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Dangerous & Deadly Plants on the Planet

June 3, 2011 By eenatura 4 Comments

Dangerous & Deadly Plants on the Planet

By: nobert bermosa

There are numerous species of plants that are poisonous and can be deadly to humans and animals. Here’s a list of the most dangerous plants in the world.

1. False Helleborine (Veratrum album )

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The root of this plant with elegant flowers is very poisonous. It has a paralyzing effect on the nervous system. In two cases of fatal poisoning from eating the seeds, the toxins veratridine and cevadine were present in the blood at 0.17-0.40 nanograms/milliliter and 0.32-0.48 nanograms/milliliter, respectively. In 1983 sneezing powders produced from the herb in Germany were reported to have caused severe intoxications in Scandinavia. False Helleborine, a native to Europe, is also known as White Hellebore, European White Hellebore, and White Veratrum. Although this plant is poisonous, it is also considered a medicinal plant.

2. Anthora (Aconitum anthor)

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Anthora is a plant that is extremely toxic to livestock and humans. Even small doses can be deadly. Foliage and stems contain diterpenoid alkaloids. Anthora, variously known as Yellow Monkshood, or Healing Wolfsbane, is a yellow flowering plant species of the genus Aconitum. It is endemic to European Mountains and Asia.

3. Indian Poke (Veratrum viride)

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Indian poke is native to North America and it is extremely toxic. It is considered a pest plant by farmers with livestock. The species has acquired a large number of common names within its native range, including American False Hellebore, American White Hellebore, Bear Corn, Big Hellebore, Corn Lily, Devils Bite, Duck Retten, Indian Hellebore, Itch-weed, Itchweed, Poor Annie, and Tickleweed. The plant is highly toxic, causing nausea and vomiting. If the poison is not evacuated, cold sweat and vertigo appears, respiration slows, cardiac rhythm and blood pressure falls, eventually leading to death.

4. Lice-Bane ( Delphinium staphisagria )


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Lice-Bane, a perennial plant, is also known as Stavesacre. All parts of this plant are highly toxic and should not be ingested in any quantity. The plant has purple flowers, May to August.

5. Death Camas (Zigadenus venenosus)

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All parts of this plant with lovely flowers called the Death Camas are poisonous. It is dangerous for humans as well as livestock, though some poisoned by it have been treated. Alkaloids are responsible for the plants being poisonous. Fish or beef broth, grease, or butter are said to be the antidotes.

The bulbs of Death Camas are oval and look like onions but does not smell like onions. Death camas occurs in some parts of western North America and can be easily confused with edible onions of genus Allium. They tend to grow in dry meadows and on dry hillsides as well as sagebrush slopes and mountain forests.

6. American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

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American Pokeweed is also known as American nightshade, cancer jalap, oakum, garget, inkberry, pigeon berry, pecan bush, poke root, pokeweed, redweed, scoke, red ink plant and chui xu shang lu, parts of this plant are highly toxic to livestock and humans..

The fruits of American Pokeweed look edible too like the Jerusalem cherry that’s why Pokeweed poisonings are common. Although the fruits are toxic to humans, they’re not to birds. The toxic components of the plant are saponins. Deaths are currently uncommon, although there are cases of emesis and catharsis, but at least one death of a child who consumed crushed seeds in a juice has occurred.

7. Mountain Death camas (Zigadenus elegans)

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This pretty flower of Mountain Death Camas is extremely poisonous. It is also known as Elegant Camas, a flowering plant that has white lily-like flowers and two-pronged, greenish-yellow glands on each petal. Distribution is throughout North America and occurs in many habitats.

8. Western Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa)

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Western Bleeding Heart is a flowering plant generally found in moist wooded areas from California to British Columbia. Herbologists have claimed that there are uses for Dicentra formosa in relieving sharp pains that are difficult to bear, such as toothaches. However it is recommended to be used in a drop dosage, if used at all, because if used improperly it can be harmful and possibly fatal.

9. Indian Aconite (Aconitum ferox)

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Indian Aconites supply the Indian (Nepal) poison called bikh, bish, or nabee. It contains large quantities of the alkaloid pseudaconitine, which is a deadly poison. Aconite was often used as an ingredient in the psychoactive drugs prepared by the descendants of Hecate (the Greek goddess of sorcery and witchcraft). It was also used in European witchcraft ointments.

10. Purple Nightshade (Solanum xanti)

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Purple Nightshade is a plant that is poisonous to humans. It is native to California, it can now be found in most of North America. Purple Nightshade has been observed climbing higher on fences, shrubs and saplings, sometimes choking or blocking sunlight thereby killing off the host plant.

