toxic to both humans and livestock, affecting the central nervous and reproductive systems.
Cases of human poisoning are comparatively rare and are generally associated with children using the hollow stems as flutes or adults mistakenly confusing poison hemlock with an edible plant such as parsley, parsnip, or anise. Sensitive people may experience contact dermatitis when handling this plant."
Management and various control methods are provided in the note. As is a description of the biology and growth patterns. While poisonings are rare, livestock producers should learn to recognize this plant and this pest note will help.