Poisonous Plants - Amaya/Biromantic Bison

This was for an assignment on WoO (World of Olympians). Hello, Instructor! I love the lesson for Week 5 in Basic Survival, Year 1 that you chose! I just wanted to share my work with you because I'm really proud of it (hence the subject name).

Pepper Campbell

13

Mystery, Hephaestus

(Disclaimer: I'm not a child of Demeter, but I really love poisons in real life. So uh- don't mind the excessive amount of information.)

There are many types of plants and many are poisonous. Effects can be nausea, vomiting, and even death. Depending on the plant, effects can take only a few minutes to a few days to appear.

I've always loved learning about toxins, and my favorite is water hemlock (this is actually true, and I'm glad the lesson included it). The water hemlock, also known as the Cicuta douglasii is a highly toxic plant. This poisonous plant grows in the Wetlands, and according to the Instructor, the West side of the U.S. The plant takes prey on the central nervous system, and it creates a violent convulsant when ingested. Water hemlock has small white flowers that can be mistaken as non-toxic garden plants. These flowers grow in clusters on thick rootstalk. When the stems are cut open, a poisonous liquid is released. Many grazing animals (such as livestock) can be affected when in contact with this plant because they will open the stems and unsuspectingly ingest the poisonous liquid. Signs of poisoning can vary from muscle twitching and frothing to seizures, comas, and death. Death can occur as soon as 15 minutes after a lethal amount is consumed. Water hemlock can often be confused with poison hemlock due to their similar names, but poison hemlock is less deadly.

My next favorite poisonous plant is foxglove or Digitalis purpurea. This deadly plant grows in the Eastern side of the world (Europe, Asia, Africa). This plant has vibrant flowers that are shaped like bells, and the colors can vary. Its tall frame is surrounded by the flowers, and its looks are stunning. In my opinion, foxglove is the most beautiful plant. Every part of this plant is poisonous, including the flowers, stem, and shoots. Because of its fatal features, ways to avoid poisoning would be to wash hands thoroughly after coming in contact with plant as well as not eating unknown plants from the wild. When foxglove is ingested, there are many side effects that can occur. Nausea, heart problems, dizziness, vision problems, and more are common side effects from this plant. A heart medicine is used from foxglove which is a great example explaining how a plant can be the problem or the cure.

Finally, the last poisonous plant I'd like to share information about is wisteria, also known as Wisteria Sinensis. There are two types of wisteria: American and Asian Wisteria. American Wisteria has smooth flowers that resemble pea-pods, while the Asian Wisteria has fuzzy flowers that resemble pea-pods. Both of these plants are similar, and their flowers come in a variety of colors. The plant is a woody vine that usually grows in forests and other natural areas. Although wisteria isn't as deadly as water hemlock or foxglove, but I love its flowers. Every part of the plant is poisonous, but usually, the flowers get eaten by animals. Side effects may include nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. Even though it's side effects aren't deadly, avoiding this plant would still be helpful.

In conclusion, there are many types of poisonous plants that are not to be eaten or touched. Their side effects are similar, and some effects are death. Be careful of what you eat or face the consequences.

(I thought this lesson was very enjoyable and interesting! I may have spent a little too much time on this essay, but I learned a lot while researching! Learning poisons are very important in the wild, especially for a demigod. Although I'm not a Demeter kid (I may be one at heart), poisons are truly fascinating.)

Sources:

The lesson

A lot of my prior knowledge

The poison chart that hangs on my bed frame :)

Water hemlock (Cicuta douglasii) : USDA ARS

Foxglove (poison.org)

First Aid for Foxglove Poisoning (dovemed.com)

Wisteria (Wisteria) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)