Tag: Poisonous

Inflated Lobelia

Inflated Lobelia (Lobelia inflata), tiny flowers, in shades of white, pale blue and lavender, with a hint of yellow inside. Blooming from July to October. And like many of the plants growing around us, it is poisonous.

Here you can see the the “inflated” fruit of Inflated Lobelia which gives this plant its common, as well as its scientific name.

This annual is native to most of the eastern US and parts of the midwest, and is quite common here in the woods surrounding my cabin.

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Horsenettle

Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense). Horsenettle, is not a true nettle, but a member of the Nightshade family (Solanaceae). Other members of the Nightshade family that you are familiar with are Tomato, Potato, Eggplant, Bell Pepper, and Petunia. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to the southeastern United States. It can grow to 2 or 3 feet tall, and is covered with spines.

Though the fruit of Horsenettle looks quite similar to yellow Cherry Tomatoes, don’t be tempted.

THE FRUIT, AS WELL AS LEAVES, ROOTS, AND STEMS OF HORSENETTLE ARE POISONOUS, AND EATING THE FRUIT CAN CAUSE DEATH.

Pokeweed

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana). A poisonous, herbaceous, perennial plant with red stalks that can grow to be 3 to 10 feet tall. And under perfect conditions can reach more than 20 feet tall. It’s native to eastern North America, the Midwest, the South, through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to the West Coast. All parts of the plant are highly toxic resulting in a variety of symptoms including death in rare cases. The berries are especially poisonous. If you must handle pokeweed, use protective gloves.

But Pokeweed does have a good side. The attractive green to dark purple berries are a good food source for many songbirds and other bird species. Small mammals, impervious to the toxins, also benefit from the berries. Pokeweed multiplies exclusively by seed which birds help to distribute. Those little seeds have an incredible viability of up to 40 years in the seed bank.