11. Apple of Sodom (Solanum mammosum)

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Apple of Sodom is also known as nipplefruit, titty fruit, or Cow’s Udder. It is a close relative of the tomato. The poisonous fruit is native to South America, but has been naturalized in the Greater Antilles, Central America and Caribbean.

The fruit is grown for ornamental purposes, in part because of its resemblance to a human breast. It is reputed to have medicinal use in various treatments, from athlete’s foot to irritability and restlessness, and is sometimes used as a detergent. It is imported to Taiwan for use as a religious offering.

12. Hound’s Berry (Solanum nigrum)

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Hound’s Berry is native to Eurasia and introduced in the Americas and Australia. The green berries and mature leaves contain glycoalkaloids and are poisonous to eat raw. Their toxicity varies and there are some strains which have edible berries when fully ripe. Although fatal human poisonings are rare, at least one case has been documented. The poison is believed to be solanine. Hound’s Berry is known commonly with the ff names; Black Nightshade, Duscle, Garden Nightshade, Petty Morel, Small-fruited black nightshade, popolo, Sunberry, or Wonderberry.

13. Little Larkspur (Delphinium bicolor )

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Little Larkspur plant is poisonous to cattle and to sheep. It is a species of larkspur also known as low larkspur. This plant is native to northwestern North America. It grows in mountain forests and foothill scrub and prairie.

14. Conker Tree (Aesculus hippocastanum )

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All parts of this lovely-looking plant called Conker Tree are poisonous, causing nausea, muscle twitches, and sometimes paralysis. The nuts, especially those that are young and fresh, are slightly poisonous, containing alkaloid saponins and glucosides. Although not dangerous to touch, they cause sickness when eaten. Conker Tree is also commonly known as Horse-chestnut. This plant is native to the Balkan Peninsula. It is widely cultivated throughout the temperate world.

15. California Corn Lily (Veratrum californicum)

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California Corn lily is a poisonous plant native to mountain meadows in southwestern North america and the Rocky Mountains. This plant is a source of jervine and cyclopamine, teratogens which can cause birth defects such as holoprosencephaly and cyclopia in animals that graze upon it.

16. Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum)


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All parts of the mandrake plant are poisonous. The plant grows natively in southern and central Europe and in lands around the Mediterranean Sea, as well as on Corsica Mandrake contains deliriant hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and the roots sometimes contain bifurcations causing them to resemble human figures. Their roots have long been used in magic rituals, today also in neopagan religions such as Wicca and Germanic revivalism religions such as Odinism.

17. Poison Ryegrass (Lolium temulentum)

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The seeds and seed heads of this common garden weed contain the alkaloids temuline and loliine. Some experts also point to the fungus ergot or fungi of the genus endoconidium, both of which grow on the seed heads of rye grasses, as an additional source of toxicity. Poison Ryegrass is also commonly known as Darnel or Cockle and grows plentifully in Syria and Israel.

18. Trailing Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara)

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The fruit of Trailing Bittersweet is poisonous to humans and livestock but edible for birds, which disperse the seeds widely. Like other Solanum species, the foliage is also poisonous to humans. Although fatal human poisonings are rare, several cases have been documented. The poison is believed to be solanine. Trailing Bittersweet is also known commonly as bittersweet, bitter nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade, fellenwort, felonwood, poisonberry, poisonflower, scarlet berry, snakeberry, trailing nightshade, violet bloom or, woody nightshade. It is native to Europe and Asia.

19. Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)


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Dutchman’s Breech is a flowering plant that occurs mainly in the eastern half of the North American continent. It typically grows in rich woods. The common name Dutchman’s breeches derives from their white flowers that look like white Breeches. This plant may be toxic and may cause contact dermatitis in some people.

20. Nelson’s Horsenettle (Solanum nelsonii)

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Nelson’s Horsenettle is an annual to perennial plant of the nightshade genus. The poisonous plant is native to the Pacific islands.  It grows low to the ground in sandy soil.

21. Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)


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Black Locust is native to the southeastern US, but has been widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in temperate North America, Europe and Asia. Unlike the pods of the honey locust, but like those of the related European Laburnum, the black locust’s pods are toxic. In fact, every part of the tree, especially the bark, is considered toxic, with the exception of the flowers. However, various reports have suggested that the seeds and the young pods of the black locust can be edible when cooked, since the poisons that are contained in this plant are decomposed by heat. Horses that consume the plant show signs of anorexia, depression, diarrhea, colic, weakness, and cardiac arrhythmia. Symptoms usually occur about 1 hour following consumption, and immediate veterinary attention is required.

