POISONOUS PLANTS
Poisoning from plants may occur from ingesting, inhalation or skin contact. Poisoning by inhalation can be from pollen, dust, fumes or from burning plants and can cause symptoms similar to hay fever or asthma. Contact poisoning on the skin or eyes can occur with direct contact with plant sap or fine hairs. This can cause swelling, rashes or blistering.
If a person is unconscious, unresponsive or having trouble breathing, phone 000 or go to the Emergency Dept. It would be helpful to take a piece of the plant with you for identification. If a person is conscious and responsive call the Poisons Information centre on 131 126 or go to a local Doctor. The symptoms will vary depending on dose consumed or touched and can be progressive as time elapses. Depending on their toxicity some plants are capable of causing serious illness whilst other require large quantities to be consumed before mild symptoms show.
Other plants such as fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices can also cause problems in animals. Some examples are: Aloe Vera, Apricot and Peach kernels, Cherry trees, Chocolate, Eggplant, Nutmeg, Nuts, Potatoes sprouts and vines, unripe tomatoes, and Rosemary.
Agapanthus | Leaves | Leaves can cause acute skin irritation and ulceration of the mouth |
Alocasia – Elephant’s Ear | All parts | Skin and eye irritant. Burning and swelling of tongue and throat |
Aloe Vera | Sap | Sap should never be ingested as it is poisonous. Can cause abdominal cramping, red urine or diarrhoea |
Alstromeria – Princess Lily | All parts especially flowers, leaves & stems | Can cause skin allergies |
Amaryllis – Naked ladies | Milky sap | When sap touches skin it can cause intense burning and blisters. If splashed on eyes it can cause blurred vision, red swollen eyelids and maybe temporary blindness |
Angels Trumpet | Fruit, seeds and flowers | The fruit, seeds and flowers can cause dry throat increasing thirst, disturbance of vision, giddiness, flushed face, headache |
Arum Lily | All parts are poisonous including yellow spike and white spathe | If eaten symptoms can include swelling of tongue and throat, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea |
Asiatic Lily | All parts | Particularly toxic to kittens and cats, kidney problems |
Autumn Crocus | All parts | Gastro-intestinal upset, respiratory paralysis, renal damage, exhaustion and shock |
Avocado | Leaves and fruit | Will cause heart failure in budgies and canaries |
Azaleas & Rhododendrons | All parts | Nausea, vomiting, depression, difficulty in breathing, coma |
Brunsfelsia | Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow | Dogs, especially puppies are drawn to this colourful plant with berries. Eating these can cause neurological symptoms, tremors that progress to seizures and even death |
Camphor Laurel | All parts | Can cause allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea |
Cape Lilac | Fruit | Gastro intestinal distress, bloody stools 6-8 fruit can be fatal to a child |
Castor Oil plant | Seeds | Restlessness, cold clammy skin, thirst, rapid pulse, cramps, drowsiness, collapse 2-8 seeds is lethal dose for adults. Can cause severe allergic reactions |
Cestrum | All parts | Nausea, pupil dilation, muscular weakness, hallucinations, weak pulse then coma |
Clematis | Leaves and sap | Skin irritations, blisters, dizziness, vomiting, convulsions |
Clivia | Bulbs and roots | Large quantities must be ingested to cause symptoms. Toxic to dogs and cats. Vomiting, salivations, convulsions, diarrhoea, tremors |
Cotoneaster | Fruit – Red berries | Intense nausea and vomiting |
Cycads & Cardboard palm – Zamia | Leaves and nuts | Highly toxic when ingested in large amounts. Symptoms can be irregular stiffness when walking, paralysis, liver damage |
Daffodils and Jonquils | bulbs | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, trembling and convulsions |
Dahlias | bulbs | Can cause dermatitis in cats and dogs |
Daphne | Berries | Burning sensation in mouth, vomiting, diarrhoea, weak rapid pulse, convulsions |
Delphiniums | All parts | Irregular heartbeat and pulse. Digestive upset and dizziness |
Dieffenbachia | All parts | Intense burning and irritation of mouth and tongue. Swelling causes difficulty in swallowing |
Duranta | Fruit | Sleepiness, high temperature, rapid pulse |
Foxglove | All parts | Irregular heart beat and pulse. Usually digestive upset and dizziness |
Frangipani | Milky sap from stem if cut | It’s a skin irritant and can cause allergic reactions in humans and animals |
Grapes & Sultanas |
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Can cause kidney damage in dogs |
Hippeastrum | Bulb | Sap can be a skin irritant |
Holly | Berries and leaves | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness |
Hydrangeas | All parts when ingested | Mild skin irritant, rash, gastroenteritis |
Japanese Box | Leaves and twigs | Gastro enteritis, bloody diarrhoea, respiratory failure and convulsions |
Lantana | Leaves & Green berries | Muscular weakness and circulatory collapse. Possible skin & eye irritant, dermatitis |
Monstera – Fruit Salad plant | Fruit Salad plant |
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Morning Glory | Seeds | Visual distortions, restlessness and nausea |
Mushrooms & toadstools | All parts | Sweating, diarrhoea, vomiting, mental disturbance, convulsions, coma |
Norfolk Island Pine | All parts including seeds | Toxic to cats and dogs. Can cause allergic reactions & rashes when touched or pollen inhaled. May vomit when eaten |
Oak tree | Acorns & leaves | Are poisonous to cattle such as horses, sheep and goats. In large quantities the toxin tannic acid causes kidney damage and gastroenteritis |
Oleander | All parts | Affects heart and pulse. Usually causes digestive upset and mental confusion. Ingestion of one leaf or flower can be dangerous to a child |
Poinsettias | Leaves and stems | Present a danger to humans & animals, can cause them Diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, Sap can cause irritation, and blindness if rubbed in eyes |
Privet | Leaves and berries in large amounts | Vomiting, diarrhoea, Skin irritation & scent can upset respiratory allergies |
Rhubarb leaves | Leaf blades | Minor skin irritant. Staggering, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, |
Rhus tree | All parts | Irritation, rashes and blistering of skin. Swelling of the face which may spread |
Sacred Bamboo – Nandina Domestica | All parts contain toxic substances | Poisonous to cats. Can cause weakness, seizures, respiratory failure |
Sansevieria – Mother-in-laws tongue | Mildly toxic. May cause nausea and vomiting | |
Stephanotis | Inedible berries | Toxic to animals |
Strelitzia – Bird of Paradise | Pods and seeds | Vomiting, diarrhoea, drowsiness, vertigo |
Wisteria | All parts especially seeds and pods | Pets eating this plant can become sick with vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea |