Barking Up the Wrong Tree Trivia Quiz

Answer: Gympie Gympie

The Gympie Gympie Plant, at home in Australia, is particularly frightening. A single touch of the hairs on its leaves or fruit could leave you in serious pain; it's also known as 'The Suicide Plant'. Many have complained about feeling the microscopic hairs in the years following their insertion, but quick and effective treatment using strong acid and waxing strips has been the most useful in preventing truly lasting pain.

The fruit of the Gympie Gympie is edible, but considering the risk involved in obtaining it and removing its follicles, it's probably not worth the effort.

Answer: Yew

The dangerous secret of this plant is hidden in every part of the yew except the red of its berries which, while edible, probably aren't close to worth the effort-- even their seeds can kill humans. You wouldn't even want to inhale the pollen of the European Yew.

The poison spreads throughout the most of the plant with the leaves being the most dangerous. This said, the yew is a common tree and has been an important symbol in folklore around the continent.

Answer: Sandbox Tree

The tree actually carries several names with, perhaps, the most interesting being 'The Monkey No-Climb Tree' because of its spiky exterior; the bark of the tree is dotted with spiny seeds which, if they don't blossom into flowers, can explode off the trunk with an audible pop, firing them a great distance.

It's no surprise, with its ammunition, that it's known by yet another name-- the Dynamite Tree. As already noted, the sap of the tree is also poisonous both to humans and other animals alike; it's just not an appealing plant.

While its original home is the Americas, the Sandbox Tree has since spread around the world, appearing in warmer climates.

Answer: Doll's Eyes

The Doll's Eye Plant is actually quite dangerous, and while it can be common in some parts of North America, it's not something you'd normally find in a garden. The whole plant is poisonous and, if ingested, leads to a near-immediate death. Perhaps the worst part of the flower is its berries; they're extremely toxic and, I mean, just look at them. Doll's Eyes. Why would you eat something so spooky? Unless you're a bird. Birds can eat them just fine. You're not a bird, are you? Stay away.

Answer: Belladonna

Atropa belladonna, as it's known, is known to be one of the deadliest plants in the nightshade family, mainly because its berries (well...all of the plant, really) are severely toxic. Formerly used as a psychoactive drug, the berries of the belladonna lead to hallucinations and, eventually, death if consumed in large enough doses. That said, belladonna is a beautiful flower originally from Europe; its name is Italian, directly translating to 'beautiful lady'. You know...who kills.

Answer: Foxglove

A flowering perennial, foxglove appears in many shapes, colours, and sizes, but all of them have their toxicity in common; you would not want to ingest foxglove unless you had strong knowledge of digoxin poisoning. While digitalis has been used in the past as heart medication and a method of weight loss, it really isn't safe in any dose; taking the plant in any form can lead to severe heart and brain problems. Due to its notoriety as an unsafe plant, it's also retained the name 'dead man's bells', which is probably an indication in itself.

Answer: The Sheep Eater

While a Sheep Eater plant does look a bit like a mace, it actually ends up being dangerous in a much different way. You can imagine this thing is not kind to sheep; due to the sharp leaves on these plants, sheep can get their wool caught in the ensnaring top half, dying there if left unhelped. Normally, these plants are only found in desert environments though they have grown elsewhere as well.

It's not your garden variety bush either; while many plants take in nutrients from surrounding soil, these are rumoured to take their nutrients from dead animals.

Answer: Suicide Tree

The Suicide Tree is a particularly odd one. Not uncommon in parts of India, the tree is known for its small fruits which, although not completely poisonous, are unsafe. The seeds in these fruits are highly toxic, very quickly leading any consumer to death; the poisons inside target the heart muscles.

As such, it's been used in the past as a murder weapon, often being masked by other Indian spices. You may also know the tree by its more innocuous name-- the Pong-Pong-- but don't let that diminish its danger.

Answer: True

Castor bean plants, while not a tree (in most forms) or flowering plant like most of the other examples in this quiz, are perhaps one of the most well-known for their dangerous properties because of ricin, a substance that can kill a human with only a few specks of condensed material; you could inhale the stuff and take a fatal dose.

This said, the castor oil plant is also used for a multitude of other purposes. The oil alone is used for medicines and car engine lubricant. It's typically grown for industrial use in India but can be found worldwide.

Answer: Manchineel

Perhaps one of the world's most dangerous plants, the Manchineel can be found in coastal regions of Central America and is known for being all-around horrible. The tree produces a burning sap and dangerous fruits that can swell throat muscles. Burning the tree also causes a dangerous smoke which can cause injuries to internal organs and harm eyesight. If you stand under the Manchineel in a rainstorm, the leaves actually cause an chemical reaction in raindrops which allow them to burn skin. Centuries ago, native people recognized the dangerous properties of the tree, using it as poison for arrows in battle.

It ended up receiving a Guinness World Record, officially becoming the most dangerous tree in the world.