21 Aug 1999

In Florida there are many beautiful plants - in our homes, yards, parks and schools. Some can be dangerous. The ingestion or contact with some of these plants may cause symptoms such as skin, eye and mouth irritation, pain, breathing problems, allergic reactions, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or even death.

Do you know which plants are poisonous?

Poisonous Plants		Non-Poisonous Plants
Allamanda Angel's Trumpet Balsam Pear Brazilian Pepper Castor Bean Dieffenbachia Mushroom Oleander Pencil Tree Philodendron Physic Nut Poinsettia Poison Ivy Rosary Pea		African Violet Bottle Brush Bromeloids Brogainvillea Christmas Cactus Corn Plant Croton Dracaena Gardenia Impatiens Purple Passion Rubber Plant Spider Plant Staghorn Fern

How you can help prevent poisoning accidents from plants.?

• Recognize the plants in your surroundings. Know which are poisonous.
• Teach children that putting leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, berries or wild mushrooms in their mouths is dangerous.
• Avoid the use of "mediciens" or "teas" made from plants.
• Keep a bottle of Syrup of Ipecac in your house for each child under the age of six (do not use unless instructed to do so by your physician or the poison information center)
• Keep the Poison Information Center number near your phone. 1-800-282-3171 (non-emergency, administrative phone number - 305-585-5250)
• Call your doctor or the poison information center as soon as the exposure occurs. If asked to go the the emergency room, take part of the plant, seeds, or berries with you.
• Never eat wild mushrooms and destroy mushrooms that appear in the yard.
• Use non-toxic plants indoors when there are children under the age of six.
• Learn more about the plants in your surroundings.