Plant ingestions are among the top five causes of accidental poisonings in children younger than 5 years. Pets are also frequent victims of plant poisonings. Young children and pets will often chew and eat anything within reach, no matter how it tastes. Eating a small amount of a plant may not always be a problem, but large or repeated doses may be extremely harmful. There is no easy test for knowing poisonous plants from those that are safe.
Many plants cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
Some plants have substances that are very irritating to the tongue, mouth and skin. Immediate burning pain in the mouth along with swelling is common. Some plants can cause a skin rash. Sometimes the rash only occurs after being in the sun or gets worse with exposure to sunlight. Don't assume a plant is safe for humans just because animals or birds eat it without harm.