The Top 10 Deadliest Plants (They Can Kill You!)

TL;DR

Plants may seem harmless, but some are deadly due to toxic compounds they contain, such as dumbcane, foxglove, pong-pong, oleander, monkshood, hemlock, deadly nightshade, rosary pea, white snakeroot, and manchineel tree.

Transcript

When you look at a plant, your first thought is probably not, “That thing’s gonna kill me!” But in some cases … that thing’s gonna kill you. Sure, plants can be pretty or delicious. But they’ve also evolved with all kinds of compounds inside them -- and sometimes, those compounds don’t play well with human biology. Whether it’s the seeds, the berri... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤑 Dumbcane contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause blisters and swelling in the mouth and throat.
• 🤢 Foxglove contains digitoxin and can lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, confusion, hallucinations, and irregular heartbeat.
• 🏓 The pong-pong tree's seeds contain cerberin, similar to digitoxin, and can cause stomach symptoms, changes in heart rhythm, and death.
• 💓 Oleander contains oleandrin, which interferes with the heart's beating and can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, disorientation, and blurred vision.
• 🥰 Monkshood, also known as aconite, is poisonous and can interfere with the human heart and brain, resulting in various symptoms.
• 🥺 Hemlock, famous for Socrates' execution, can cause paralysis and eventually lead to death by interfering with neuron signals.
• 🍓 Deadly nightshade berries resemble blueberries but are highly toxic due to the presence of atropine and solanine.
• 🙊 Rosary peas contain abrin, a protein that inhibits ribosome function and causes gastrointestinal problems, internal bleeding, organ damage, and death.
• 🍼 White snakeroot, when ingested by animals, can result in milk contamination and cause sickness or death in humans who consume the milk.
• 👨‍🎨 The manchineel tree, known as the "little apple of death," contains toxins that cause extreme pain and irritation upon contact or ingestion.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the compound in dumbcane that makes it so toxic?

Dumbcane contains tiny crystals of calcium oxalate, which can cause blisters and swelling in the mouth and throat. The crystals act like needles, easily penetrating tissues and causing damage.

Q: Can foxglove be used as a heart medication?

Yes, in smaller doses, foxglove can be used as a heart medication due to its digitoxin content. However, consuming the plant can lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, confusion, hallucinations, and an irregular heartbeat.

Q: How does the pong-pong tree seed cause poisoning?

The pong-pong tree seed contains cerberin, a compound similar to digitoxin. Ingesting the seed can result in stomach symptoms, changes in heart rhythm, and often death within a few hours.

Q: What are the symptoms of oleander poisoning?

Oleander contains oleandrin, which interferes with the heart's beating. Symptoms of oleander poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, disorientation, and blurred vision.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Some plants, like dumbcane, can cause blisters and swelling in the mouth and throat due to tiny crystals of calcium oxalate. Eating the plant can be fatal if the airway gets blocked.

• Foxglove contains digitoxin and can lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, confusion, hallucinations, and irregular heartbeat. Fatal cases are rare.

• The pong-pong tree's seeds contain cerberin, similar to digitoxin, and can cause stomach symptoms, changes in heart rhythm, and death within a few hours.

• Oleander contains oleandrin, which interferes with the heart's beating and can be fatal. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, disorientation, and blurred vision.