-
Asked by anon-352110 to Liz on 2 Mar 2023.
-
Liz Barron-Majerik answered on 2 Mar 2023:
Most have to be ingested to be deadly, but there is Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) or “jequirity beans”, which have seeds that contain abrin, an extremely deadly ribosome-inhibiting protein.
Rosary peas are native to tropical areas and are often used in prayer rosaries (hence the name). While the seeds are not poisonous if intact, seeds that are scratched, broken, or chewed can be lethal. Like ricin, abrin prevents protein synthesis within cells and can cause organ failure within four days
It only takes 3 micrograms of abrin to kill an adult, and as that is less than the amount in one seed, they could kill you on contact. Some jewellery makers are believed to have died after pricking their fingers while working with the seeds.
https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/abrus-precatorius
-
Comments
Felipe commented on :
Not as exotic as Rosary peas, but many plants (for example tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, kiwi and celery) are highly allergenic and can cause anaphylactic shocks which can kill a person in few minutes!
https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/food-allergies-what-you-need-know
Rosa commented on :
It is true that the worst effects required to be ingested but some of them cause severe skin burns, red rush, bumps, patches, streaking or weeping blisters such as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Among the ingested one, I want to recall the oleander, a single leaf may kill an adult, and they are planted in parks and gardens.
Phil commented on :
I’ve seen really nasty burns on the arms and wrists of people who were pruning Euphorbia plants in a nursery – the cut leaves and stems ooze a milky sap that causes burns if it gets on the skin and is then exposed to sunlight, very sneaky. And there’s a similar “photosensitive” reaction to the sap from the fairly common weed, Giant Hogweed, which caught one of my workmates out once.
Nice summary here:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2022/06/giant-hogweed-facts/