1 Introduction The Tenderfoot Scout requirement is to identify local poisonous plants and tell how to treat for exposure. Your Boy Scout book describes that you should know how to recognize and avoid poisonous plants in your area. Your book covers a few poisonous plants common over much of North America, but not usually common in the area where you live. There has been a tradition in the troop to learn many of the poisonous plants found in your neighborhood, because many natural communities have been destroyed and your neighborhood is filled with poisonous plants that can harm you, younger family members, and your pets. Poisonous plants in most natural habitats are not nearly as common as the numbers in and around most houses. All information needed for signoff is in this handout and in the Boy Scout book, though you can seek additional resources. There are many resources on the internet that describe poisonous plants and show pictures. There is an excellent book called Poisonous Plants and Animals of Florida and the Caribbean by David N. Nellis published in 1997 by Pineapple Press, Inc. You can borrow this book from me or the library. What you need to know: Because there are many dozens of poisonous plants in your neighborhood, you will not need to know all. However, you must know how to avoid problems with plants that you know little about. You should be able to explain why it is really dumb (maybe fatal) to eat something you don’t know about if you get lost. You should also be able to describe how people react differently to poisonous plants. You should know to wear gloves and even goggles when pruning some plants, and avoid rubbing eyes without washing hands carefully. You do not need to know scientific names but be aware that many of the same species have different common names and that many common names refer to different species. There are 5 plants everyone should know additional to those in your Boy Scout book. You should be able to identify them, briefly explain why they are poisonous, how to avoid being exposed, and how to treat exposure. Beside these 5, you should be able to correctly identify at least 5 other poisonous plants below correctly and know something about why they are poisonous. You can put the number of the National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) in a prominent place if you have younger siblings. To schedule a sign off you can e-mail Dave Breininger [email protected] [email protected] or phone 321-289 -1522.

1 Five plants everyone should know: Oleander (Nerium oleander). Nearly all parts of this plant are poisonous, even smoke from burning the plant and juices produced from twigs . Symptoms include irregular heartbeat, cramps, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, convulsions, and respiratory failure. Avoid ingesting leaves and sap. Get emergency help immediately as stomach contents need to be removed along with additional treatments.

2 Castor bean (Ricinus communis) The entire plant is poisonous but the primary toxin is concentrated in the seeds. Even small amounts of poison can cause death. Symptoms may include burning of mouth and stomach, abdominal pain, extreme thirst bloody diarrhea, impaired vision, headaches, and convulsions within minutes, hours, and rarely death. Medical attention needed immediately and use of ipecac.

3 Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) Eating the fruit irritates the intestinal tract. Poisoning from body parts can cause nervous and muscular excitement, rapid heatbeat, hallucinations, difficulty breathing, and paralysis. The fragrance from flowers at night can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, sneezing, and labored breathing. Seek medical attention.

4 Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthiflius) All parts of the plants have an irritant that effects skin and mucous membranes. Fruits and leaves falling into ponds can cause fish to die. Blooming trees can produce sneezing, asthma, eye irritation, and headache. Avoid physical contact with plant because it can cause skin irritation. Drink plenty of fluids and treat symptoms such as itching, digestive upset, or respiratory difficulties.

5 Elephant ears Colocasia spp. Exposure to skin from crushed stems or leaves can produce itching, burnings, and swelling, which can be severe if in contact with eyes. Ingestion causes burning pain, swelling, and in rarely fatal choking. Get medical attention except for mild exposure.

Other poisonous plants: Mango (Mangifera indica). Mostly can cause allergic reactions with systematic shock reaction rare. Occasional symptoms include rashes and swelling of eyelids. Avoid skin contact with sap and wash hands after handling. Avoid smoke, climbing trees, etc.

Yellow allamanda (Allamanda cathartica) Leaves and sap can cause a itching rash and burning of the eyes. Consumption includes vomiting and diarrhea. Sap should be washed from skin and consumption may require fluid and electrolyte replacement.

Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). Leaves can produce vomiting and should be removed from stomach.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)The sap can irritate skin and eyes similar to dumb cane. Ingestion can irritate mouth and cause diarrhea. Skin irritation may be relieved by applying corticosteroid creams.

Fishtail palm (Caryota mitis). Juice and pulp can be irritating to skin and internally toxic and cause eye irritation. Avoid hairs at base of leaves. Most symptoms go away slowly.

Oyster lily (Tradescantia spathacea) The sap can produce stinging and itching to skin and eyes. Washing with soap and water can reduce symptoms.

Balsam Apple (Mormodica charantia.) Ingestion of seeds and fruit can produce severe vomiting and diarrhea and even death.

