“All that glitters is not gold” – is a very well-known idiom. It means even if the outer appearance is enchanting, the inner qualities can be deadly. It is proven in the case of some beautiful creations of this world.
Flowers are loved by all. They are the prettiest part of nature. But, looks can be deceiving. We will discuss some pretty but deadly flowers today. With time, flowers have evolved and found new ways to protect themselves. Some use visible thorns and spines, but some use invisible deadly chemicals which can be fatal for us if we get deceived by their beauty. So, let’s begin.
- Poison Hemlock
Almost all of us have heard the name of the deadliest poison ‘hemlock’. The name actually comes from a tree named ‘Poison ole (Conium maculatum)’. It grows throughout the US. All the parts of this plant with white flowers are toxic. The leaves are especially poisonous in the spring until the flowers bloom. This plant contains conium and multiple toxic alkaloids and is toxic to both humans and animals. Socrates was killed using this poisonous plant.
- Oleander
This beautiful ornamental shrub comes in red, pink, yellow, and white colors. But, the danger hidden underneath this beauty is deadly. All parts of it containing cardiac glycosides (oleandrin and oleandrigenin) are toxic to humans and animals. Eating even a small part can lead to poisoning and symptoms can range from vomiting, and diarrhea to seizures, coma, and eventually death. It also can cause severe skin reactions to some people upon contact.
- Naked Lady
This small herbaceous perennial plant is native to the UK, but also found in Europe and New Zealand. It has different colors and varieties. All parts of this plant, especially the seeds and bulbs are highly toxic. It contains an alkaloid named Colchicine which shuts down the vital functions of the body and includes symptoms like diarrhea, bone marrow depression, mass organ failure, blood clots, and nerve disruptions. The ultimate result can be death.
- Aconitum
This pretty flower belongs to the sweet buttercup family. But, there is nothing else that is sweet about it. Only a few drops of juice from this deadly flower’s roots can cause you heart failure or heart paralysis. It is found in the mountainous parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Aconitine, a potent neurotoxin, present in its roots and tubers, is the main cause of its toxicity.
- Lily of the Valley
This flower’s fragrance is so refreshing and nice that people are easily attracted to it. But, it is a ‘grade 1’ deadly flower. It is found in Asia and Europe. All the parts of it are highly toxic due to the presence of Saponins and Aze, poisonous amino acids. This flower’s toxin acts through the cardiac glycosides and creates a similar effect with the Digitalis exposure which makes it one of the deadliest flowers in the world.
- Azaleas
Due to the presence of grayanotoxins, this flower is deadly ignoring its good looks. All parts are toxic for humans and pets. Ingesting a small quantity of the plant may not lead to severe illnesses, but consuming a larger part of the plant can create life-threatening conditions. This flower is grown worldwide as ornamental plants. It contains andromedotoxin in its leaves and nectar. And this nectar can be fed to bees for creating lethal honey, known as ‘mad honey’.
- Checkered Lily
This flower is known as a snake’s head fritillary. Supporting the title, it is poisonous like a venomous snake. Like the Lily of the Valley, it is a ‘grade-1’ poisonous plant. It grows in Europe and Asia. Its bulb contains toxic alkaloids.
Some other pretty but deadly flowers are, Brugmansia, Belladonna, The Twining Vine, Jessamine, Ornithogalum, Hydrangea, Water Hemlock, English Yew, Daffodil, Foxglove, Castor oil plant, Wisteria, Bleeding Heart, Calla Lily, Iris, Marigold, Mountain Laurel, Peruvian Lily, Yarrow, Dragon Lily, Rosary Pea, Corpse Lily etc.
So, it is proven that we can’t always go by the looks. Beautiful flowers are not only enhancing the beauty of our nature, but also they can bring us fatal consequences too. So, be careful of handling these flower plants and keep yourselves and your pets safe from them.
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Written by,
Nowrose Sharmin Mou
Associate Head, Content Writing Department
YSSE