Conference moira::parenting

    I know that the 'dump-cane' plant (defenbachia?), if eaten, can
    cause swelling in the throat.  And, of course, if it's eaten by
    a small animal or child, can be fatal.
    
    It has a trunk like a palm tree (tall, bamboo like stalk) with
    large, single plumes of almond-shaped leaves.  I had a huge one
    that finally died, thanks to my 'brown thumb'; but, didn't mind
    losing it after finding out it's poisonous.
    
    Rita
    

re .1:

It's called dumb cane for obvious reasons.

    Diffenbachia (dumb cane) is *very* poisonous.  So is the milky sap of
    a Euphorbia, or Crown of thorns.  The plant has big thorns on thick stems,
    small oval leaves, and little flowers that look like two circles fused 
    together with a big yellow center.  The petals can be salmon red or white.
       
    Mistletoe berries are poisonous, and I think holly is poisonous, too.  
    Basically, you need to be really careful around Christmas-y plants-- 
    generally, they're bad news.
    
                                      
    
    

    
    
    
    	You may consider the route my wife takes. To be on the safe side
    	with our 1 year old, we have gotten rid of all our live plants and
    	purchased the fake/plastic ones. They look just like the real
        thing, but are nontoxic and VERY easy to take care of. A little
    	dusting once in a while. 
    
    
    		/Bill

There are certainly a lot of myths out there too as to what is and isn't
poisonous, and if memory serves, Poinsettia is one of the oft maligned!
It might give you a stomach ache because it is hard to digest, but it
is safe!

Get a definitive list from your local hospital ... they usually have them
or froma Poison Control Centre, or maybe the Red Cross.

Stuart

    I keep my plants, but keep the spikeier and more irritating ones up out
    of reach.  Since there is no way to babyproof other peoples home, I
    prefer to plantproof my babies.
    
    meg

    
    Pediatricians usually keep lists of common poisonous plants
    in their office.
    
    We kept all our plants and taught our kid and cats to stay out
    of them. 
    
    Eva

    
    I think african violets might be on the list of being poisonous.  From
    what I've found most green plants as in spiders, yucca, philadendrum
    (sp) etc aren't poisonous.  I have about 20 plants in my house and
    taught my daughter not to touch them.  Also, I have a friend that
    worked at a flower shop and told me that in order for the poisonous
    plants to be fatal one must eat alot and in most cases a little taste
    is enough for kids not to try it again.
    
    deb
    

    I agree with Deb...my son chewed one leaf of a questionable plant and I
    called Poison Control.  They asked how much he ate and I said I pulled
    one leaf from his mouth and that was all he got..she said watch him
    close and if <insert symptoms here> happens...then gave me
    instructions.
    
    She, too, said he would have to eat alot to be dangerous.  Luckily, I
    saw it in time.
    
    -s
    

    I just got a pamphlet from Matthew Thornton, and had previously gotten
    the same one from Medicine World, in Nashua.  It's a 'poison control'
    pamphlet, and lists all the things you have around the house that you
    might not think are dangerous or just don't think about. (such as 
    cigarette butts!)  There was a pretty detailed list of plants.
    
    Since I tend to kill everything I touch, I didn't keep it, but will try
    to get another copy of the pamphlet, and reprint it here.  In the
    meantime, check out your local drugstore!
    
    Patty

What if you don't know what your houseplants are?  I have several and I
really don't know what they are.  Does this pamplet show pictures?  If not,
I intend to go to a florist with leaves from each and ask for identification.
Then I can look them up to determine if poisonous.

Karen

    The pamphlet has a few drawings, but probably not enough to make a
    determination.  I'm not sure if a single leaf would always be enough to
    make a determination - make note of how many leaves are clustered
    together, what the stalks are like, if there are different colors and
    or patterns to the plant etc.
    
    I suppose a good encyclopedia should have pictures of common
    houseplants??  Or more reliably, a book from the library/bookstore on
    botany should give you all the info you need.  Check with the reference
    desk.
    
    

    or your friendly florist will know what plants are which.

Rather than tearing leaves off, you could take a few photos.

		Ian G.