See more deadly plants on these sites:

20 Deadliest Plants on the Planet

10 Deadliest Plants on the Planet 2

Amazingly Beautiful But Poisonous Ornamental Plants

Written by nobertbermosa
I am a Secondary School Head Teacher III and currently enrolled for my doctorate degree at Araullo University. I also contribute to Triond and Factoid

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How Plants Reproduce Asexually

June 3, 2011 By eenatura Leave a Comment

Plants that produce sexually with flowers can also reproduce asexually. In asexual reproduction there is only one parent plant involved. New plants can grow from the roots, stems and sometimes leaves of the parent plant. The reproduction of new plants from parts of a parent plant (other than the usual reproductive structures like flowers and spores) is called natural vegetative propagation.

New plants from stem. The stem has nodes, where leaves and buds are attached. Stem generally grow above the ground. But some plants have stems that grow underground. At first sight, they do not look like stems. But, on closer look, you will notice that like all other stems, they have nodes. So, they are called modified stems.

Onion is an example of a bulb. A bulb consists of a short stem base with one or more buds enclosed in many fleshy leaves, which store food. The upper part of the fleshy leaves is composed of the regular green and narrow leaves found above the ground. The short stem base can develop roots, and the bulb can grow into new plant. Lily and hyacinth are also bulbs. A corm is a thick stem base with scaly leaves at the nodes and contains stored food. This modified stem can develop buds and roots at the nodes and grow into new plants. Gladiola and begonia are some examples of corms. White potato (also called Irish potato) is an example of a tuber. A tuber is enlarged because of stored food. The “eyes” of potato are its nodes. It a piece of the potato with “eyes” is planted, buds and roots will appear there and grow into new plants.

Ginger is an example of rhizome. Rhizome is an underground stem that grows horizontally near the soil surface. It is fleshy because of stored food. Buds and roots develop at the nodes and grow into new plants. Strawberry and Bermuda grass are examples of runners, also called stolons. These are stems that grow horizontally above the ground, along the surface. When a node touches the ground, roots and leaves develop and a new plant grows. The stored food of a modified stem is used by the new plant in the early part of its life. Remember that leaves do not appear and manufactured food right away.

New plants from roots. Plants like turnip, carrot, radish and sweet potato have storage roots. These storage roots contain food. When planted, storage roots grow into new plants.

New plants from leaves. There are also plants that reproduce by means of their leaves. The new plant separate from the parent plant and continue to grow. Begonia produces new plants from their leaves that touch the soil.

Artificial Vegetative Propagation is a method of propagating plants develops by people who are engaged in the reproduction of plants for food or decoration. Through their method, plants are produced more quickly and varieties are improved.

Stem Cutting. Many ornamental plants such as San Francisco, mayana and rosal can be grown from stem cuttings. The cuttings are placed in water. When roots come out, they are transplanted.

Layering. To produce new plants through layering, a branch that grows near the ground is bent and covered with soil. The parts of the branch covered with soil will grow roots and new shoots. The new plants are then cut away from the parent plant and planted in another place.

Some plants are propagated by a method called air layering. A part of the plant’s bark is removed. Then the exposed area is covered with peat moss. To hold the peat moss in place, a piece of plastic is wrapped around it. Coconut husk may also be used to wrap the area. Roots will form in the covered area. Then the branch is cut off and transplanted.

Grafting and budding. Some plants are propagated by transplanting a branch or a bud of one plant to the trunk of another plant. This is done in order to improve the quality of fruits. Transplanting a branch of one plant to the trunk of another plant is called grafting. This is done by cutting a branch of a plant of good variety and attaching it to a plant rooted in the soil. The rooted plant is the stock while the attached branch is the scion. The stock provides the roots and stem for the scion. Budding is the same as grafting but, instead of a branch; a bud is used as the scion.

Written by JoelEsteban

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How to Care For Shade Plants

June 3, 2011 By eenatura Leave a Comment

There are basic needs for the success of the growth of shade plants should know and remember the pot and the soil good and proper irrigation and proper enough light and fresh air, temperature and humidity are all important factors that must be observed that treats each plant according to requirements …

 The increase in irrigation water for example, or direct sunlight and the increase in fertilizer can all cause damage to the plant. And must always remember that there is a rest period of the plant be in the winter where do not need plant only a few of the water and fertilizer, and there is a need to increase attention to plants where and are my classes grow any in the spring, summer and autumn should be a day that embody the soil and must be monitored securities to observe the patient and treatment formed leaves indicates whether the plant in good health or that its impurities may be caused by lack of adequate irrigation or increase in irrigation or light is not appropriate or not enough moisture.

