Table: Moderately Poisonous Plants - Merck Manuals Consumer Version

Moderately Poisonous Plants

Plant	Symptoms	Treatment
Aloe and related plants	Gastroenteritis, kidney inflammation, and skin irritation	Supportive care* if the plant is swallowed and flushing (irrigation) with soap and water if the skin is irritated
Apricot, wild cherry, and peach pits and apple and other seeds (Prunus and Malus species), usually only if many seeds are chewed and swallowed	Symptoms of oxygen deprivation, such as nausea, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, headache, vomiting, drowsiness, and poor coordination (similar to those of carbon monoxide poisoning)	For serious poisoning, hydroxocobalamin given by vein and use of a cyanide antidote kit (including amyl nitrate given by inhalation and sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate given intravenously)
Aristolochia (also called birthworts or pipevines)	Formation of scar tissue in the kidneys	Supportive care*
Azalea	Cholinergic† symptoms	Supportive care* and atropine
Caladium (also called elephant ear or angel's wings) and related plants	Irritation of the mouth due to calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves	Supportive care* and use of milk or ice cream to help dissolve the irritant
Capsicum and related plants (peppers)	Irritation of the skin and mucous membranes	Supportive care* and flooding the affected area with water to wash the substance away (irrigation)
Colchicine (autumn crocus, meadow saffron, or glory lily)	Delayed gastroenteritis and malfunction (failure) of many organ systems Interference with the bone marrow's ability to produce blood cells and platelets, possibly causing anemia, infection, and/or bleeding	Supportive care*
Deadly nightshade	Anticholinergic‡ symptoms, a high body temperature, seizures, and hallucinations	Supportive care* For a very high body temperature or seizures, possibly physostigmine
Dumbcane (dieffenbachia)	Damage to the mouth due to calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves	Supportive care* and use of milk or ice cream to help dissolve the crystals
Fava beans	In people with a deficiency of the enzyme G6PD (which protects red blood cells), gastroenteritis, fever, headache, and hemolytic anemia	Supportive care* For severe anemia and poisoning, gradual removal and replacement of blood with equal volumes of fresh donor blood (exchange transfusion) considered
Green potatoes and potato sprouts	Gastroenteritis, hallucinations, and delirium	Supportive care*
Holly berries	Gastroenteritis	Supportive care*
Jimsonweed	Anticholinergic‡ symptoms, a high body temperature, seizures, and hallucinations	Supportive care* For a very high body temperature or seizures, possibly physostigmine
Licorice (raw plant)	Too little potassium in the blood, high blood pressure, and swelling due to retention of fluid (edema)	Supportive care*
Lily of the valley	Too much potassium in blood and abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)	Supportive care* and antibodies against digitalis
Mistletoe	Gastroenteritis	Supportive care*
Monkshood	A low heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, numbness and tingling, and weakness	Supportive care* Sometimes sodium bicarbonate given intravenously
Nettle	Stinging and burning of the skin	Supportive care*
Nightshade, common or woody	Gastroenteritis, hallucinations, and delirium	Supportive care*
Nightshade, deadly	Anticholinergic‡ symptoms, a high body temperature, seizures, and hallucinations	Supportive care* For a very high body temperature or seizures, possibly physostigmine
Pennyroyal	Damage to the liver (when severe, causing jaundice, confusion, and a tendency to bleed)	Acetylcysteine
Philodendron and related plants	Damage to the mouth due to calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves	Supportive care* and use of milk or ice cream to help dissolve the crystals
Poinsettia	Mild irritation if it touches the mucous membranes of the mouth, nasal passages, vagina, or urethra	Unnecessary
Poison ivy	Inflammation of the skin (dermatitis) or mucous membranes	Avoidance of known irritants; treatment of specific symptoms
Pokeweed	Gastroenteritis Irritation if it touches the mucous membranes of the mouth, nasal passages, vagina, or urethra	Supportive care*
Pothos	Damage to the mouth due to calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves	Supportive care* and use of milk or ice cream to help dissolve the crystals
Yew	Gastroenteritis Rarely, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, and coma	Supportive care*
* Supportive care may include fluids given by vein (intravenously), treatments to maintain body functions (such as drugs to lower fever), drugs to increase blood pressure if it drops, and a ventilator.
† Cholinergic symptoms include a slow heart rate, weakened contraction of the heart, dangerously low blood pressure, difficulty breathing (because airways are constricted), flushing, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, increased urination and salivation, watery eyes, increased sweating, and muscle cramping.
‡ Anticholinergic symptoms include confusion, blurred vision, constipation, dry mouth, light-headedness, difficulty starting and continuing to urinate, and loss of bladder control.
G6PD = glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

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Moderately Poisonous Plants