SAS Urban Survival Handbook (45 page)

CASHEW FAMILY
Anacardiaceae

Irritant poisons, causing burning pains in the throat and stomach, thirst, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shock. Causes severe irritation and rashes on skin contact. Wash affected parts immediately. WARNING: When burning these plants on a bonfire, do NOT inhale the smoke. This has been the cause of many DEATHS.

1 ▶ Poison sumac
(Poison dogwood/Poison elder)
Toxicodendron vernix (Rhus vernix)
Native to swamp areas of the US. Deciduous shrub/ small tree bearing many leaflets and purplish stalks. It develops greenish-yellow flowers and yellowish-white, peppercorn-like fruits. Height: 120-180 cm (47-71 in).
All parts are poisonous, including the sap.

2 ▶ Poison oak
(Poison ivy/Mercury/Cowitch)
Toxicodendron radicans (Rhus radicans)
Native to an area from Canada to Guatemala. Occasionally grown as an ornamental! Trailing or climbing vine or shrub with toothed or lobed leaves, velvety and hairy beneath. It develops greenish-white flowers and whitish, waxy, berry-like fruits. Height: up to 3.6 m (12ft).
All parts poisonous, even pollen and sap.
Several plants in the rhus genus are also poisonous.

3 ▶ Poison ivy
(Poison oak/Hiedra)
Toxicodendron quercifolium (Rhus toxicodendron)
Native to the eastern US. Deciduous sparsely-branched shrub that spreads by suckers. Its leaves are formed of several leaflets. It develops greenish flowers and whitish fruits. Height: 60-120 cm (24-47 in).
All parts are poisonous, including the sap.

OLEANDER FAMILY
Apocynaceae

Poisons causing numbness, tingling in the mouth, abdominal pain and vertigo and affecting the heart. Can be FATAL.

4 ▶ Oleander
(Rosebay)
Nerium oleander
Native to a large area, from the Mediterranean to Japan. Also a garden ornamental and a houseplant. Evergreen shrub with leathery narrow leaves and clusters of white flowers. Height: 1.8-4.5 m (6-15 ft).
All parts are poisonous, especially sap and wood. Can be FATAL.

BERBERIS FAMILY
Berberidaceae

Irritant poisons, causing burning pains in the throat and stomach, thirst, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shock.

5 ▶ Barberry
(Salmon barberry)
Berberis aggregata
Native to western China and a common garden ornamental. Deciduous shrub, with pale- to mid-green leaves and yellow flowers. These are followed by round coral-red berries. Height: 120-180 cm (47-71 in).
The berries are poisonous.

6 ▶ American mandrake
(May apple/Raccoon berry)
Podophyllum peltatum
Native to the US and a common garden ornamental. Rhizomatous herbaceous perennial. The yellow fruits have edible pulp. Height: 90-120 cm (35-47 in).
The rhizomes and unripe berries are poisonous.

BORAGE FAMILY
Boraginaceae

Toxic effects as the berberis family.

7 ▶ Comfrey
(Russian comfrey)
Symphytum x uplandicum
Hybrid, originally introduced from Russia as animal food, a very common ornamental. Herbaceous perennial with mid-green lance-shaped leaves and blue-purple flowers. Height: 75-100 cm (30-39 in).
The leaves are poisonous.
Some herbalists recommend small quantities for medicinal purposes. Common Comfrey
Symphytum officinale
is edible.

BOX FAMILY
Buxaceae

Irritant poisons causing abdominal pains, vomiting, nerve symptoms such as dilated pupils, headaches. Can cause convulsions.

8 ▶ Common box
Buxus sempervirens
Native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa, and a very common ornamental. Evergreen shrub/ tree with small green leaves. Height: 1.8-3.6 m (6-12 ft).
All parts poisonous.

BELL FLOWER FAMILY
Campanulaceae
Poisons causing numbness, tingling in the mouth, abdominal pains and vertigo and affecting the heart. Can cause paralysis.

9 ▶ Lobelia
(Edging lobelia)
Lobelia erinus
Native to South Africa and a garden ornamental. Height: 10-23 cm (4-9 in).
All parts are poisonous.

HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY
Caprifoliaceae

Irritant poisons, causing burning pains in the throat and stomach, thirst, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shock.

1 ▶ Honeysuckle
(Woodbine)
Lonicera periclymenum
Native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia and a common ornamental. A perennial deciduous climber with pale-yellow flowers (flushed with red) and bright-red berries. Height: 4.5-6 m (15-20 ft).
The berries are poisonous.
Other plants in this genus also poisonous.

