Plant+Poison

Animals aren't the only things that make poison. Some plants do to. On this page, I'm going to tell you about some poisonous plants; some can kill, some cause rashes, and some just make you dizzy, but it's all poison. I only mention a 3 kinds of poisonous plants (and one group), but there are a lot more out there like castor beans (ironic how so many people use castor oil), water hemlock (pretty, but causes a violent death if you eat just a pinchful of it, Rosemary Pea, and a lot more.

[[image:http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/poison-ivy-affect.jpg width="290" height="227" align="right" caption="Effects of Poison Ivy"]]__ Poison Ivy: __
Poison Ivy is a widespread plant that causes rashes. Also known as Toxicodendrom Radicans, you can get it by touching any poison ivy plants. The reason it causes itching is because a chemical called urushiol sets of a chemical reaction.It starts off feeling slightly itchy and gets worse and worse over up to 3 weeks. It can grow anywhere in the U.S, so watch out for this non-life threatening but annoying plant. If you really need to, you can ask your doctor for some medicine or take a hot shower to ease the symptoms.

__ Cyanide __ We all know that cyanide is poisonous. Suprisingly, it comes from plants! Many plants contain cyanide in their leaves or somewhere else to protect themselves from herbivores and insects trying to eat them. If you digest cyanide, it is converted to gas form and disrupts the conversion of oxygen into energy in cells. However, people can detoxify small amounts of cyanide. Some common foods contain cyanide are garden beans and peas, cassava, bitter almond, peach and apricot, along with cherry, loquat, and apple. The parts of these fruits and veggies don't contain cyanide, but their seeds do. If you decide to chew a bunch of apple seeds... bad things would happen. However, if you just swallow it, the seed usually doesn't break and passes through the digestive system with no harm done. Something called a cassava root must be specially processed to remove the cyanide before consumption. Contact with water removes the cyanide from the food.

__ Deadly Nightshade __ The Deadly Nightshade, also known as a belladonna is one of the most poisonous plants on the west hemisphere. 10 to 20 of it's berries can kill a full grown man, and that's not even the most poisonous part. Actually, the entire nightshade is poisonous - berries, leaves, roots, etc. It contains two poisons called atropine and scopolamine and can paralyze nerve endings/major organs. Growing from 2 to 4 feet long, this plant requires rich soil to survive so it isn't a major threat. However, the berries do look nice and sweet to any child who wanders up to a nightshade... Also, some animals like horses, rabbits, and sheep are immune the the poison. So are Birds. ­Symptoms of deadly nightshade poison include dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, headaches, confusion and convulsions.

__Oleander__ The oleander, or //Nerium oleander//, is considered to be the most poisonous plant in the world. All parts of the oleander contain poison -- several types of poison. Two of the most potent are oleandrin and neriine, known for their powerful effect on the heart. An oleander's poison is so strong that it can poison a person who simply eats the honey made by bees that have digested oleander nectar. Sadly, people who like to have "pretty" homes plant this plant in their homes. Although native to the Meditterranean Sea areas, oleander has been introduced in U.S, where it grows easily. It's can grow in poor quality soil and dry weather. The plant grows as a shrub, and is typically 6 to 18 feet tall. It has dark green leaves, and the flowerscan be yellow, red, pink or white. The Oleander is so dangerous that most animals aren't immune to it. A single leaf can kill a child. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, intense pain, dizziness, and death.