Poisonous & Toxic Species

⚠️ Important Safety Warning

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.

cloudberry
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

cloudberry

Rubus chamaemorus L.

Rubus chamaemorus L., commonly called cloudberry, is a boreal dioecious berry with a circumpolar distribution and many traditional culinary uses.

wineberry
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

wineberry

Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim.

This is a description of the perennial edible bramble Rubus phoenicolasius, or wineberry, covering its traits, growth, and uses.

black-eyed Susan
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta L.

Rudbeckia hirta L. is a cultivated North American flowering plant toxic to cats, with traditional Native American medicinal uses.

cutleaf coneflower
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

cutleaf coneflower

Rudbeckia laciniata L.

Rudbeckia laciniata is a North American perennial herb, widely cultivated as an ornamental with edible young cooked leaves.

Sheep's sorrel
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Sheep's sorrel

Rumex acetosella L.

Rumex acetosella L. (sheep sorrel) is a perennial dioecious herb native to Eurasia, with edible sour leaves and oxalate content.

curled dock
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

curled dock

Rumex crispus L.

Rumex crispus L. (curly dock) is a Eurasian dock, often invasive, with documented culinary and medicinal uses.

Hastate-leaved dock
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Hastate-leaved dock

Rumex hastatulus Baldwin ex Elliott

Rumex hastatulus is a dioecious edible-in-small-doses North American herb studied for its unique sex determination system.

Wood Dock
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Wood Dock

Rumex sanguineus L.

Rumex sanguineus L. is a dock plant with two varieties, native to Europe, used as an edible leafy vegetable.

butcher's-broom
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

butcher's-broom

Ruscus aculeatus L.

Ruscus aculeatus L. (butcher's broom) is a dioecious shrub with modified stem cladodes, traditional medicinal uses, and documented poisoning cases.

Mintweed
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Mintweed

Salvia reflexa Hornem.

Salvia reflexa is an introduced and native toxic annual subshrub found across multiple continents.

American black elderberry
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

American black elderberry

Sambucus canadensis L.

Sambucus canadensis (American elderberry) is a North American native shrub with edible cooked elderberry fruit and toxic inedible parts.

blue elder
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

blue elder

Sambucus cerulea Raf.

Sambucus cerulea is a large western North American deciduous elderberry shrub grown for ornamental and restoration use.

Dwarf Elder
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Dwarf Elder

Sambucus ebulus L.

Sambucus ebulus (dwarf elder/danewort) is a toxic herb used in folk medicine for various ailments, with toxicity removed by cooking.

European black elderberry
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

European black elderberry

Sambucus nigra L.

Sambucus nigra L., or elderberry, is a deciduous shrub/tree widely grown for ornament and culinary use.

red-berried elder
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

red-berried elder

Sambucus racemosa L.

Sambucus racemosa L. is a medium native shrub with edible cooked berries, toxic raw parts, and ornamental cultivars.

bloodroot
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

bloodroot

Sanguinaria canadensis L.

Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) is a North American spring ephemeral with toxic sanguinarine, used ornamentally and commercially.

Poison sanicle
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Poison sanicle

Sanicula bipinnata Hook. & Arn.

Sanicula bipinnata is an apiaceous plant with an undeserved toxic reputation, used by Native American groups.

Wingleaf Soapberry
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Wingleaf Soapberry

Sapindus saponaria L.

Sapindus saponaria L. (western soapberry) is a wide-ranging American tree with distinct varieties, toxic fruit, and many practical uses.

common soapwort
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

common soapwort

Saponaria officinalis L.

Saponaria officinalis L. is a flowering plant with traditional and commercial uses as soap and a food additive.

lizard's tail
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

lizard's tail

Saururus cernuus L.

Saururus cernuus, commonly lizard's tail, is a North American herbaceous wetland plant with traditional medicinal uses.

Bloodlily
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Bloodlily

Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf.

Scadoxus multiflorus is an African bulbous flowering plant with toxic alkaloids, used in poisons and traditional medicine, and grown as an ornamental.

Paintbrush lily
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Paintbrush lily

Scadoxus puniceus (L.) Friis & Nordal

Scadoxus puniceus is an ornamental bulbous plant with traditional medicinal uses and toxic properties.

Brazilian pepper
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Brazilian pepper

Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi

Schinus terebinthifolia (Brazilian peppertree) is a dioecious shrub or small tree native to South America, toxic to sensitive people and often invasive outside its range.

Pyrenean Squill
⚠️ Poisonous Plantae

Pyrenean Squill

Scilla lilio-hyacinthus L.

Scilla lilio-hyacinthus is a poisonous bulbous perennial flowering herb, sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens.

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