13 Deadliest Plants in the World

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Plants are beautiful and can be very useful for different things such as medicine, air purification, feeding etc. They are all good and helpful, right? Well, not all of them. Some plants are poisonous. From the wild herbs to the flowers that may appear innocent, there are some plants that contain chemicals that can lead to mild skin reactions or even death.

Some of these plants possess toxins for protection, while others are poisonous due to the ground where they are cultivated. You might have come across some of them as ordinary indoor plants or flowers and shrubs in your compound without knowing that they contain toxic parts. Read on to find out.

Aconite (Monkshood)

The monkshood or purple-hooded aconite is a beautiful wild flower but as deadly as any flower can be. This plant contains Aconitine and has neurotoxicity which leads to respiratory arrest and death soon. Earlier it was utilized in many wars in black magic by attaching it in arrows and spears; thus, it is considered poisonous. If the skin is touched lightly on the affected areas the plant can make one lose feeling or have a tingly feeling.

The Rosary pea ( Abrus precatorius)

The seeds of this plant are as beautiful as the poison it contains. They look like small red beans; yet, one seed of this fruit can kill if swallowed. Inside, the toxin is abrin which is nearly similar to ricin; it paralyzes cells by inhibiting the construction of a protein that is vital for life. Although these seeds are used in ornaments or as decorations for food, one should not take it lightly – wearing it leads to poisoning.

Deadly Nightshade : Belladonna

Belladonna or deadly nightshade is a plant which has earned both of these names rightfully. Earlier it was used to dilate the pupils by dropping into the eyes and for beauty purposes; today it can lead to delirium, hallucinations and even death. When you consume any amount of this plant, the active ingredients such as atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine induce dryness of the mouth and reddening of the skin right up to convulsion, suffocation and death. Not the kind of beauty treatment one would wish to go for today if given the chance.

Castor Bean Plant

While the castor bean plant is often grown for its ornamental value, it harbors one of the deadliest poisons in the plant kingdom: ricin. The oil extracted from seeds of this plant is edible and harmless but what about the beans. The beans are something else; according to WebMD, chewing as few as 1-6 whole seeds can kill an adult.The toxin inhibits the synthesis of proteins and so leads to death of a cell and in the long run an organ.

Hemlock

Perhaps you remember hemlock as the poison that was used to kill Socrates. It is as toxic today as it was two and half millennia ago. The whole plant is toxic and contains coniine which interferes with the nervous system and causes paralysis of the respiratory system. If you eat just a little bit it will kill you and while it resembles wild carrots or parsley, the purple spotted stems should be warning enough for any fool who thinks hes a gourmet chef.

Oleander

As the ornamental plant the shrub which can be seen in the yards is the shrub of the poisonous plant of the oleander group with the pink or white flowers. However, all parts of this plant from the roots to the flower contain cardiac glycosides which interfere with the normal rhythm of the heart beating and can lead to severe illness and sometimes death. The smoke produced by burning the plant is toxic, and the oleander is a silent killer in the yards and gardens.

White Snakeroot

White snakeroot has feathery white flowers but this plant is toxic in nature as it contains tremetol. This plant was the cause of death of many settlers in the nineteenth century because cows that feed on snakeroot regurgitate the toxic compounds to the milk which is consumed by humans and this disease is called the milk sickness. It is believed that this toxin killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother. It may be harmless to humans now, but it is deadly to any livestock that graze in the region and humans who consume their produce.

Angel’s Trumpet

Also grown as angel’s trumpet, this plant has large, bell shaped flowers which are as beautiful as they are lethal. It is a plant from the nightshade family, and it has green leaves; according to Healthline, if ingested, the victim will experience hallucination and paralysis and will die. In some cultures, the plant has been used in spiritual ceremonies due to its psychoactive properties, but unfortunately, the poisonous dose is very low. It has a rather heavy odor and rather a campy look, but it is one of the best things to view from a distance.

Water Hemlock

One must not confuse it with its similar relative, poison hemlock, but water hemlock is one of the most poisonous plants in North America. It contains cicutoxin, which if consumed results in convulsions and seizures in less than half an hour. This is often mistaken with other edible roots like parsnip and this may be fatal at times. The lethal collapse can occur at any concentration, therefore the hikers should keep off this one plant in the wild.

Foxglove

Foxglove with its 60-150 cm stalks of tubular purple flowers is one of the most liked flowers but it is very toxic. It has digitalis that makes the heart to behave in some way and this is highly toxic when administered in excess. However, digitalis has been used in a controlled manner in heart disorders; however, the dividing line between therapeutic and toxic ranges is thin. Foxglove is a very pretty flower, but deadly if ingested, and even touching it or even inhaling its smell can cause a rash, itching or nausea to those sensitive to it.

Jimsonweed

Jimsonweed or Datura has a prickly seed head with large broad face having trumpet like corolla. It also contains alkaloids which when ingested may lead to delirium, hallucination and in some cases leads to death. In the past, it has been employed in religious ceremonies due to psychoactivity; but its reactions are unpredictable, which is dangerous. The whole plant is poisonous if consumed and the skin should also not come into contact with it.

Manchineel Tree

This tree is poisonous right from the bark to the fruit. The sap is extremely toxic: if you touch this tree with your bare hands, your hands end up having blisters, and if you stand under its tree when it is raining, your skin also blisters. Consuming the fruits of this plant is more or less lethal because the alkaloids affect the internal organs and the G-I tract. Any traveler who intends to go for Caribbean and Central America vacations should be very cautious when swimming or taking a sunbath because even the wood of this tree is poisonous if touched or burnt.

Doll’s Eyes (White Baneberry)

The plant gets the name the doll’s eyes plant because of the berries that resemble porcelain doll eyes. These blackish-red fruit like berries are even Fatal enough to cause a heart failure. I think it is a plant which is indigenous to North America and as you can observe the plant seems to be quite attractive for kids, but it could prove fatal.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.