Poisonous Flowers
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While the popularity of edible flowers continues to grow among the American public, it needs to be tempered with a cautionary tale.
The list of poisonous flowers stretches as long as the list of edible flowers, and the poisonous species can cause health problems for animals, including dogs, cats and horses, as well as human beings.
Mistletoe and Poinsettia, two common Christmas season plants, always make the poisonous plants list.
All members of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, are suspect, although caution is recommended for more species than others, including Larkspur, Monkshood and Buttercups. The bulbs and rhizomes of many species of popular garden flowers such as Daffodils and Irises also carry a toxic designation.
The size and complexity of the lily family (Liliaceae) means it's filled with both edible and poisonous species. Easter Lilies, along with the aptly named Death Camas, rank at the top of the toxic lily list. Veterinarians warm cat owners to keep their pets away from many popular house and garden species such as the Tiger lily, Easter lily, Rubrum, Day lily, Glory lily, Stargazer lily, Japanese show lily and Asian lilies.
Dogbane can refer to either the family of flowering plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) or the three species of flowering plants in the Genus Apocynum that also go by the name dogbane or Indian Hemp.
The name Indian Hemp refers to the tradition of some Native Americans using the plant's stalks as a source of fiber for ropes and fishing lines.
The picture shows flowers from the Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium), a common plant near forested areas and other dry areas throughout the United States.
The plant is known to contain a cardiac glycoside chemical that is toxic to humans and animals when ingested.
Life among the flowers would be infinitely easier if all toxic flowers, like the Poison Hemlock, carried names with poison in them, or at the very least, carried signs noting their toxicity.
Since the probability of flowers providing overt warnings about their toxicity is very low, publishing lists of poisonous flowers remains the responsible alternative.
The links in the box point to articles providing pictures and details of a small sample of poisonous flowers.
© 2009-2011 Patricia A. Michaels