Dangerous Plants In California

Dangerous Plants In California

California is renowned for its astonishing landscapes and breathtaking views, but this outstanding scenery comes with certain risks: poisonous plants. If you aren’t aware of these dangers, you could potentially find yourself at risk. This article will highlight the most common dangerous plants in California, where they grow, and what to do if you come in contact with these toxic plants.

Most Common Poisonous Plants In California

• Poison Hemlock
• Poison Oak
• Castor Bean
• Burning/Stinging Nettle

Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Where is Poison Hemlock found?

Poison hemlock, also known as Conium maculatum, is an invasive weed widespread across California. It typically thrives in disturbed areas but can also invade California native plant habitats. It is most commonly found in fields, pastures, meadows, and along roadsides at elevations below 5,000 feet, particularly during the rainy season.

How to Identify Poison Hemlock

Poison hemlock belongs to the Apiaceae family, along with wild carrot, parsley, parsnip, and celery. Poison hemlock has several look-alikes, so it can be easily confused (especially when these plants are young). It’s very important to proceed with caution. The easiest way to identify this toxic plant is by its purple-spotted stem and small, white, umbrella-shaped flowers.

The Dangers of Poison Hemlock

Poison hemlock is incredibly harmful. All parts of the plant are toxic, including the leaves, flowers, seeds, stems, and roots. Due to the high toxicity of the plant, ingesting Poison hemlock can result in severe poisoning. Even mowing it can be dangerous, as it can release toxic particles into the air, putting you at risk of breathing in the toxic particles.

Poison hemlock contains various toxic compounds, called alkaloids, which slowly poison your neuromuscular junctions, responsible for sending messages from your nerves to your muscle fibers. If you are exposed to poison hemlock, it is necessary to seek medical attention right away. There is no specific antidote for poison hemlock poisoning, so it is important for doctors to treat you based on the severity of your symptoms.

Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversiloba)

 

Where Is Poison Oak Found?

Poison oak, also known as Toxicodendron diversiloba, is extremely abundant in California. It is typically found along the coasts, in forests, hillsides, grass areas, and recreational areas. Poison oak can be found all over California, up to 5,400 feet in elevation, aside from the Great Basin and the southwestern edge of the Mojave Desert. Poison oak is the West Coast version of Poison ivy. In sunny areas, Poison oak grows in the form of dense shrub thickets, while in shadier locations, it is more commonly grown in vine form.

How To Identify Poison Oak

There is an old saying to identify Poison oak, “leaves of three, let it be.” While this is mostly true, you can also find Poison oak containing 5-9 leaflets. The leaves vary in texture and color, but resemble oak leaves. New leaves are shiny and have a bit of red coloring, which later matures into green during Summertime, and then yellow or red in the fall.

The Dangers of Poison Oak

Poison oak contains a toxic oil called urushiol, which can cause dermatitis and skin rashes. Urushiol can stick to clothing and other objects for months, sometimes even years. Upon contact with poison oak, you will experience three stages of symptoms: itchiness, a red rash, then blistering.

To treat Poison oak exposure, wash your skin and clothing with soap and cold water immediately. Over-the-counter lotions and creams such as calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, and antihistamines like Benadryl can help relieve the discomfort.

Please seek medical attention if the rash covers a large portion of your body, you experience blistering on your face, or you are having trouble breathing or swallowing.

Castor Bean, Ricinus communis

Where is Castor Bean Found?

Native to Africa and Asia, the castor bean, also known as Ricinus communis, is an extremely invasive weed found in Central and Southern California. Castor bean is often found along riverbeds, railroads, roadsides, fields, and pastures. Castor bean thrives in mild climates and low elevations, typically below 1,000 feet.

How To Identify Castor Bean

Castor bean is a part of the Euphorbia family and can grow from three to fifteen feet tall. It has glossy, star-shaped green leaves, yellow and green flowers, and spiny capsules containing seeds. Some strains of the plant have red coloring on their leaves as well.

The Dangers of Castor Bean

Castor bean contains ricin, an extremely poisonous substance concentrated in its seeds. When ricin is inhaled or ingested, it can be deadly to both humans and animals. Consuming as few as four to eight castor bean seeds can be fatal to an adult human. However, even just handling the toxic plant can cause severe cases of dermatitis.

Ricin poisoning can cause a range of symptoms depending on the exposure method, whether it be ingestion or inhalation. If inhaled, you may experience difficulty breathing, fever, cough, nausea, tightness in your chest, or even respiratory failure. If swallowed, you may experience vomiting, diarrhea, severe dehydration, low blood pressure, and potentially seizures, blood in urine, liver/spleen failure, and potentially death.

If you are exposed, you should leave the area where you were exposed, remove all clothes that may be exposed, wash your body with soap and water, throw your clothes away, and seek medical attention. There is no “cure”; a doctor will likely help you with breathing, provide intravenous fluids, and provide medication.

Fun fact: Ricin (the poison found in castor bean) has been used in experiments to kill cancer cells.

Burning Nettle (Urtica urens) and Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Where is Burning Nettle Found?

Burning nettle is found all throughout California up to 9,800 feet elevation, besides the Klamath Ranges, the upper elevations of the Cascade Range, and desert areas. Burning nettle grows year-round near the coast, and in the winter in the interior valleys. It is typically found in crop fields, orchards, vineyards, gardens, ditches, nurseries, and roadsides.

Where is Stinging Nettle Found?

Stinging nettle shares a similar habitat to burning nettle, though it is less common in areas above 9,800 feet elevation. Stinging nettle most commonly invades moist areas, such as waste places, riverbanks, fence rows, and roadsides. Occasionally, it is found in orchards and vineyards.

How to Identify and Differentiate Burning Nettle and Stinging Nettle

Burning nettle is a small weed with bright green, notched leaves and a mix of stinging and non-stinging hairs on the leaves and stems. They also have small flowers with green and white coloring. Stinging nettle, a much taller plant, can grow up to 10 feet and forms dense colonies. The leaves are more round or oval-shaped and covered in stinging hairs, which contain irritating substances.

The Dangers of Burning/Stinging Nettle

Both burning and stinging nettles cause irritant dermatitis upon contact. Their needle-like hairs inject a mixture of acetylcholine and histamine, leading to skin irritation. Fortunately, the symptoms are relatively mild compared to other toxic plants. It typically causes irritant dermatitis (skin rash), which can be relieved with lotions containing calamine. In some cases, it causes a more severe allergic reaction, in which you should seek medical attention.

Summary

California’s stunning natural landscapes offer countless opportunities for exploration, but it’s important to remain aware of the potentially dangerous plants that inhabit these areas. By familiarizing yourself with these poisonous plants, you can ensure a safer and more pleasant experience while you embark on whatever adventures are awaiting.

If you do encounter any of these toxic plants, knowing how to respond quickly and appropriately can help prevent further harm. While we’ve covered some of the most common poisonous plants in California, it is also advised to be familiar with other local threats, such as Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia), Oleander (Nerium oleander), Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), and Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis).

Always be cautious, educate yourself about the plants in your area, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your local resources if you have any concerns. The California Poison Control System is a toll-free poison hotline available 24/7 for emergencies.