13 Deadly Plants That Can Kill You in Minutes!
1. Aconitum
Remember wolfsbane from the Harry Potter series? Wolfsbane is actually a common name for this deadly plant. The plant is also known as "Woman's Bane", for reasons we better not discuss here.
The initial signs of wolfsbane poisoning are gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Marked symptoms may appear almost immediately, usually not later than an hour. Large doses can result in instantaneous death.
Aconitum poisons were used by the Aleuts of Alaska's Aleutian Islands for hunting whales. Imagine what they can do to humans!
2. Oleander
The initial signs of wolfsbane poisoning are gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Marked symptoms may appear almost immediately, usually not later than an hour. Large doses can result in instantaneous death.
Aconitum poisons were used by the Aleuts of Alaska's Aleutian Islands for hunting whales. Imagine what they can do to humans!
2. Oleander
Don't get hoodwinked by these beautiful flowers! According to the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS), there were 847 known human poisonings in the United States related to oleander in 2002.
Oleander has historically been considered a poisonous plant because some of its compounds may exhibit toxicity, especially to children and animals, when consumed in large amounts.
In South Indian states such as Tamil Nadu and in Sri Lanka, a variant of this plant produces a poisonous plum with big seeds. As these seeds contain cardenolides, swallowing them is one of the preferred methods for suicides in villages.
Ingestion of this plant can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Poisoning and reactions to oleander plants are evident quickly, requiring immediate medical attention.
6. Lily of the valley
Breaking Bad followers, does the name ring a bell? When Walter White was contemplating how he was going to topple drug kingpin Gustavo Fring, he noticed the potted lilies in his backyard and used them to poison him!
The plant is also known as Our Lady's tears or Mary's tears from Christian legends that it sprang from the weeping of the Virgin Mary during the crucifixion of Jesus.
All parts of the plant are highly poisonous, including the red berries which may be attractive to children. If ingested—even in small amounts—the plant can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and a reduced heart rate.
4. Rosary Pea
Don’t get deceived by the name of this plant. However euphoric it may be but actually this plant is highly toxic and deadly. This plant contains a toxic poison named Abrin. A small dose of 3 milligrams will suffice to kill an adult human!
The seeds of Abrus precatorius are much valued in native jewelry for their bright coloration. In March 2012 a recall was issued for bracelets made using Jequirity Beans sold by the Eden Project and other outlets in the UK.
5. Water Hemlock
Water hemlock is considered one of North America's most toxic plants, being highly poisonous to humans. It causes central nervous system stimulatory effects including seizures following ingestion. Ingestion of water hemlock in any quantity can result in poisoning and very small amounts may lead to death.
There have been a few cases of water hemlock poisoning in North America. In one such case, children blowing whistles made from the hollow stem of water hemlock died. Intoxication has also been reported following skin contact with the plant; a case was reported where a family of five people rubbed the plant onto the skin and were poisoned, with two children dying.
There have been a few cases of water hemlock poisoning in North America. In one such case, children blowing whistles made from the hollow stem of water hemlock died. Intoxication has also been reported following skin contact with the plant; a case was reported where a family of five people rubbed the plant onto the skin and were poisoned, with two children dying.
6. Belladona
Also known as the Deadly Nightshade, these delicious looking berries are among the most toxic plants found in the Eastern Hemisphere. The consumption of two to five berries by a human adult is probably lethal. The root of the plant is generally the most toxic part, though this can vary from one specimen to another. Ingestion of a single leaf of the plant can be fatal to an adult.
The symptoms of belladonna poisoning include dilated pupils, blurred vision, headache, rashes, severely dry mouth and throat, constipation, confusion, hallucinations, and convulsions.
The plant was used by early humans to construct poisonous arrows. In Ancient Rome, it was used as a poison by Agrippina the Younger, wife of Emperor Claudius on advice of Locusta, a lady specialized in poisons, and Livia, who is rumored to have used it to kill her husband Emperor Augustus.
