We all know some thorny plants that could easily hurt us, such as the beautiful rose. However, numerous plant varieties are downright deadly. If you love traveling, you should know more about these highly dangerous plants that you might encounter. Check out the next sections and see how many of them you already knew!
1. Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum)
If we consider the fact that tobacco consumption leads to more than 5 million deaths per year, it is easy to see why this plant is considered the deadliest on the planet. However, although it’s used for cigarette manufacturing, the plant’s leaves are actually fatal if eaten. This is due to two toxins, known as anabasine and nicotine.
2. Hemlock
Another natural assassin is known as the common hemlock, which can kill even when the smallest dose is consumed. This is due to a toxic substance known as coniine. Common hemlock was used in Ancient Greece as a method of execution. When consumed, the toxin paralyzes all muscles, so the victim stops breathing.
3. Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis)
The castor bean is quite dangerous because many people grow it as an ornamental plant. The seeds are pressed into oil, but they contain ricin and are deadly even in a small dose. For instance, a child can die after ingesting only one seed, while adults require up to eight seeds. This plant was used in 1978 to assassinate a journalist who was reporting against the Bulgarian government.
4. Oleander (Nerium Oleander)
Oleander has beautiful blooms that make for an exquisite ornamental. Despite this, the entire plant is deadly due to two lethal substances, nerine, and oleandrin. When consumed, it leads to vomiting, seizures, coma, and finally, death. The plant is so deadly that some people feel sick even after they consume honey produced by bees that took the pollen from this plant.
5. Aconitum
Also known as the devil’s helmet, monkshood, or wolfsbane, aconitum is a poisonous plant that was used to dip the tip of the arrows when hunting or during wars. Ingestion is deadly as the toxic substances inside the plant lead to lung and heart paralysis.
6. Ageratina Altissima
This plant is commonly known as white snakeroot. It is one of the deadliest plants because even consuming milk or beef coming from a cow that ate it can kill you. With a suggestive name, the plant contains tremetol, leading to trembling and intestinal problems.
7. Brugmansia (aka Angel’s Trumpet)
Angel’s trumpet has distinctive trumpet-like blooms, which are fatal when ingested. This is because they contain atropine and scopolamine, two deadly toxins. Some believe that its name, “angel,” is associated with the afterlife because the plant is lethal.
8. Rosary Pea (Abrus Precatorius)
Rosary pea is a plant that has bean-like seeds that are deadly when ingested. The toxins are released only when they are damaged or chewed, so simply touching them does not affect you if they are intact. They contain abrin, a substance that can kill an adult with a very small dose (i.e., less than one seed). When consumed, rosary peas lead to organ failure in less than four days.
9. Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna)
The deadly nightshade has attractive, lethal sweet fruits, so most victims are children or unwary adults. Its consumption is associated with atropine and scopolamine, two toxins that paralyze the involuntary muscles, such as the heart.
10. Abrus Precatorius
Similarly, abrus precatorius contains abrin, similar to the toxic ricin you can find inside castor seeds, as previously discussed. All it takes is one seed to kill an adult. Despite this, this Indonesian plant is used in the native’s musical instruments.
11. The Little Apple of Death
Hippomane Mancinella is perhaps one of the most dangerous and lonely trees. If you touch it, its sap leads to severe allergic reactions on your skin. If you are touched by rain underneath this tree, your skin will blister due to a toxin known as phorbol. People who ingest its fruit are killed, suffering from seizures and other symptoms.
12. The Suicide Tree
Cerbera odollam, also known as the suicide tree, contains cerberin, a toxin that affects your heart and leads to death when ingested in a larger quantity. It had been used for murder as the fruit can be added to meals, so the victim doesn’t suspect it.
13. Daphne
Daphne is known as the paradise plant and is quite common in North America. The most dangerous parts are the vivid berries, bark, and sap. These berries often attract children, so make sure you do not keep the plant in your garden. Even one chewed berry can lead to significant mouth and throat burns.
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