Poisonous Plants

Now, none of us are going to grow poison ivy or poison sumac in our classrooms. But we also want to be sure we aren't growing other plants that can have unwanted effects on children.

In looking at the issue of poisonous plants, keep in mind that many things, in large enough quantities can have an adverse impact - even ice cream. A few of the plants listed here are very poisonous if ingested, e.g., azalea, amaryllis. Most fall in the category of mild toxins, e.g., diffenbachia. With such a wide world to chose from, it just makes good sense to avoid the mild toxins as well as the more severe ones. Now, this advice is predicated on the age of your children. You need to look at it while exercising your good, common sense and in light of your school's policies.

This list is by no means complete. For that, you'll need to look up a good reference book on poisonous plants. There are a number of good sites on the internet. You should also find this information readily available in your library. Remember, if a child accidentally ingests a poisonous plant, follow your school procedures regarding contacting your school nurse, etc. And call the poison control center. Our two local ones are:

New Jersey Poison Information and Education System
201 Lyons Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
Emergency Phone: (800) 764-7661

The Poison Control Center
3600 Sciences Center, Suite 220
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2641
Emergency Phone: (215) 386-2100

Most plants need to be eaten to be toxic. Some, however, produce reactions when they are touched. Some of the symptoms of poisoning include skin rashes, drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, depression and tremors.

As part of your lessons on plants, it is important to emphasize that no part of a plant should be eaten until the plant has been identified and is known to be safe. This includes berries, seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, stems, bulbs, etc.