Please Don't Eat the Daisies Trivia Quiz

Answer: India

Oleander is one of the most beautiful of the flowering plants, as well as one of the most deadly. It is commonly used today as a hedge and ornamental lawn plant despite its toxicity. All parts of the plant are toxic and contain and contain the poisons nerline and oleandrin. If consumed, this plant causes diarrhea, vomiting, and erratic pulse.

This is followed by seizures, coma, and then death. Oleander poisoning is not common due to the fact that it has a very bitter, nasty taste. The swallowing of oleander seeds has been a common form of suicide for centuries in some parts of India.

Answer: It is extinct in the wild.

All types of Angel's Trumpet have been classified as "Extinct in the Wild" by the IUCN red list. They can be found growing all over the world but this is because of their use as an ornamental shrub. In some parts of South America, they are used medicinally in very small amounts and sometimes for their hallucinogenic qualities in religious activities.

Ingestion of this plant causes severe hallucinations, migraine headaches, muscle paralysis, and often death. The alkaloids found in this plant have lead to it being used recreationally in the U.S.

This is not a plant you want growing in your yard, no matter how pretty it is.

Answer: Seeds

Wisteria is a beautiful ornamental plant found in many parts of the world. It is a hearty plant that can grow in many different habitats. All parts of the wisteria are poisonous, especially the seeds. Ingestion of any part of the plant will cause dizziness with nausea and vomiting. Stomach cramping and diarrhea is sometimes seen and in severe cases can cause the person to collapse from weakness. Death is usually only seen in children and small animals.

Answer: True

Rhododendrons come in a variety of shapes and colors but all can be toxic. Some animals, such as horses and elephants, can die very quickly after eating this plant. The history of rhododendron poisoning from eating honey dates as far back as 400 B.C. There have been outbreaks of rhododendron poisoning as recently as the 1980s in Austria and Turkey. Human death from rhododendrons is not common, and when it does is usually caused by cardiac arrest or heart attack.

It is toxic enough to make a person sick for a week or more with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, low heart rate and dizziness.

Answer: Digitalis

Foxglove, also known as Digitalis purpurea, is the source of the commonly used cardiac drug known as digitalis. Ingestion of any part of this plant can be fatal, even in small doses. If properly prepared, digitalis helps with heart failure, arrhythmia, and edema.

The problems is that the therapeutic dose and the fatal dose are very close and this has led to a decrease in the use of digitalis. Ingestion of foxglove depresses the heart rate, causes nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Long term poisoning can cause hallucinations, auras, halos, fainting and death.

This ornamental plant can produce flowers of many different colors and is a popular choice for ornamental plants because of it plethora of long-lasting blossoms.

Answer: Hydrangea

The beautiful hydrangea contains a poison called amygdalin which can make a person or a pet very ill or even cause death. The most common reactions to ingesting this plant are upset stomach, vomiting, cramping and bloody stool. In higher doses, it can cause cardiac issues which can lead to death in children and small pets. Because this plant is so flashy, it is a good idea to watch children and animals when they are in the area of the plant. Even skin contact can cause a rash in susceptible individuals.

Answer: Aconitum

Aconitum is known by many names including monkshood, mousebane, and soldier's helmet, just to name a few. The principal toxins are the alkaloids aconite and aconitine. Ingestion of even a small part of this flowering plant will cause severe stomach upset.

But the real danger is the cardiac effect. The beating of the heart is slowed dramatically with the blood pressure dropping rapidly at the same time. Ingestion of a small amount of the plant can cause death to both humans and other animals. There are stories of people absorbing these toxins through cuts in the skin after handling the plant. Aconitum has a bitter flavor which burns both the mouth and throat and so accidental poisoning is rare.

Answer: North America

The lovely water hemlock, is often mistaken for the plant known as Queen Anne's lace. All parts are toxic but especially the roots, which are sometimes mistaken for parsnips. Water hemlock grows wild in most parts of North America, and contains the poison cicutoxin.

The effects of ingesting water hemlock have a rapid onset. Abdominal cramps occur within the first hour followed by severe stomach cramping. Violent convulsions and death follow shortly after. For those lucky enough to survive water hemlock poisoning, most are left with tremors, intermittent memory loss, and frequent muscle cramping.

Answer: Ricin

Native to Africa, the castor bean plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant in many areas of the world. While the seeds of the plant are the source of castor oil, they also contain the deadly toxin ricin. It only takes one or two of these seeds to kill a child. Ricin poison causes explosive vomiting and diarrhea.

This is followed by violent seizures and then death. This poison was used to assassinate Bulgarian journalist Georgi Markov, who dared to speak out against the government.

Answer: Nightshade

Atropa belladonna is also known as deadly nightshade. The plant is known for it's sweet berries which have lead to many accidental poisonings by children and for it being used in making poisonous wines. Nightshade is usually found growing wild in Europe and northwestern parts Asia. All parts of the plant are toxic and contain scopolamine and atropine.

When ingested, this plant causes muscular paralysis including the heart and the diaphragm. Death follows shortly after.