Wild animals, biting and stinging insects, snakes - in the forest, danger lies in wait at every step. And even if a picnic or hike is planned not in the Amazonian jungle, but in a forest familiar from childhood, this is not a reason to relax. Sometimes a hidden threat lurks right under your feet.
Not everything that grows in the wild can be touched, sniffed or even eaten. Banal contact with some forest and field plants can result in severe poisoning. A few berries or milligrams of juice from a toxic plant, mistaken for beneficial, can be lethal. These 10 plants need not only be able to distinguish from others, but also, in order to avoid unpleasant consequences, stay away from them.
Artemisia ragweed
A plant that looks like wormwood or hemp produces toxic pollen. During the flowering period, when pollen concentration reaches its peak, ragweed can easily cause allergies and discharges. A few grains of pollen are quite enough to cause inflammation of the eyes, shortness of breath, tearing of the eyes, and at especially high doses - conjunctivitis.
Hogweed
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Upon contact with a plant or, even worse, if its juice gets on the skin, it causes severe inflammation and burns that do not heal for a long time. For a burn to develop, even one and a half minutes of contact is enough. The inflammation can be accompanied by chills, dizziness, itching, and headache.
Field bindweed
The common field bindweed is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. The plant contains the resinous substance konvalvulin. It is a strong poison that can lead to a burning sensation in the mouth and nasopharynx, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dehydration.
Hemlock
The plant is insidious in that in the first year of growth it forms leaves and a root, similar to parsley. This pseudo-parsley contains the liquid alkaloid konyin. If you taste it, paralysis of various parts of the central nervous system will begin, pressure will increase and breathing will be disturbed.
Mary white
Outwardly, the marsh is similar to the edible quinoa. However, unlike the latter, Mary belongs to poisonous plants. If it is accidentally confused, such a mistake will cost severe discomfort in the form of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and dehydration.
Celandine
The plant is a favorite folk remedy in the fight against warts, calluses and acne. But before you burn something with them next time, you should think a few times, because celandine is toxic. The plant contains a number of alkaloids that cause vomiting, colic, diarrhea, and when taken orally in large doses, death.
Arum spotted
The plant contains the poisonous substance aroin. It is dangerous because it has a paralyzing effect on the central nervous system. Skin contact does not bode well other than irritation and burns. In case of plant poisoning, headaches, diarrhea, cold sweat break through. In a severe form, convulsions, hallucinations and arrhythmias will be added to them.
Common catchment
A plant from the buttercup family is ubiquitous in summer cottages and in the forest. But few people know that it is poisonous. Especially its flowers. Poisoning can be recognized by dizziness, tongue tingling, limb cramps and arrhythmias. Severe departure can be fatal due to respiratory arrest.
Henbane
Winged expression "have you overeat henbane?" was not invented by chance. Helen is a poisonous plant, and all its parts are poisonous. Delirium and hallucinations are one of the main signs of administration. In addition to them, there is also an increase in sweating, fever, tachycardia and photophobia, and in severe cases, respiratory failure, convulsions and loss of consciousness. Even a lethal outcome is possible.
Aconite
A beautiful bright plant of the buttercup family is fraught with mortal danger. The root and immature seeds of the plant contain alkaloids, mainly aconitine. In terms of its toxic effect, it is comparable to the poison of Curare. Acotine can cause severe poisoning, accompanied by dizziness, darkening of the eyes, cramps in the limbs, arrhythmias, and even death, which leads to respiratory arrest.