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Poisonous Plants

George And Audrey DeLange

Arizona Wild Flowers, Wildflower Pictures And Photos Poisonous Plants
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Poisonous Arizona Plants

These plant species listed are only a few of the poisonous plants that can be found growing wild in Arizona. The information on this page has come from numerous resources but, this is not a complete list. If a plant is not listed here, it doesn't mean it is non-poisonous. Also, the plants may contain additional poisons not listed on this page. Some of these plants are are a danger to humans, while others are only a danger to grazing animals. Be especially careful of plants with either delicious, edible-looking berries (Solanum species) or drug-like properties (Datura species and Opium Poppy). If in doubt, do not ingest the plant parts in any way! In some instances, you should not touch the plant in any way. We are not responsible for the misuse of any plants listed on any of our pages.

Scientific Name: Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia (Amsinckia intermedia)
Common Name: Common Fiddleneck
Flower Color(s): Yellow
Plant Type: Herb, Annual
Height: Up to 18 inches (46 cm)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous (seeds). The small, trumpet-shaped flowers are in a cluster at the tops of the coiled flower spikes. The plants are covered in brittle hairs.
Poisonous Part(s): Seeds, plant?
Poison(s): Pyrrolizidine alkaloids including intermedine and lycopsamine.
Scientific Name: Argemone polyanthemos (Argemone platyceras)
Common Name: Crested Pricklypoppy, Prickly Poppy
Flower Color(s): White
Plant Type: Herb, Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Height: To 3 feet (91 cm)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The large flowers are up to 5 inches (13 cm) across. The foliage is covered in spines and will ooze yellow sap if broken.
Poisonous Part(s): All
Poison(s): Isoquinoline alkaloids such as papaverine.
Scientific Name: Asclepias subverticillata
Common Name: Horsetail Milkweed, Poison Milkweed
Flower Color(s): White to cream
Plant Type: Herb, Perennial
Height: To 39 inches (1 m)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) wide flowers have 5 downward petals below a hooded, central column and are in 1.25 inch (3.2 cm) wide terminal clusters. The linear, green leaves are in whorls of 3 to 5 leaves at the stem joints.
Poisonous Part(s): All
Poison(s): Asclepias cardenolides (cardiac glycosides)
Scientific Name: Corydalis aurea
Common Name: Scrambled Eggs, Golden Smoke
Flower Color(s): Yellow
Plant Type: Herb, Annual, Biennial
Height: To 1 foot (30 cm)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The leaves are blue-green and highly divided. The flowers are oddly shaped with a bulging spur extending behind them. It grows in sandy areas like washes.
Poisonous Part(s): All?
Poison(s): Isoquinoline alkaloids such as corydaline.
Scientific Name: Datura wrightii (Datura meteloides)
Common Name: Sacred Thorn-apple, Jimsonweed
Flower Color(s): White to pale violet
Plant Type: Herb, Annual, Perennial
Height: Up to 4 feet (1.2 m)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The flowers are up to 6 inches (15 cm) across and open late in the day and then close the following morning. The seed capsules are spiny. The leaves are oval to heart-shaped.
Poisonous Part(s): All (hallucinogenic, ingestion can be fatal)
Poison(s): Tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine (an isomer of atropine) and scopolamine (hyoscine).
Scientific Name: Delphinium scaposum
Common Name: Tall Mountain Larkspur, Barestem Larkspur, Naked Delphinium
Flower Color(s): Sky blue to royal blue
Plant Type: Herb, Perennial
Height: To 32 inches (81 cm)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. Each flower is 1 inch wide (2.5 cm) and has a spur projecting behind it. The basal leaves are palmately divided into round-tipped lobes.
Poisonous Part(s): All
Poison(s): Diterpenoid alkaloids including ajacine and delphinine.
Scientific Name: Erythrina flabelliformis
