For being such a poisonous plant, there are many that do not
know this fact about it. There have been many cases in which adults, children,
and mammals have fallen ill from ingesting this beautiful flowering plant. And
a few that have unfortunately been killed by it. The plant known as Oleander
can be found throughout landscapes all over the world. Its scientific name is Nerium oleander and belongs to the
Apocynaceae family.
As a kid growing up, I was around this plant all the time.
Not once was I told to avoid eating it and let me tell you I ate a lot of
mysterious things as a child. So in class, I was surprised to learn that it is
one of the most poisonous commonly grown garden plants. But what makes this
specific plant poisonous? Compounds within Oleander, oleandrin, and
oleandrigenin, known as cardiac glycosides, are known to have a narrow
therapeutic index making the plant toxic when ingested. And yes, all parts of
the plant are toxic. Luckily, there are a few animals, like rodents and birds,
which are relatively insensitive to the toxins. Effects that occur with the
ingestion of the plant include nausea and vomiting, excess salivation,
abdominal pain, diarrhea, irregular heart rate, drowsiness, tremors or shaking,
seizures, and even comas, and if ingested one should seek immediate medical
treatment.
Although, there is a relatively low number of reported deaths due to
the ingestion of Oleander I find that everyone should be aware of the possible
risks of the plant. Oleander is a beautiful plant with ancient history and
should remain in the landscape for centuries to come. Would you be able to tell
that this stunning plant is poisonous?
E.A.
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