Indoor and outdoor plants have a magical allure which few, including children, can resist. Colour, leaf form, flower and eye-catching seed pods all have their own particular attraction, while the latter sometimes being popped in to the mouths of innocent children who think that what looks good must taste good too. Sadly, the result can be fatal.
Creating paradise with plants is a wonderful things , yet due to lack of knowledge , many people include lethally poisonous plants in their planting schemes. A single toxic plants is one too many if there are children around and this warning extends to adults, primarily those handling poisonous plants without kwnoing it, who may become victims too.
Countless plants have toxic part-these may be leaves, flowers, spa, seeds, barks or roots. Ricinus communis (Castor Oil plant) and Nerium oleander (Kaner in Urdu) – are prime examples of poisonous pants which should never be cultivated in the home , the garden or in public places; both are killers in each and every part.
Another popular ornamental plant, Diffenbachia- Dumb Cane- is widely grown for its large, green and white striped and dappled leaves , yet few people are aware that the sap – the juice inside stems and leaves – can, more so if bright sun light is involved , badly burn human skin , to the point of permanent scarring. Therefore , this plant should only bhe touched with gloved hands.
Other reasonably common plants species with poisonous parts include many members of the huge Ficus family in addition to Angle’s Trumpets , Foxgloves, Sweet Peas, Larkspur , Lupins , Spurge , as well as capsium and tomato plants , and almost all types of bulbs, ornamental plant tuber and corms . These should therefore be handled with care.
Educate yourself about these hidden dangers and then teach your children too as, unfortunately , not everything in the plant world is harmless.
By B.Khan