Houseplants, cultivated garden plants and ornamentals are the cause of many poisonings. However, some are attributable to native or naturalized plants. The most commonly reported plant poisonings result from curious children eating fruit and plant fragments. A review of the available literature has shown that problems exist for doctors who have to diagnose and treat cases of plant induced poisoning in Ontario. The initial problem is in determining whether the symptoms are indeed caused by plant toxins. The second is in acquiring a positive identification of the plant involved. In addition, well-documented literature is often not available on previous cases of poisoning and treatment. Regional Ontario Hospital control centres present in various areas of Ontario are the best sources of information. For further information, consult your family doctor or your local Ontario Hospital Poison Control Centre.

Horse Chesnut

Annuals Nicotiana – all parts Castor Bean – seeds Houseplants Amaryllis – bulb Anthurium – all parts Azalea – all parts Bird of Paradise – seeds, pod Burro’s Tail – all parts Calla Lily – leaves and roots Castor Bean – seeds and leaves Crown of Thorns – sap Cyclamen – bulb Dieffenbachia – all parts English Ivy – leaves Hydrangea – leaves Jerusalem Cherry – all parts Lantana Camara – green berries Milk Bush (Euphorbia) – sap Mistletoe – all parts Philodendron – leaves, stem Poinsettia – sap – toxic not poisonous Oleander – all parts

Bulbs Amaryllis – bulb Hyacinth – bulb Narcissus – Daffodil – all parts Scilla – all parts Snow Drops – all parts Tulip – bulb Perennials Aconitum – Monkshood – roots Arisaema – Jack-in-the-Pulpit – Rhizome Clematis – all parts Colchicum – Autumn Crocus – bulbs Convallaria – Lily of the Valley – all parts Datura – Jimsonweed – all parts Delphinium – Larkspur – young plant, seeds Dicentra – Bleeding Heart – foliage, roots Dictamus – Gasplant – all parts Digitalis – Foxglove – leaves Euphorbia – Spurge – all parts Helenium – Sneezeweed – all parts Iris – roots, leaves Lathyrus – Perennial Sweet Pea – seeds Lupines – all parts Papaver – Poppy – all parts Parthenocissus – Virginia Creeper – berries Perennial Lobelia – all parts Rudbeckia – Coneflower – all parts

Herbs Echium – Blueweed – leaves, stem Phytolacca – pokeweed – seeds Rheum – Rhurbarb – leaves Solanum – Night Shade – berries Trees and Shrubs Caragana – seeds Daphne – berries Euonymus – Burning Bush – leaves, bark, fruit Juniper – berries Malus – Apple, seeds Prunus – Black cherry – seeds, stems Pincherry – foliage, stems and seeds Chokecherry – seeds Rhamnus – Buckhorn – fruit Rhododendron – all parts Rhus – poison ivy Gingko – maidenhair tree Aesculus – Horse Chestnut – nuts Gymnocladus – Coffee Tree – seed pulp Laburnum – Golden Chain Tree – seeds Ligustrum – Common Privet – berries Robinia – Black Locust – seeds Wisteria – seeds Ploradendron – American Mistletoe – berries Hydrangea – leaves and roots Taxus – Yews – seeds