Most plant poisonings in New Zealand occur when young children eat parts of poisonous plants growing in their local environment, such as the garden or the grounds of their kindergarten or school. Many commonly grown plants like kōwhai, rhododendron, laburnum, ivy, daphne and arum lily are poisonous, but older children and adults are unlikely to eat the berries or leaves. However, some young children will try to eat anything. It is important that parents learn to identify local plant dangers, and keep young children away from them.
The three common garden plants pictured here are poisonous to some extent. Agapanthus leaves have a sticky sap that irritates skin and eyes. All parts of climbing ivy are poisonous if eaten, and some people experience skin irritation if they touch the plant. All parts of flowering azalea (Rhododendron) are poisonous, including its attractive flowers and honey made from its nectar.
In this sound clip reporter Nona Pelletier discusses some of the ways to prevent children from being poisoned by plants.
Transcript
Announcer: The National Poisons Centre and the Toxic Substances Board are looking at ways to prevent children being poisoned by plants. Every year children are poisoned after ingesting the leaves or berries of at least 60 varieties of poisonous plants growing in New Zealand gardens and homes. National Poisons Centre acting director Wayne Temple says some of the toxicity levels could prove fatal.
Wayne Temple: The poison centre receives about slightly over 500 hundred inquiries a year, particularly with from parents of small children who have accidentally ingested plants or plant material and this may result in a poisoning. And so, we're very concerned about that and ask the Board if they could consider some measure to help prevent this happening.
Nona Pelletier: How serious can the poisonings be?
Wayne: Well, the toxicity of plants and plants materials varies but in principle somebody could receive a fatal amount from some of the plants, particularly a small child.
Using this item
Reference: 7983
Image: Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, by Alastair McLean
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