10 most poisonous plants in the world
Content:
Poisonous plants are not fiction from books about fascinating travels to the African tropics, they are a reality that awaits us even in summer cottages in central Russia. It may well be that the plant you care for with trepidation and care could be a source of danger. In this article, we will look at the most threatening plant health.
10 dangerous plants
Castor oil plant
The castor oil plant lives in tropical and subtropical forests. In its habitat, it can reach a size of 10 m in height, but in any other habitat it will not grow higher than 2-3 m.Despite the threat to human health, this plant is used for garden design in private gardens and parks in South America and Asia. Recently, Russian landscape specialists have also paid attention to castor oil plant.
The most dangerous thing about castor bean is its seeds, they have the highest level of ricin, a poison that is somewhat worse than potassium cyanide. Also, the rest of the plant is impregnated with poisonous substances. Just a few castor bean seeds can be irreversible. A person who has been poisoned with ricin starts vomiting and stomach pains. A lethal outcome can occur 6-7 days after the poison enters the body.
It is surprising that the useful castor oil is extracted from castor bean seeds. But this is only possible with the use of special production technologies.
Prayer abrus
This distant relative of beans grows in India. In tropical rainforests, these poisonous plants can be found to this day. The ancient Indians used the root of the tree for food, because its salt is a hundred times sweeter than sugar. But the inhabitants are very careful about the rest of the tree. Abrus pods contain abrin. One seed is enough to cause severe poisoning of the body, leading to the death of a person. A person can wait for danger, even if he has not eaten the seeds of the tree. It is enough to stain your fingers in dangerous poison and you can cause yourself serious injury, for example, rub your eyes and go blind. The seeds are very eye-catching with their color. They are often compared to ladybirds. Previously, the locals used to make rosaries out of them, hence the second part of the name. Currently, the authorities have banned such a dangerous craft.
Vech poisonous
Milestones can be found in meadows and swamps in Europe, Asia and North America. In appearance, this poisonous plant resembles the angelica, which cows like to eat. Moreover, the taste of the harmful plant is quite edible, which attracts animals. But if you eat at least 100 grams of a poisonous milestone, then the animal may die.
But the milestones are fraught with danger not only for meadow animals, but also for humans. The cicutoxin contained in the plant can cause seizures and affect the digestive tract. Cases of death are known.
Aconite
These poisonous plants are better known as the "fighter". Summer residents of central Russia often grow it on their backyard plots. But the cute appearance is deceiving - all parts of the plants contain a dangerous substance. The ancient inhabitants of Greece carried out the death sentence with the help of aconite. In order for the poison to affect the body, it is not necessary to eat it; bodily contact with the plant is enough. The first signs appear in the form of vomiting and diarrhea, later respiratory arrest may occur, which can lead to death.
Raven eye
Crow's eye or wolfberry can often be found on the European plain and forests of Siberia. This dangerous plant can immediately affect all organs of the human body. Berries have a detrimental effect on the heart system, leaves on the central nervous system, and roots infect the stomach. Poisoning symptoms can eventually lead to a complete cardiac arrest. It is believed that if the berries are dried, then their danger to humans decreases, but still you should not put your life at such a risk.
Belladonna
Belladonna is often called belladonna or mad grass. Wet Asian and sometimes European forests are the habitat of this dangerous plant. All parts of it contain poisonous atropine, but the most harmful are fruits and roots.
Belladonna is similar in effect to a potent nootropic drug. The person falls into prostration, experiences hallucinations. Cessation of breathing can be considered a dangerous outcome.
Strychnos poisonous
In the famous adventure sagas about fearless Indians, brave warriors treated their arrows with the poison of this plant. Curare venom contains brucine and strychnine, the death of which is especially painful. Convulsions, with increasing intensity, shake a person, after which breathing stops.
Cerberus
The place of growth of this plant is Australia, the tropics of Asia, the Pacific islands. Outwardly, Cerberus is very attractive - luscious greens border the snow-white-delicate core of large flowers. But inside all parts of the plant there is a potent poison - cerberine. The substance instantly affects the heart system, eventually stopping the work of the heart. Even when burning these poisonous plants, the concentration of the harmful substance in the air can cause severe poisoning.
Manchineel tree
In its natural environment, this tree can be found in the humid areas of Central America. The height of the manchineel tree is about 15 m. All parts of the plant are poisonous, but the juice is especially potent. The milky liquid can cause skin lesions and burns to the cornea of the eye. The fruits of the tree, which, by the way, look quite edible, can also lead to severe poisoning. This is exactly what happened to the sailors who survived the shipwreck. They mistook the manchineel tree for an edible plant.
Oleander
The tenderly beautiful oleander is also included in the list of dangerous plants. The homeland of the shrub is Asia. But it is represented on almost every continent of the planet Earth. Cornerin and oleandrin, contained in all parts of oleander, can cause severe poisoning up to cardiac arrest.
Conclusion.
Of course, this article does not provide an exhaustive list of dangerous flora of our world. Therefore, when going on a trip, especially to exotic countries, study the relevant literature, so as not to harm your health, stumbling upon poisonous plants on your way.