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As beautiful and as commonly seen as Nerium Oleander surely is in the Southern areas of the Mediterranean it is also known within the world of science to be one of the five most toxic plants known to man.
In fact it is considered by some as the most poisonous of all due to all parts of the plant containing toxins composed of several types of poison. The most dangerous of these are oleandrin and neriine which can strongly affect the heart. Of course, many common plants found in our gardens have elements of poisonous toxins and the rate of effect is very much
related to the amount ingested. Even many common foods such as the potato and
kidney bean contain small amounts and so panic, shock and horror are not the bye-words to assume. Simple precautions when handling, pruning or even burning
Oleander are sufficient but if believed to have been ingested in any form then medical advice should be sought promptly with a sample leaf or stem taken along to aid identification. The wearing of gloves, the washing of hands and avoidance of smoke and fumes from incinerated plant parts are simply common sense and should always be observed. Everything in nature has a purpose and a sensible respect for the
potentially more harmful properties of certain plants is sufficient. |