2 ▶ Guelder rose
(Whitten tree)
Viburnum opulus
Native to Europe, North Africa and northern Asia and an ornamental. Deciduous shrub with scented white flowers and translucent red berries. Height: 1.8-3 m (6-10 ft).
The berries are poisonous.
Other viburnum species also poisonous.

3 ▶ Snowberry
(Waxberry)
Symphoricarpos albus
Native to the eastern US, and an extremely common ornamental. Deciduous shrub with pink flowers and snow-white fruits from autumn to late winter. Height: 1.5-2.1 m (5-7 ft).
Poisonous berries.

4 ▶ Elder
(Elderberry/European elderberry)
Sambucus nigra
Native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, and an ornamental. Deciduous shrub with leaves formed of mid-green sharply-toothed leaflets. Yellow-white flowers and black berries in late summer. Height: 3.6-4.5 m (12-15 ft).
Poisonous roots and sap.
Berries are also poisonous in large quantities, although may be made safely into wine. Flowers are edible.

STAFF TREE FAMILY
Celastraceae

Irritant poisons, causing burning pains in the throat and stomach, thirst, nausea, vomiting and shock. May cause DEATH.

5 ▶ Common spindle tree
(Skewer wood/ European spindle tree/Prick wood/Louse berry tree/Ananbeam)
Euonymus europaeus
Native to Europe and western Asia, and common as an ornamental. Deciduous shrub/small tree, with slender-pointed mid-green leaves and inconspicuous green-white flowers. These are followed by rosy-red capsules with orange seeds. Height: 1.8-3 m (6-10 ft).
All parts are poisonous. May be FATAL.
Other euonymus species are also poisonous.

SPIDERWORT FAMILY
Commelinaceae
Irritant poisons, causing burning pains in the throat and stomach, thirst, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shock.

6 ▶ Purple queen
Setcreasea purpurea (Tradescantia purpurea)
Native to Mexico, an ornamental and a houseplant. Perennial with tufted, lance-like, purple leaves and pairs of boat-shaped purple bracts. Height: 30-38 cm (12-15 in).
Poisonous sap.

DAISY FAMILY
Compositae

Irritant poisons, causing burning pains in the throat and stomach, thirst, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shock.

7 ▶ Ragwort
Senecia jacobaea
Native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, introduced to the US and New Zealand. Common on wasteland. Perennial with deeply-lobed light-green leaves and yellow daisy-like flowers. Height: 90-120 cm (35-47 in).
All parts are poisonous.
Many other plants in this genus are also likely to cause poisoning, including groundsel (
S. vulgaris
).

BINDWEED FAMILY
Convolvulaceae

Irritant poisons of a purgative nature, causing abdominal pains, vomiting and purging. These are often accompanied by drowsiness and slight nervous symptoms.

8 ▶ Bindweed
(Field bindweed/Cornbine)
Convolvulus arvensis
Native to Europe and Asia, and extensively naturalized in both temperature zones. A common weed. Climbing perennial with counter-clockwise-twining stems and pink or white scented flowers. Height: 20-75 cm (8-30 in).
Poisonous seeds.

9 ▶ Morning glory
Ipomoea purpurea (Convolvulus major)
Native to tropical America, and a common ornamental. Perennial or annual climber, with purple, blue or pink flowers. Height: 1.8-3.6 m (6-12 ft).
Seeds are poisonous.

CYPRESS FAMILY
Cupressaceae

Irritant poisons, causing burning pains in the throat and stomach, thirst, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shock.

1 ▶ Lawson cypress
(Port Orford cedar)
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
Native to the US and a very common ornamental. Evergreen conifer with parsley-scented dark-green/grey foliage. Height: 9-15 m (30-49 ft).
The resin is poisonous.

MUSTARD FAMILY
Cruciferae

Irritant poisons, causing burning pains in the throat and stomach, thirst, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shock.

2 ▶ Horseradish
(Red cole)
Armoracia rusticana (Cochlearia armoracia)
Native to Europe and naturalized in the US. Herbaceous perennial cultivated for its edible roots. Height: 45-60 cm (18-24 in).
Roots are poisonous when eaten excessively.
Many other plants in the mustard family are poisonous, including wild mustard (
Sinapis arvensis
), wild radish (
Raphanus raphanistrum
) and rape (
Brassica napus
)
.