By Molly Day
Ah, summertime. Walks and picnics in the park, running in the playground, taking the dogs out for a romp. The weather has been a perfect match for being outside.
Some families have a concern about the safety of their children and animals in the presence of poisonous plants and landscaping products.
In Connecticut the Legislature passed a law that any time a potentially toxic spray is applied on public land, silver flags will be put in the ground.
Effective in 2005, Connecticut State Bill 916 bans pesticide use, including weed killers, insecticides and fungicides at day care centers and elementary schools.
According to an article at www.safelawns.org, the next bill will extend the ban to all schools in the state.
The University of Illinois planted a Poisonous Plant Garden that illustrates for visitors some of the dangers in public and private yards.
The toxicity of a plant depends on the size and vulnerabilities of each individual and the condition of the plant. For example the usually benign alfalfa can cause “hepatogenous photosensitivity syndrome” if it is water-damaged.
Reasonable adults do not go out to the garden and eat plants but children and animals might.
Castor bean plants are tropical natives of Africa, grown throughout the area for their dramatic beauty. All parts of the plant are poisonous with most of the ricin concentrated in the seeds. Castor bean seeds are toxic to cattle at two-tenths of a percent of body weight and to horses at as little as .01 percent of body weight.
Another plant you would not think of eating leaves from is an elderberry vine or shrub. The berries are completely safe and loaded with healthful properties, but the rest of the plant contains toxic calcium oxalate.
Tomatoes and potatoes are in the same situation — safe fruit but toxic leaves. The Washington Post reported that cats have died from as little as one bite of a lily plant or bulb.
Other plants that contain calcium oxalate include a common houseplant, Dieffenbachia. The plant, also called dumb cane, causes throat swelling and an inability to speak. The same toxin exists in rhubarb leaves, oxalis, ornamental clover, shamrock and Agaves.
English ivy, Narcissus, Hydrangea, Milkweed, Yew, Jimson Weed or Datura, Larkspur, Mayapple, Maple and Kentucky Coffee trees, Tulips and Lantana all make the list of plants that have toxic effects when ingested in large enough quantities.
Iris corms are supposedly toxic but many puppies have dug up and eaten their weight in them and survived without effect. Do not assume that because animals can eat a plant without problem, that children can do the same.
Oklahoma’s floral emblem mistletoe is also poisonous. It was chosen as the state’s emblem because it stays green in the winter and was available to decorate settler’s graves. Though it is not a good idea to eat the plant, researchers are working on using the chemicals in mistletoe to treat cancer and hypertension.
Children have to be taught to avoid putting things in their mouths but they love to snack on whatever they find in the yard or in the park. Parents will want to become informed about the plants that pose a danger but there are literally hundreds of plants that could be a problem.
For example, with the abundance of rain, mushrooms have popped up in grassy and wooded areas. It is a good idea to remove them all before children go out to play.
Skin irritations can come from many plants. Tomato leaves make some people break out in a rash, euphorbia and the succulent Jade plant have the same effect on others. Most important though is to learn to recognize poison ivy. Any three-leafed plant should be avoided.
Spray poison ivy with a product containing glyphosate. Never burn poison ivy stems since the smoke of its toxic oil urushiol can harm sensitive individuals.
Teach children the poem, “Leaflets three let it be, berries white out of sight.” The compound leaves of poison ivy are alternate on the stem with three leaflets. Each glossy or dull pointed leaflet is 2 to 4 inches long. The edges of the leaflets vary — some are toothed others are lobed. A characteristic typical of poison ivy is that the center leaflet is supported by a short leaf stalk, while the lateral leaflets are attached directly to the leaf stem.