Common Name: Coralbean, Southwestern Coral Bean
Flower Color(s): Red
Plant Type: Tree, Shrub, Deciduous
Height: To 15 feet (4.6 m) but usually less
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The 3 inch (7.6 cm) long flowers are in terminal clusters. The flowers appear before the plants leaf out, and they are followed by large, brown pods with attractive, red beans. The grayish green leaves are divided into 3 fan-shaped leaflets.
Poisonous Part(s): All, especially the red beans
Poison(s): Erythrina alkaloids which include the curare-like beta-erythroidine.
Scientific Name: Lupinus sparsiflorus
Common Name: Mojave Lupine, Coulter's Lupine
Flower Color(s): Blue - Violet or rarely Cream - White
Plant Type: Herb, Annual
Height: Up to 16 inches (41 cm)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The banner petal has a white patch with a red-spotted yellow area. The keel petals curve upward and have a hairy fringe. The green leaves are hairy with 7 to10 narrow, lanceolate leaflets. Mojave Lupines bloom in the spring and can be abundant along roadsides in years with extra winter rain.
Poisonous Part(s): All, especially the seeds
Poison(s): Quinolizidine alkaloids including lupinine and sparteine.
Scientific Name: Nicotiana glauca
Common Name: Tree Tobacco
Flower Color(s): Yellow
Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
Height: 2 to 25 feet (60 cm to 7.6 m)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. It's a South American native. The 2-inch (5 cm) long flowers are tubular and found in clusters at the tips of the branches. The leaves are blue-green with a powdery coating.
Poisonous Part(s): All, highly toxic or fatal if eaten.
Poison(s): The pyridine alkaloids nicotine and anabasine.
Scientific Name: Nicotiana obtusifolia (Nicotiana trigonophylla)
Common Name: Desert Tobacco
Flower Color(s): Cream
Plant Type: Herb, Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Height: Up to 3 feet (91 cm)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The 5-lobed, tubular flowers are 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The leaves are oval to lance-shaped. The hairy stems and leaves are sticky.
Poisonous Part(s): Leaves, highly toxic or fatal if eaten.
Poison(s): The pyridine alkaloids nicotine and anabasine.
Scientific Name: Papaver somniferum
Common Name: Opium Poppy
Flower Color(s): Pink, purple, red, or white
Plant Type: Herb, Annual
Height: To 3 feet (91 cm)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The flowers are up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) in diameter and are very showy with many cultivated varieties. The simple, green, alternate leaves clasp the stems and have toothed edges. This introduced weed is illegal to grow in the US, but it can be found growing wild in disturbed areas.
Poisonous Part(s): Milky sap, especially from the green seed capsules. The seeds are edible.
Poison(s): The opium resin contains codeine, morphine, protopine, and other poppy alkaloids.
Scientific Name: Solanum elaeagnifolium
Common Name: Silverleaf Nightshade
Flower Color(s): Violet blue (rarely white)
Plant Type: Herb, Perennial
Height: Up to 3 feet (91 cm)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The flowers have 5 lobes, 5 stamens, and are 1 inch (2.5 cm) across. The silvery leaves are oblong to lance-shaped with wavy edges. The round fruits look like yellow cherry tomatoes.
Poisonous Part(s): All, especially the leaves and green fruit
Poison(s): The glycoalkaloid solanine as well as the tropane alkaloids scopolamine (hyoscine) and hyoscyamine (an isomer of atropine).
Scientific Name: Solanum americanum (Solanum nodiflorum)
Common Name: American Black Nightshade, White Nightshade
Flower Color(s): White
Plant Type: Herb, Annual, Perennial
Height: To 30 inches (76 cm)
Date Observed:
Notes: Poisonous. The 5-petaled flowers have a yellow beak of stamens. It has round, black fruit.
Poisonous Part(s): All, especially the leaves and fruit.
Poison(s): The glycoalkaloid solanine as well as the tropane alkaloids scopolamine (hyoscine) and hyoscyamine (an isomer of atropine).
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