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From Dieffenbachia to Cicuta we countdown the top 10 plants that can kill you
#10 Dumbcane - We start off today’s list with dieffenbachia which is known as dumbcane.
Native to Mexico, Argentina and the west indies it’s widely used as an ornamental houseplant.
In Brazil the plant is said to ward off against negative energies, and is currently being
studied in the philippines for cancer treatment. Stay away from chewing the leaves of this
plant though, as when chewed the leaf releases crystals which cause a burning sensation and
erythema. In rare cases, the crystals can cause the throat to swell which will block
off the airway and lead to death.
#9 Stinging Tree - Located in the forests of Indonesia and Australia the stinging tree
is one of the strongest and deadliest stinging nettle plants on the face of the earth. Contact
with the leaves of the plant can cause the hollow silica-tipped hairs to pierce the skin
and cause a painful stinging sensation. One man who came in contact with the tree said
“For Two or three days the pain was almost unbearable, I couldn’t work, or sleep, The
stinging persisted for two years and recurred every time I had a cold shower”. Not only
is coming in contact with the tree extremely painful, it’s sting has been known to kill
pigs, dogs, horses, and even humans.
#8 White Snakeroot - Also known as richweed this perennial herb contains a toxin called
tremetol which can be poisonous if consumed. If white snakeroot is consumed by cattle,
the tremetol can taint the cattle's milk and pass on the poison to humans . It’s said
that many thousands were killed by milk sickness in the early 19th century including the mother
of abraham lincoln.
#7 Oleander - This evergreen shrub can produce stunning white, pink and red flowers.It’s
also one of the most poisonous and toxic commonly grown garden plants. Ingesting the plant can
cause problems with the gastrointestinal system, heart, and central nervous system. Even coming
in contact with the sap from the oleander can cause severe skin irritation and eye inflammation.
In 2002 alone, there were 847 known human poisonings in the US related to oleander.
#6 Rosary Pea - Also called Crab’s eye this plant is known for producing seeds which are
used as beads in percussion instruments. The Rosary pea is native to India and is seen
as an invasive plant to regions where it’s been introduced. Because of their colour,
the seeds of this plant were used as ornamental beads for rosaries. Although beautiful, the
seeds also contain a dark side - a poison called abrin - which is a close relative to
ricin and twice as toxic.
#5 The Suicide Tree - The toxin from the suicide tree has been dubbed the ‘perfect’ murder
weapon by new scientist magazine. Growing across India and southeast Asia the plant
contains a potent poison which can cause disruption of the heart beat, and is often fatal. Toxicologists
say the suicide tree is used by more people to commit suicide than any other plant, and
because the toxin is hard to trace, coroner's fail to detect how often it’s used to murder
people.
#4 Wolfsbane - Widespread across most of most of the northern hemisphere, wolfsbane is easily
picked out by its dark purple flower. Wolfsbane has been historically used in traditional
chinese medicine and has been known to reduce fever colds and even headaches. Unfortunately,
if the plant is eaten, it can cause difficulty breathing, confusion and even paralysis of
the heart. Wolfsbane contains a toxin called aconite and if ingested in large doses it’s
said that death is almost instantaneous.
#3 Little Apple of Death - Growing on the Manchineel tree it’s not just the the fruit
tree that are toxic, but the entire plant. The tree emits a milky white sap which can
irritate the skin, and cause a strong allergic dermatitis. When the tree is burned, the smoke
can cause blindness if it reaches the eyes. The deadliest part of the Manchineel tree
is the fruit. Ingesting the fruit causes internal bleeding, shock, bacterial superinfection
and can even compromise the airway. In some parts of the world the trees are marked with
warning signs, or a giant red x on the trunk to indicate danger.
#2 Water Hemlock - Cicuta, or water hemlock can grow up to 8 feet tall, and is usually
found in marshy areas or along streambanks. The plant is highly poisonous and is responsible
the deaths of hundreds of people in the 20th and 21st century. The exact dose of plant
material needed to be consumed to be fatal is unknown, but it’s thought that very small
amounts can lead to death. Farmers call the plant cowbane, as livestock commonly fall
victim to it’s toxicity.
#1 Castor Oil Plant - This flowering plant produces castor oil, which is used in the
manufacturing of soaps, paints, dyes, perfumes and even brake fluid. In 2007, Guinness World
Records named the plant the most poisonous in the world due to the presence of ricin
in raw castor beans. Ricin is highly toxic, and can be lethal ingested, injected or even
inhaled. Because of it’s toxicity ricin has been involved in a number of assassinations
and murders throughout the world.
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