Common poisonous plants
Poisonous plants
Poisonous plants can be found in almost every garden in South Africa. Usually, these are only life-threatening when eaten. It’s important that you seek immediate medical assistance if you suspect that a poisonous plant has been eaten.
Common plants which are poisonous include:
| Poisonous plant | Symptoms |
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Dumb cane
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Pain Swollen mouth Inability to talk
|
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Elephant's ear
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Tingly or burning feeling on mouth or lips Severe burning or redness of the eyes Diarrhoea Nausea Vomiting |
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Arum lily
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Local irritation Burning sensation in your mouth Vomiting Diarrhoea
|
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Delicious monster
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Inflamed mouth, tongue and lips High risk of fatality
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These plants contain calcium oxalate crystals and if you chew some parts of them you may feel pain in the mouth. When your children are playing outside, keep a close eye on them so that they don’t put any unknown leaves, berries or stems into their mouths.
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