Coontie (Zamia pumilla) Consumption of roots or seeds causes vomiting, depression, and possibly irreversible paralysis. Immediate medical attention needed. Pollen may cause allergic reactions so that male cones should be removed.

Wild pointsettia (Euphorbia cyathophora) Ingesting the sap produces vomiting, diarrhea, and possibly death. Pointsettias at Christmas also poisonous (so is misitletoe) Medical attention needed to empty stomach.

Crown of Thorns (Euphora mili). The sap causes severe irritation or temporary blindness in eyes and swelling, redness, and blisters on skin. Sap should be washed off immediately with soap and water. Eyes should be rinsed immediately followed by medical attention.

Coral Tree (Jatropha multifida)The sap causes inflammation of the skin and eye. Consumption of seeds can cause vomiting and of livestock. Requires medical attention.

Lantana (Lantana spp.) Berries and leaves can cause poisoning and death in children. Prickly stems may cause skin irritation. Symptoms include loss of coordination, avoidance of bright light, vomiting, labored breathing, slow breathing, and headache. Medical attention needed immediately. There are several exotic and native species.

Coral bean (Erythrina corallodendrum) Vomiting, lethargy, and depression occur after consuming the seeds, which should be removed from the stomach.

Tread softly (Cnidoscolus stimulosis) Can cause a very painful, irritating rash and can cause more serious reactions with some people. Common on our near ocean in dunes. Watch out for stinging nettle at summer camp.

Bloodberry (Rivinia humilus) All parts are poisonous. Symptoms include burning of the mouth, coughing, headache, and fatigue. Need immediate medical attention and removal of stomach contents. Commonly sold as a pond plant and found in wetalnds.

Other poisonous plants (need pictures) Purple allamada (Cryptostega grandiflora). Sap can be irritating to skin and ingestion can cause lethal effects. Dust from dried leaves can cause respiratory irritation. Sap should be washed of immediately. Seek medical attention immediately for ingestion. Austrailian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia). Pollen produces an allergic reaction in some people. Avoid areas when trees are flowering and stay in air conditioning if symtoms of itchy eyes, sneezing, cough, and asthma occur. Wandering jew (Tradescantia zebrina) The sap can pro duce stinging and itching to skin and eyes. Washing with soap and water can reduce symptoms. Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)Eating the aerial tuber causes sting, burning, and swelling of the mouth and tongue. Medical attention needed. Purple queen (Tradescantia pallida). Produces burning and itching of skin in some individuals and blisters if exposed to sap. Washing with soap and water followed by soothing ointment can relieve irritation. Dumb cane (Diffenbachia seguine). Exposure to skin from crushed stems or leaves can produce itching, burnings, and swelling that can be severe if in contact with eyes. Ingestion causes burning pain, swelling, and in rarely fatal choking. Get medical attention except for mild exposure. Candelabra cactus (Euphorbia lacteal) The milky sap is caustic to skin, mucous membranes. Internally it is bitter, irritating, and causes bleeding and inflammation in the intestinal tract. Sap should be washed off immediately with soap and water. Eyes should be rinsed immediately followed by medical attention.

Pointsetta (Euphorbia pulcherrima) The sap causes irritation and blistering of the skin and severe eye irritation and temporary blindness. Small amounts consumed internally can cause irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Skin should be washed with soap and water and eyes washed. Medical attention is needed to remove stomach contents. Pencil Tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) The sap causes irritation and blistering of the skin and severe eye irritation and temporary blindness. Internal consumption causes bleeding and irritation. Skin should be washed with soap and water and eyes washed. Medical attention is needed to remove stomach contents. Wear goggles when pruning this plant.

Blood root (Lachmanthes tinctoria) Eating the root can causes dizziness, headache, and irritation. Stomach material should be removed. Blue rattleweed (Crotalaria verrucosa) Consumption of seeds causes causes abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium semperviren) All parts of the plant are toxic. Symptoms pain in around pupils, dizziness, nausea, staggering, sweating, and slow respiration that may lead to suffocation. Stomach contents need to be removed immediately. Mistletoe (Phoradendron piperiodes) Vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, and copious urination following consumption especially in young children that eat the berries. Material must be removed from stomach. Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)All parts are poisonous with most fatalities occur from eating the berries. Symptoms include burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, and great fatigue. Need immediate medical attention and removal of stomach contents. Black nightshade (Solanum americanum)Eating leaves or berries causes loss of appetite, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, diarrhea, dry mouth, loss of speech, dialated pupils, confusions, headache, increased heart rate, paralysis, and death. Medical attention needed immediately. Feel free provide pictures and names of many other poisonous plants in our area.