Jul 5, 2023, 02:40 PM IST

10 poisonous plants that can kill humans

Raunak Jain

Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna) • Highly toxic plant with just 10 berries capable of killing an adult. • Named for its use in dilating pupils for beauty but causes adverse effects, including blindness.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) • Widely grown non-food plant containing toxic alkaloids nicotine and anabasine. • Responsible for 8 million deaths annually due to smoking-related causes.

Manchineel (Hippomane mancinella) • Known as "little apple of death" due to its extreme toxicity. • Every part of the tree, including fruits, causes agony and potential death.

Lily-Of-The-Valley (Convallaria majalis) • Beautiful and sweet-smelling but highly toxic. • Contains cardiac glycosides that can be fatal if consumed.

Oleander (Nerium oleander) • Toxic pink plant with bitter taste, reducing the risk of ingestion. • Contains toxic cardiac glycosides but rarely causes poisonings.

Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) • Bright red beads with a single seed that can be fatal. • Used for ornamental purposes and even for illegal cattle killing.

Cerbera odollam • Known as the "suicide tree" due to highly toxic fruit. • Responsible for deaths, both homicidal and suicidal, primarily in Kerala, India.

Hemlock water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) • A carrot family plant with a creepy name and dangerous effects. • Causes lung collapse, brain hemorrhage, and leaves a "sardonic grin" on the face.

Monkshood (Aconitum genus) • Whole genus of highly poisonous plants with tall violet-blue flowers. • Used historically as arrow poison and in dangerous medical trials.

Thornapples (Datura genus) • Highly toxic and psychoactive plants known as devil's trumpets. • Used for hallucinogenic experiences but can easily lead to lethal doses.

Source - BBC wildlife