Poisonous Christmas Gift Plants

A favourite popular media topic is poisonous plants. Since much of the media is commonly associated with botanically-derived intoxicants that may be smoked, consumed or otherwise imbibed this is not to be unexpected. It may also lead to silly if not downright incorrect information.

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But what is meant by ‘poisonous’? Any plant sold as an ornamental may cause distress, even death, if ingested. Such plants, raised for decoration and not consumption, may have been treated with pesticides while under cultivation. A few also have sap that can irritate if the plant is mishandled. But the number of seasonal gift plants that are poisonous in themselves is extremely small. One of those few is the Christmas Cherry or Jerusalem Cherry, Solanum pseudocapsicum. Commonly sold in 10- to 15-centimetre pots, it is a perennial that in mild climes such as those of southern England is grown as an ornamental shrub. The orange-red berries bear an uncanny resemblance to cocktail tomatoes, tempting to little fingers. And the reduced weight of children makes them more susceptible to the toxins they contain. The very botanical name Solanum indicates that they are a member of the Nightshade Family. True, this also contains staples such as potato, tomato and eggplant – but also such poisonous plants as deadly nightshade, henbane, mandrake, datura and belladonna. The close cousin, Christmas Pepper, Capsicum annuum, is just that, a pepper. However, this pepper is of the extremely hot kind, selected not for its culinary qualities but as an attractive ornamental. The cone-shaped red, orange, black or cream fruit may irritate the skin if carelessly handled. Consumed, they can cause gastric distress. The masses of red, pink or white blooms of the Azalea Rhododendron indica decorate any room. Like other member of that family though, the foliage is poisonous. This should not constitute a reason to consign it to the compost heap, however. It has been calculated that it would take a quarter-pound of foliage to make a 30-pound child even queasy. No greater myth-maker is that all time favourite, the Poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherimma. The oft-told story of a small boy dying in Hawaii after feasting on it is one of the most enduring urban myths – and a complete fabrication. The leaves are relished in Mexican salads. Moreover, several decades ago a Canadian garden communicator grew several pesticide-free plants and publically noshed on them. Suffice to say he lived for many productive years thereafter. One thing to avoid from Poinsettias though is the white sap or latex from broken stems. Like all Euphorbia species, this can irritate the eyes and mouth if conveyed there by stained fingers. Sad to say, kissing under the mistletoe could be less than sanitary if one of the white berries borne on this semi-parasitic plant should come between those conjoined lips. If it was truly revered by the ancient druids it might explain why a lot them are not around today: it is poisonous. As for the red-berried holly, also said have been deemed sacred by druids, remove the sprig from the top of the Christmas pudding before serving. It, too, is poisonous.

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