Wednesday 27 February 2019

Poisonous plants


If you’re unsure about the identification of any plants and, most crucially, whether or not they are poisonous consult a local flora (e.g., https://www.britishflora.co.uk/plants/ https://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/ ). Extreme caution should always be taken before preparing any part of a plant for consumption. The Woodland Trust (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2017/08/foxglove-and-other-poisonous-plants/ ) offers the following advice in cases of accidental poisoning:

·  If you think a child or adult has eaten part of a suspect plant, seek medical advice immediately from a hospital accident & emergency department.

·  Take a sample of the plant with you (as many parts of the plant as you can for accurate identification e.g. leaves, flowers, fruits, stem).

·  Do not panic and do not try to make the person sick.

If in any doubt you can also search for potentially poisonous/toxic plants in the Plants for a Future database at: https://pfaf.org/

See also the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) webpage on poisonous garden plants:


And for pets that might accompany you on foraging trips see the PDSA website: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/poisonous-plants

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