Harmful plants in the Philippines

Flowering plants

Buta-buta ("Blinding Tree")

Excoecaria agallocha (Blind Your Eye)
source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Excoecaria_agallocha_(Blind_Your_Eye)_W_IMG_6930.jpg

Buta-buta is found along the seashore or in any place reached by salt or brackish water throughout the Philippines. It also occurs in India to Polynesia.

Grows on both muddy and stony soil, with its roots spreading. Timber used as firewood, for carpentry purpose and converted to charcoal.

The milky juice from the tree is very caustic and poisonous, being said to cause blindness when it touches the eyes, and to blister the skin.


Common name
Mangrove, Blind Your Eye; Blind Your Eye; Blind Your Eye Mangrove; Blind-your-eyes-tree; Milky Mangrove; Blinding Tree; Mangrove, Milky; River Poisonous Tree; Scrub Poison Tree, Palétuvier aveuglant, Buta-Buta.

Talumpunay Tree

photo credit: http://homegarden.casaveneracion.com

Common names

Kamkamawlaw (Ilk.)
Kachubung,Katsubung (Sul.)
Siva (Iv.)
Talong-punai (Bik., Tag.)
Tanompunay (Tag.)
Taubibong (Bis.)
Kamkamaulau (Ilk.)
Katsobong, Kachobong (P. Bis.)
Susupan (Ibn.)
Talong-ounai na itim (Tag.)
Tarampunai (Tag.)Ignore warning
Trampunay, trampunai (Tag.)
Katsibong (Bis.)

Poisonous: In India and Indo-China, reportedly used quite commonly with criminal intent. In China, often mixed with tea that hides the poison without raising suspicion. source: http://www.stuartxchange.org/Talampunay.html

This plant causes hallucination, and in the video taken by GMA 7, the young boys who inhaled the aroma of the burnt leaves and flowers all acted out of control, lying down on the ground, and hurting each other.

One of them had sadly become permantly incapacitated, as he is not experiencing prolonged psychosis. He can no longer be talked to, and he kept muttering to himself at all times.

Dieffenbachia

The common name is "dumb cane" due to its poisoning effect on the throat due to raphides.



Emedicine website notes:

Patients with history of oral exposure (chewing and/or swallowing) have been reported to have severe swelling, drooling, dysphagia, and respiratory compromise, but this is not common. In a large retrospective study of 188 patients with plant oxalate exposure, all cases were determined to be minor and all resolved with minor or no treatment. Patients can also experience dermal and ocular exposure, resulting in contact dermatitis or keratoconjunctivitis. Symptoms that result from these routes of exposure also appear to resolve with supportive care. The serious complication of aortoesophageal fistula following ingestion of a dieffenbachia leaf in a girl aged 12.5 years has been described in a single 2005 case report. The girl recovered following surgical intervention.

From http://dpic.org/faq/dieffenbachia:

All parts of the plant contain needle-like oxalate crystals. If the plant is chewed the crystals are released and can cause intense pain and possible swelling of the mouth.

Health Effects:
Skin: Potential burning and itching from contact with the "juice " of the plant. Handling of intact leaves is unlikely to cause symptoms.
Ingestion: Immediate pain and burning sensation of the mouth and lips. Possible swelling and blisters in mouth; more likely to occur if stem is chewed.

What to do?
Skin: Wash skin with soap and water and rinse thoroughly.

Ingestion: Rinse out mouth and drink a glass of milk. Sucking on a popsicle or an ice cube can help relieve discomfort in mouth. Eating some ice cream may also help.

If symptoms persist after the above first aid measures contact the Poison Control Centre.

How can I prevent exposure?  Keep plant out of reach of small children. Wear gloves when cutting or trimming the plant.

Trompeta

ANGEL'S TRUMPET

photo credit: http://homegarden.casaveneracion.com

 Common names

Trompeta(Tagalog)
Borrachero (Span.)
Reina de la noche (Span.)
Floripondio (Span.)
Angel's trumpet (Engl.)

Concerns/ Toxicity

- Plant has been used as hallucinogen and intoxicant from the hyocyamine content.
- The chief alkaloids found in datura are atropine, hyoscyamine, hyoscine (scopolamine) and meteloidine. Poisoning can occur with overdose of any of the alkaloids. As little as 4 grams of leaf can be fatal to a child; alas, as the child's curiosity is drawn to the plants large flowers and spiny seed capsules.
- Appearance of alkaloid toxicity can be within minutes to hours, depending on concentration, method of ingestion and dosing, manifesting as: extreme thirst, pupil dilatation, vision impairment and hallucinations. High temperature, flushed skin and palpitations may be observed. In non-fatal cases, signs and symptoms subside in 12 to 48 hours, although visual impairment and lethargy may persist for some time.

Pong-pong

Cerbera odollam, commonly known as the Suicide tree, Pong-pong, and Othalanga, is a species of tree native to India and other parts of Southern Asia. It grows preferentially in coastal salt swamps and in marshy areas. It grows wild along the coast in many parts of Kerala, India and has been grown as a hedge between home compounds. It yields a potent poison, often used for suicide or murder.[