Also known as the Deadly Nightshade, these delicious looking berries are among the most toxic plants found in the Eastern Hemisphere. The consumption of two to five berries by a human adult is probably lethal. The root of the plant is generally the most toxic part, though this can vary from one specimen to another. Ingestion of a single leaf of the plant can be fatal to an adult.
The symptoms of belladonna poisoning include dilated pupils, blurred vision, headache, rashes, severely dry mouth and throat, constipation, confusion, hallucinations, and convulsions.
The plant was used by early humans to construct poisonous arrows. In Ancient Rome, it was used as a poison by Agrippina the Younger, wife of Emperor Claudius on advice of Locusta, a lady specialized in poisons, and Livia, who is rumored to have used it to kill her husband Emperor Augustus.
7. Doll's Eye
Have you ever taken a stroll through a wood and felt that you were being watched? Yet when you turn around, no-one is there. You carry on with your walk but that feeling of disquiet lingers. Perhaps you were being watched by something almost as disquieting as that galloping, mad axe murderer you were dreading. The Doll’s Eyes Plant could be eyeing you up as you innocently ramble.
This plant looks amazingly beautiful because of its fruits which resemble the eyes of a doll. It has taken the lives of many a child who get enticed by its beautiful fruits. All parts of this plant are toxic but flowers and fruits are highly toxic and deadly.
The berries contain cardiogenic toxins that can have an immediate sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue. Ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
English yew (Taxus baccata), also called common yew or European yew is an ornamental evergreen tree or shrub of the yew family, widely distributed throughout Europe and Asia, as far east as the Himalayas.
This plant looks amazingly beautiful because of its fruits which resemble the eyes of a doll. It has taken the lives of many a child who get enticed by its beautiful fruits. All parts of this plant are toxic but flowers and fruits are highly toxic and deadly.
The berries contain cardiogenic toxins that can have an immediate sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue. Ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
8. English Yew
English yew (Taxus baccata), also called common yew or European yew is an ornamental evergreen tree or shrub of the yew family, widely distributed throughout Europe and Asia, as far east as the Himalayas.
All parts of a yew plant are toxic to humans with the exception of the yew berries (however, their seeds are toxic).
Symptoms of yew poisoning include an accelerated heart rate, muscle tremors, convulsions, collapse, difficulty breathing, circulation impairment and eventually heart failure. However, there may be no symptoms, and if poisoning remains undetected death may occur within hours.
In the ancient Celtic world, passage by Caesar narrates that Catuvolcus, chief of the Eburones poisoned himself with yew rather than submit to Rome.
This plant has got some really interesting names! It is known as poison nut, semen strychnos and the suicide tree. It is native to India and other countries of South-East Asia.
Strychnine is very toxic to humans and many other animals, and poisoning by inhalation, swallowing or absorption through eyes or mouth can be fatal. The symptoms include nausea, convulsions and muscle spasms. There is no specific antidote for strychnine and recovery from strychnine exposure is possible only with early hospital treatment.
Queen Cleopatra famously forced her servants to commit suicide by eating the strychnine tree’s seeds. She did this in order to determine if it would be the best means for her own suicide. After seeing the agony that her servants endured, she changed her mind.
One of the most common house plants in the tropical countries, this plant has a tremendously violent history.
Sap from the dumb cane plant that gets into a human mouth will make the tongue swell, causing speechlessness in adults and sometimes killing children. This effect was used by slave-owners to torture unruly slaves working in Caribbean sugar plantations.
In the ancient Celtic world, passage by Caesar narrates that Catuvolcus, chief of the Eburones poisoned himself with yew rather than submit to Rome.
9. Strychnine Tree
This plant has got some really interesting names! It is known as poison nut, semen strychnos and the suicide tree. It is native to India and other countries of South-East Asia.
Strychnine is very toxic to humans and many other animals, and poisoning by inhalation, swallowing or absorption through eyes or mouth can be fatal. The symptoms include nausea, convulsions and muscle spasms. There is no specific antidote for strychnine and recovery from strychnine exposure is possible only with early hospital treatment.
Queen Cleopatra famously forced her servants to commit suicide by eating the strychnine tree’s seeds. She did this in order to determine if it would be the best means for her own suicide. After seeing the agony that her servants endured, she changed her mind.
