Since the ancient times, poisonous plants have played an integral role in society, whether used as punishment, beauty regimen, or even in combat, but these days, information about these plants is more integral to saving lives than anything else. Here are just a handful of the world’s most poisonous flowering plants, all of which happen to be quite beautiful, inviting the hapless victim to touch and taste without ever betraying their deadly nature.
Oleander
The beautiful, blushing blooms of Nerium oleander come in many hues and just beg to be plucked, and as long as you avoid ingesting any part of the plant, you may escape being enchanted by this shrub with your life. Although the sap of the oleander is known to cause skin and eye irritation and allergic reactions, it is the ingestion of its parts that can prove deadly. Symptoms of oleander poisoning can range from gastrointestinal discomfort and irregular heart rate to seizures, coma, and eventual death. It is so effective its seeds are favored for suicide in some parts of the world.
Angel’s Trumpet
You couldn’t be blamed for wanting to gather a bouquet of the lovely and fragrant Brugmansia, but doing so will lead to terrifying effects that could turn fatal. Angel’s Trumpet, while stimulating to our sense of sight and smell, carries a dangerous toxin in all its parts; particularly dangerous are the leaves and seeds. Though it has been and continues to be used in some South American cultures for ceremonial purposes, those who ingest it will experience powerful auditory and visual hallucinations, uncontrollable muscle contortion and paralysis, foaming at the mouth, irregular pulse, amnesia, and possibly death. Its cultivation, sale, or purchase has been banned in some municipalities due to the horrible effects of this most poisonous flowering plant.
Wolf’s Bane
The delicate Aconitum goes by many other names besides wolf’s bane, including devil’s helmet and Queen of All Poisons, which should be anyone’s first clue that this beauty is meant to be admired, but not touched. Its efficacy in killing wolves is what led to the common name wolf’s bane, but humans can also experience lethal effects if enough of the toxin is ingested or absorbed through the skin, which can occur when leaves are picked without wearing gloves. Symptoms of poisoning occur immediately to within one hour of ingestion, and include gastrointestinal distress, burning and tingling sensations, uncomfortable numbness, ventricular arrhythmia, heart or respiratory paralysis, and eventual death. Since post-mortem indications point to asphyxia as the cause of death in those who have been poisoned with wolf’s bane, it has been utilized for many a murder throughout history and folklore.