The following are the most important guidance on good soil to plant shade and the appropriate vessel and the needs of the plant from light lorry and temperature and moisture and feed fertilizer.

Types of soil suitable for shade plants in home

Of the most important conditions that must be taken into account in order to grow a plant shade are a good use of soil with certain specifications the soil taken from gardens and fields are not suitable for cultivation of the shadows of the houses may contain pests and pathogens that multiply in the conditions of warmth inside the house and keep this land within the shadows of the houses needs to the soil of certain properties The following three types of soil to plant shade.

    * Soil Compost

The basis of grass and leaves dry buried in the ground to rot and then taken and mixed with amounts of silt, sand, and by a simple lime and fertilizer consisting of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium and can be purchased soil compost from nurseries or stores that sell seeds and fertilizer plant shade and the soil better for gardening.

    * Soil, peat moss

The basis of peat moss and the artificial soil imported sold in nurseries and stores that sell supplies for shade plants is the soil peat moss is the most suitable soil types for the shade plants it may advantages over compost as it is lighter, cleaner and facilitate the process of food for the plant is House Moss the best soil for Amelctalat new and when you move the seedlings to jars, the largest soil-based peat moss works on plant growth in the best form as the plant does not like to change the quality of the soil.

    * Soil blending

This third type of soil can be prepared from equal amounts to each of:

1. The amount of silt from farmland.

2. The amount of peat moss.

3. The amount of sand component of manure fertilizer phosphate and potassium.

Note: take into account when preparing the soil to ensure the absence of silt and sand from insects and worms.

Types of jars shade plants

There are various types of pots for growing plants shade in homes mismatch pottery, plastics, including fiberglass or basins of marble, for example, but in all cases must be considered to be the vessel by the exchange well water was to be a hole or several small holes in the bottom If you wish to use jars of copper or silver or Chinese or otherwise, which takes the visual quality of decorative plant should be planted in a container or plastic tags pottery exchange good and then placed inside the vessel desired.

Another way to use the copper pots and basins of marble, which is not to divert from the bottom that is placed a layer of gravel then a layer of coal at the bottom to help filtration and drainage of excess water before placing the soil, but in this case to be irrigation very carefully so not to water over the need for diuretic antiseptic or less, thus causing thirst and plant death.

And taken into account when agriculture in pottery jars that when you move the plant to be the largest vessel of the same type use any vessel larger than the pottery, as well as in the case of the plastic. If you wish to change the type of vessel must be observed to change the way of irrigation.

Proper lighting for shade plant

Need plants with green leaves usually to the brightly lit but without exposure to direct sunlight the plants flowered setting calls usually to some of the direct sunlight The cactus is a plant that needs to a strong light, and more from the rest of the species, the dark places and a few lighting rarely live where The plant foliar plant where syphilis is not at all.

Plants and placed next to windows from the inside tend its branches and leaves about the window in terms of lighting and light and to avoid and you must wrap the pot from time to time so as not to look Ghusun retort with a note not to wrap the pot if the plant flowered in the growth phase.

Plants should be placed next to windows in the winter, it affects the transmission of light on plants not taking into account the windows leak air currents in the direction of the plant.

If you replace the place of the plant from place unlit to place less lighting live plants but will not grow. Most houseplants should be withheld from the light of the midday sun Alambeshrpaldu industrial: If the location of the plant dark can use artificial lighting and is known as the Balaspot Lite Spot-lights with the use of bulbs Neon is the best as the regular bulbs may burn the leaves of the plant.

Ri shade plants

Roots need both water and air so it must be fragile soil and the dew, but not soaked with water, provided that the irrigation mines in the early morning or after sunset, and irrigation should not be at all during the afternoon .. Some plants need soil to dry between irrigations and some need to be always moist soil, but all plants need a rest period during the winter means that the irrigation be spaced at intervals.

For cactus soil should be kept almost dry in winter.

 Most of the plants would need to be paper-based soil from dry to wet irrigation must constantly from spring to autumn but in winter she does the soil to dry before irrigation .. So dry the soil surface is very important between October and March and is a rest period for plant growth.

Most of the flowering plants you need to wet the soil all the time, but are not wet because the large number of water affect the roots rot.
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Fertilizer plant, which feeds the shadow:

Typically contain soil flora of the shadow of Home on the amount of fertilizer that is located mainly in the soil and during the first months of Agriculture absorbs plant this compost so you must add the amount of fertilizer once a week to irrigation water, especially that the amount of irrigation to increase in the spring, until the autumn and is the period of plant growth and prosperity must also stop feeding and manure in the winter.

Written by mohamed003

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