世界上10種毒性最強的植物(下)

Castor Bean

5.蓖麻

The castor bean plant, or Ricinus communis, is widely cultivated for its castor oil and is also used as an ornamental plant. Neither of these uses would clue you into the fact that this plant has deadly contents: ricin.

蓖麻子，或蓖麻，一種廣泛栽培的植物，以獲取其蓖麻油，或作爲觀賞型植物。這兩種用法都掩蓋了一個事實，就是這種植物帶有毒素：蓖麻毒素。

Castor oil is a mild-tasting vegetable oil that is used in many food additives, flavorings and in candy production. It's also available to the consumer as a laxative and to induce labor (though no scientific evidence shows it's successful in inducing labor). Castor oil comes from the plant's seeds, which are 40 to 60 percent oil. The castor bean plant probably originated in Africa, but is now found throughout the world. This large, shrubby plant is popularly used in gardens because of its hardy nature. It grows well in barren areas and doesn't require special care. It's fast-growing and can reach 36 feet (11 meters) in a season. The flowers of the plant are yellowish green, and the centers of the flowers are red. The leaves are large with toothed edges. Ricin is present in low levels throughout the plant, but it's largely concentrated in the seed coating. Seed poisonings are rare and usually involve children and pets, but they can be deadly. As few as three seeds, which are green with brown markings, could kill a child who swallows them. Symptoms of castor bean poisoning include nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, internal bleeding, and kidney and circulation failure. Many people suffer from an allergic reaction to the dust from the seeds and may experience coughing, muscle aches and difficulty breathing. Exposure to the dust is most common in areas where the beans are processed for commercial use. In ancient times, the castor bean was used in ointments, and allegedly, Cleopatra applied the oil to the whites of her eyes to brighten them.

蓖麻油是一種溫和的蔬菜油，用在食物添加劑、調味料還有糖果的生產中。它還能用來當瀉藥和助產（雖然沒有科學證據證明可以成功引產）。蓖麻油來自蓖麻的種子，種子含油量爲40%~60%。蓖麻一開始是在非洲發現的，現在世界各地都可以看到。這種大型灌木狀植物因其強適應性被廣泛放在花園中。它不需要特別的照顧，即使在貧瘠的地方也可以生長得很好，並且生長速度很快——一個季度就可以長到36英尺（11米）。該植物的花爲淺綠色，花的中心爲紅色。葉子很大，帶有齒狀邊緣。蓖麻毒素含量比較低，主要集中在種子包衣。蓖麻子中毒雖很罕見，但是一旦發生便是致命的，通常發生在孩子和寵物中。一個孩子只要吞下三顆綠棕條紋的種子就會死亡。蓖麻子中毒的症狀包括噁心、腹部痙攣、嘔吐、內部出血和腎循環衰竭。許多人對種子上的灰塵都會有過敏反應，可能會咳嗽、 肌肉疼痛、呼吸困難。在人們將其用於商業用途的地區，蓖麻籽一般都暴露在空氣中。在古代，蓖麻子用於膏藥。據稱克婁巴特拉人用蓖麻油塗在眼白部分，讓眼睛看起來更亮。

ly Nightshade

4.顛茄

Deadly nightshade is a perennial plant that grows between 2 and 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 meters) tall. You'll recognize it by its dull, dark green leaves and bell-shaped purple, scented flowers, which bloom from mid-summer through early fall. Deadly nightshade berries are green when they form and turn to a shiny black as they ripen. They're sweet and juicy, which makes them tempting to children. The plant requires rich, moist soil to thrive, and it grows wild in some areas of the world, but in the United States is limited to cultivation. Not all animals are affected by deadly nightshade. While it's deadly to humans and some animals, horses, rabbits and sheep can eat the leaves without harm, and birds feed on the berries. The poisons contained in deadly nightshade affect the nervous system. Taken in sufficient doses, the deadly poison paralyzes nerve endings in the involuntary muscles of the body, such as the blood vessels, heart and gastrointestinal muscles. Symptoms of deadly nightshade poisoning include dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, headaches, confusion and convulsions. As few as two ingested berries can kill a child, and 10 to 20 berries would kill an adult. Even handling the plant can cause irritation.

