They say every rose has its thorn - but some flowers offer far more danger than a pricked finger.
From deadly poisons to treacherous spines and thorns, these plants have all evolved with defence mechanisms to ward off potential predators.
Keep reading to discover some of the world's most terrifying flowers and plants.
Deadly Nightshade
Atropa belladonna
One of the most famous poisonous plants, Deadly Nightshade is recognisable by its bell shaped purple flowers and glossy black berries. Its toxicity has been known since ancient times, making it a mainstay of stories, myths, and legends. This infamy is well deserved; all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous, and eating even a small amount can cause hallucinations, convulsions, paralysis, and death.
Stinging Tree
Dendrocnide moroides
Native to Australian rainforests, the Stinging Tree (or Gympie-Gympie) is part of the nettle family and is one of the most venomous plants of the world. Its heart-shaped leaves are covered in fine hairs that pack a nasty punch. Just brushing against the leaves is enough to be stung, and the pain has been likened to being burnt with hot acid. To make things worse, the venom is a neurotoxin that binds to the nervous system, meaning that in some cases the pain can last for months. The plant is so dangerous that it's often marked by warning signs, and those who work around it wear respirators and protective clothing .
It's not all bad news though - scientists believe that the venom's unique compounds could be repurposed into creating effective painkillers and anaesthetics.
Foxglove
(Digitalis purpurea)
Foxglove is commonly found growing wild in the UK, and is also a popular garden plant. It's instantly recognisable from its towering spikes of flowers which grow in a wide range of colours.
Despite its beauty, foxglove is poisonous, causing heart failure and death in extreme cases. Fortunately, foxglove poisoning isn't common, although it can be a concern for foragers as its leaves resemble comfrey. It's also a good idea to keep an eye on children and pets around foxgloves to make sure they don't eat any.
Interestingly, foxglove has been used to treat heart conditions for centuries. The foxglove's toxicity is a result of cardiac glycosides found in the plant, but in smaller doses these same compounds can actually help to strengthen and regulate the heart. This was first discovered in the 1700s, when the English botanist William Withering realised that foxglove was the active ingredient in a herbal remedy used to treat dropsy (often caused by heart failure), and undertook extensive research into its safe use and preparation. Even today, many modern heart medicines still use compounds extracted from foxgloves!
Wait-a-While Vine
(Calamus muelleri)
The wait-a-while is a climbing palm which sports slender vines lined with sharp hooks, and it's named for its ability to entangle unwary travellers. It can be hard to spot, and brushing against it can cause the hooks catch on clothing or skin. The barbs are sharp and can cause injuries, so removing them can be difficult - leading you to have to wait a while to get free! It's only found in Australian rainforests, where it's often seen hanging over paths, or forming dense and hazardous tangles.
Angel's Trumpet
(Brugmansia)
Angel's Trumpet is a genus of flowering plants celebrated for their spectacular, trumpet-shaped blooms and intense, heady fragrance. Their dramatic flowers make them popular as garden plants, but they are in fact very poisonous. Like Deadly Nightshade, all parts of the plant contain toxic tropane alkaloids, which can cause hallucinations, paralysis, and death. Although they're most toxic eaten, contact with the sap can also result in mild poisoning symptoms and irritation, so it's important to take care when handling this plant.
Monkshood
(Aconitum)
Monkshood sports eye-catching spires of purple flowers, but it's most famous for its deadly poison. All parts of Monkshood are poisonous, due to alkaloids which affect the heart and nervous system. So potent is the toxin that in ancient times it was used to coat arrows, and it's become notorious from its numerous appearances in literature, mythology and folklore over many centuries. In Ancient Greece, Monkshood was often associated with Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, and so the plant has also come to symbolise magic and the supernatural.
Despite its fearsome reputation, Monkshood is still a popular garden plant. However, as some of the poison can be absorbed through the skin - albeit with less lethal effects - it's advisable to wear gloves and wash your hands after handling it.
Castor Oil Plant
(Ricinus)
Recognisable by its palm-like, purple leaves, the Castor Oil plant has been cultivated for centuries for - you guessed it - castor oil. Castor oil is incredibly useful - as well as having a variety of health benefits, it's also used to manufacture everything from brake fluids and paints, to soaps and perfumes.
However, this plant also has a hidden dark side. The raw castor seeds contain the extremely potent and deadly poison ricin, which is infamous for its use as a biological weapon. Inhaling or eating even a tiny amount can prove lethal, as an antidote hasn't been discovered. Fortunately, accidental ricin poisoning is extremely rare, and the oil itself is perfectly safe, as it does not contain ricin.
Looking for something a little less deadly? We don't blame you! Explore our flowers and plants to find the perfect gift for someone special.
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