Vegetation helps sustain life. We eat many
plants, herbs and so forth in our daily diet. Some plants, trees or shrubs are potential killers of man. It is easy to be deceived by plants. One part may be edible while another is
poisonous.
Around 2500 years ago, a great philosopher named Socrates who was born in Athens in Greece used to teach the young men about the correct approach to life. The authorities of Greece did not approve of his ways. They got so enraged at him that he was sentenced to death. He was asked to drink a cup of
Hemlock. After drinking this poison, his body started turning cold and he died.
Hemlock is a poison
prepared from plant called “Hemlock”. It has white flowers which emit foul smell. This plant grows in humid places. The poison, coniine, is prepared from its roots and seeds only. This poison
causes paralysis in all the parts of the body right from the legs to the heart and one dies after eating it.
Besides hemlock, there are other plants which are more poisonous. The “nux vomica
Plant” which is found in Asian countries is very poisonous. It bears orange shaped fruits, each having 5 seeds. The
Poison, strychnine, is prepared from these seeds only. This poison causes asphyxia i.e., stoppage of the pulse, and causes death. The plant Daphne has poisonous berries which can be fatal. The plant Wisteria has poisonous seeds and pods which can cause mild to severe digestive upset. Many children are poisoned by this plant.
The poison, colchicines, is derived from the seeds of the “meadow saffron” plant. The effect of this poison is slow. Doctors use this for the treatment of a disease called gout.
The prussic acid, a very effective poison is obtained from the “cherry laurel plant”. Other plants such as thorn apple, caper spurge, fox glove, night shade, monkshood, etc., are also poisonous. Besides these, there are many other poisonous plants.
More abstracts about the POISONOUS PLANTS