10. Dumb Cane
One of the most common house plants in the tropical countries, this plant has a tremendously violent history.
Sap from the dumb cane plant that gets into a human mouth will make the tongue swell, causing speechlessness in adults and sometimes killing children. This effect was used by slave-owners to torture unruly slaves working in Caribbean sugar plantations.
Extract from the leaves also attacks the body’s sex cells. In 1941, Heinrich Himmler, then head of the SS in Nazi Germany, considered using the dumb cane to sterilise war prisoners. The plan failed due the difficulty of shipping enough plants over from their natural home in Central America.
Found in forests in Queensland in Australia and Indonesia, Dendrocnide moroides is the deadliest and most potent stinging nettle in the world. Accidentally brushing past any part of this plant can deliver a potent toxin that will cause a painful stinging sensation lasting for days or even months. A severe sting from this plant has been known to kill humans, and it is certainly deadly to pigs, horses, dogs and most other animals.
If poisoned by this stinging tree, the first thing you’ll feel is a really intense burning sensation and this grows over the next half hour, becoming more and more painful. In severe cases, this can lead to shock, and even death. And if you don’t remove all the hair (from your skin), they can keep releasing the torturous toxins for up to a year.
Angel’s trumpets are flowering plants, native to the tropical regions of South America, but found around the world. They are woody-stemmed bushes with pendulous flowers that hang like bells. They are prized as decorative additions to the garden because of their elegant flowers. The catch is that all parts of these plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or animals. Angel's trumpets have occasionally been used to create a recreation drug, but the risk of overdose is so high that these uses often have deadly consequences.
11. Stinging Tree
Found in forests in Queensland in Australia and Indonesia, Dendrocnide moroides is the deadliest and most potent stinging nettle in the world. Accidentally brushing past any part of this plant can deliver a potent toxin that will cause a painful stinging sensation lasting for days or even months. A severe sting from this plant has been known to kill humans, and it is certainly deadly to pigs, horses, dogs and most other animals.
If poisoned by this stinging tree, the first thing you’ll feel is a really intense burning sensation and this grows over the next half hour, becoming more and more painful. In severe cases, this can lead to shock, and even death. And if you don’t remove all the hair (from your skin), they can keep releasing the torturous toxins for up to a year.
12. Angel's Trumpet
Angel’s trumpets are flowering plants, native to the tropical regions of South America, but found around the world. They are woody-stemmed bushes with pendulous flowers that hang like bells. They are prized as decorative additions to the garden because of their elegant flowers. The catch is that all parts of these plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or animals. Angel's trumpets have occasionally been used to create a recreation drug, but the risk of overdose is so high that these uses often have deadly consequences.
In 1994, 112 teenagers were admitted to hospitals from ingesting Brugmansia in Florida alone
13. Manchineel Tree
There is a reason why we saved this plant for number 13- the Devil's Number! The leaves, bark and fruits of these trees contain a caustic sap which is severly injurious if touched. Columbus described the small green fruits as Death Apples.
Standing beneath the tree during rain will cause blistering of the skin from mere contact! Burning any part of this tree release much toxic gas that is extremely harmful for humans and animals and cause blindness. Sleeping or breathing beneath this plant can cause skin blistering and a bite of Manchineel tree's fruit is not just fatal but causes an agonizing death.
After its discovery, the manchineel quickly became notorious. The heroine of Giacomo Meyerbeer's 1865 opera L'Africaine commits suicide by lying under a manchineel tree and inhaling the plant's vapours. In the 1956 film Wind Across The Everglades, a notorious poacher named Cottonmouth (played by Burl Ives) ties a victim to the trunk of a manchineel tree.
After its discovery, the manchineel quickly became notorious. The heroine of Giacomo Meyerbeer's 1865 opera L'Africaine commits suicide by lying under a manchineel tree and inhaling the plant's vapours. In the 1956 film Wind Across The Everglades, a notorious poacher named Cottonmouth (played by Burl Ives) ties a victim to the trunk of a manchineel tree.
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