Poisonous & Toxic Species
Never touch, taste, or consume any species you cannot positively identify. This guide is for educational purposes only. When in doubt, consult a local expert. Use the iNature app for quick AI-powered identification in the field.
Black Bryony
Dioscorea communis (L.) Caddick & Wilkin
Dioscorea communis, or black bryony, is a poisonous climbing herb, native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia.
Poison Starapple
Diospyros dichrophylla (Gand.) De Winter
Diospyros dichrophylla is a medium-sized multi-stemmed tree native to southern African coastal regions, with some sources describing it as poisonous.
purple mouse ears
Diplacus douglasii (Benth.) G.L.Nesom
Diplacus douglasii is a diminutive annual herb that often grows on serpentine soils in California and Oregon.
Vegetable Fern
Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw.
Diplazium esculentum is an edible large perennial fern widely used as a vegetable across many Asian regions.
eastern leatherwood
Dirca palustris L.
Dirca palustris L., leatherwood, is a North Eastern North American shrub with toxic properties and unique sulfur compounds.
Henderson's shooting star
Dodecatheon hendersonii A.Gray
Dodecatheon hendersonii A.Gray is a variable deciduous flowering plant native to western North America, with edible roasted parts and poisonous raw parts.
Sassafras
Doryphora sassafras Endl.
Doryphora sassafras is an Australian rainforest shrub or tree that contains toxic alkaloid doryphorine, used in reforestation.
Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata (Prain) Mabb.
Dracaena trifasciata, the snake plant, is an easy-care evergreen ornamental houseplant with drought tolerance.
sea squill
Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn
Drimia maritima is a Mediterranean bulbous plant, toxic to rats, used in medicine, rituals, and as an ornamental cut flower.
spreading wood fern
Dryopteris expansa (C.Presl) Fraser-Jenk. & Jermy
Dryopteris expansa is a toxic fern species whose root has been used in herbal medicine as a worm expellent.
male fern
Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott
Dryopteris filix-mas, the male fern, is a toxic fern with many garden cultivars that hybridizes easily with related species.
corkwood
Duboisia myoporoides R.Br.
Duboisia myoporoides, or corkwood, is a poisonous Australian tree harvested commercially for pharmaceutically useful alkaloids.
Mexican tea
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Dysphania ambrosioides is an herb that sometimes becomes invasive, with toxic essential oils that can cause fatal human overdose.
Devil's Potato
Echites umbellatus Jacq.
Echites umbellatus Jacq., devil's potato, is a toxic perennial flowering climber in the Apocynaceae family found in the Caribbean and nearby regions.
lilac tasselflower
Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. ex Wight
Emilia sonchifolia is a widespread tropical herb, often a weed, that is edible and used in traditional medicine, and contains toxic alkaloids.
Barrier Saltbush
Enchylaena tomentosa R.Br.
Enchylaena tomentosa is a widespread drought-tolerant Australian edible shrub used by people and grazing livestock.
Nevada Jointfir
Ephedra nevadensis S.Watson
Ephedra nevadensis is a North American desert gymnosperm used as non-toxic livestock forage and traditional/folk medicine.
Green Ephedra
Ephedra viridis Coville
Ephedra viridis, or green Mormon tea, is a photosynthetic shrub with medicinal uses and notable toxicity.
Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum (Linden & André) G.S.Bunting
Epipremnum aureum, commonly golden pothos, is a popular evergreen houseplant toxic to pets and mildly toxic to humans.
field horsetail
Equisetum arvense L.
Equisetum arvense L., or field horsetail, is a dimorphic non-flowering perennial herb with many traditional and potential modern medicinal uses.
meadow horsetail
Equisetum pratense Ehrh.
Equisetum pratense is a widespread toxic pioneer horsetail found across northern Eurasia and North America.
Winter Aconite
Eranthis hyemalis (L.) Salisb.
Eranthis hyemalis, a poisonous early spring ephemeral perennial, is popular in ornamental cultivation.
Thick-leaved Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon crassifolium Benth.
Eriodictyon crassifolium is a native shrub of California and Baja California with traditional uses by the Chumash people.
Erysimum crepidifolium Rchb.
Erysimum crepidifolium Rchb.
Erysimum crepidifolium is a toxic herb with high cardenolide content that can kill geese.
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