By Bernard Cheah
SOME plants are safe to humans, others are not.
And for the latter category, the poison could cause various reactions - from rashes, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting, to death.
But is it true that there is a plant that causes people to die with a smile?
Verdict:
TRUE
Creepily enough, there is such a plant. It is the hemlock water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata), which can be found in the wetlands of Europe and western Asia.
All parts of this plant, which is also known as Dead Man's Fingers, are highly toxic and fatal if consumed.
The plant has leaves that resemble flat-leaved coriander or parsley leaves with hollow, grooved stems which grow up to 150cm tall, and it thrives near water and has small white flowers which are umbrella-like in their structure.
The tubers of the hemlock water-dropwort resemble swollen fingers, which is how it got its nickname 'Dead Man's Fingers'.
Being one of the most poisonous plants in the United Kingdom, if one were to consume it by accident, it causes symptoms such as vomiting, seizures, paralysis, hallucinations and even death.
The toxic chemicals in the plant cause facial muscles to contract into a grimace - hence 'a smile in death'.
The smile is also dubbed the sardonic smile, in Latin and Greek literature, as there were written texts of the neurotoxic plant being used in pre-Roman Sardinia for the ritual killing of elderly people.
According to the ancient historians, elderly people unable to support themselves were intoxicated with the herb and later killed by dropping from a high rock or by being beaten to death.
And yes, that creepy smile is on the faces of the victims.
So, beware and do not simply ingest plants you're not familiar with.
But if you want to read more about poisonous plants, check out about the buah keluak or even about the humble tomato plant.
Source: quickcheck-is-there-a-plant-that-causes-its-victims-to-die-with-a-smile