顛茄是一種多年生草本植物，可高達2-4英尺（0.6-1.2米）。其葉子呈深綠色；花冠爲鐘形，淡紫色，有香氣；花期一般在仲夏到初秋；漿果未成熟時呈綠色，成熟後變爲亮黑色，且甘甜多汁，對孩子們來說，這極具吸引力。顛茄適宜生長在肥沃、溼潤的土壤中，野生顛茄分佈在世界多地，但美國卻沒有野生顛茄的存在，全靠人工栽培。儘管顛茄對於人類和有些動物來說是致命的，但總有一些動物不受顛茄毒素影響，例如，馬、兔和羊吃了它的葉子卻都可以平安無事，鳥類甚至以它的漿果爲食。顛茄中所含的有毒物質主要作用於神經系統，如果不慎攝入了足夠的劑量，這些致命的有毒物質就會麻痹諸如血管、心臟以及胃腸道肌等人體不隨意肌中的神經末梢。其中毒的症狀包括瞳孔散大、畏光、視力模糊、頭痛、神志不清以及痙攣等。兒童誤食兩個漿果就會喪命，而10-20個漿果的攝入量也足以造成一個成人死亡。即便是在加工過程中觸碰到顛茄植株，也能引起過敏反應。

Rosary Pea

3.相思子

The rosary pea, or Abrus precatorius, has very pretty seeds. Two-thirds of the seed is red, and the top third is black. These decorative seeds are often used to make jewelry, and that jewelry is imported to other countries. In fact, these seeds are especially popular for rosary prayer beads.

相思子又稱雞母珠，有着非常漂亮的種子。其種子底端的三分之二呈紅色，頂端的三分之一呈黑色。這些具有裝飾性的種子通常用於製作首飾，首飾也被多國爭相進口。實際上，用這些種子做成的念珠則更受歡迎。

But rosary pea seeds contain the poison abrin. The seeds are only dangerous when the coating is broken -- swallowed whole, the rosary pea doesn't present any danger. But if the seed is scratched or damaged, it's deadly. The rosary pea poses greater danger to the jewelry maker than to the wearer. There are many reported cases of death when jewelry makers prick a finger while handling the rosary pea. Rosary pea plant is an aggressive grower and can take over an area if not kept in check. One rosary pea vine can grow and climb more than 20 feet (6 meters) in a single season. The plant, which is native to Indonesia, has spread across the world, in tropic and sub-tropic climates. It's even located in several states in the United States, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Hawaii. The plant has long leaves with off-shooting leaflets and red flowers. Abrin, the poison found in the rosary pea seed, is more deadly than ricin. Less than 3 micrograms of abrin in the body is enough to kill, which is less than the amount of poison in one pea. In the human body, abrin bonds to cell membranes and prevents protein synthesis, one of the most important duties of the cell. Symptoms of rosary pea inhalation poisoning are: difficult breathing, fever, nausea and fluid in the lungs. If ingested -- and the seed coating is broken -- rosary pea seeds cause severe nausea and vomiting, which eventually leads to dehydration, and ends with the kidneys, liver and spleen shutting down. Death usually follows within three to four days.

然而，相思子的種子包含相思子毒素。但只有包裹種子的薄膜破損時，它們纔會危及人的生命。也就是說，如果不慎吞下了完整的種子，吞食者並不會有任何危險；但如果吞下的種子被劃傷或破損了，吞食者就會有生命危險。因而相思子首飾製作者們面臨的風險反而比佩戴者更大。許多工匠就是在加工相思子飾品時不小心扎破了手指，不幸中毒身亡。相思子植株的侵略性非常強，如果不加以控制，它們往往會搶佔其他生物的生存空間。一株相思子藤蔓一個季度就可以生長超過20英尺（6米）。這一原產於印度尼西亞的物種，現已遍佈全球的熱帶和亞熱帶地區。甚至在美國的亞拉巴馬州、阿肯色州、佛洛裏達州、佐治亞州和夏威夷等地都有它的身影。相思子葉片狹長，小葉對生，花朵呈紅色。在相思子種子中發現的有毒物質——相思子毒素，其毒性遠超過蓖麻毒素。不到3微克的相思子毒素便足以致命，而每顆相思子所含的毒素往往超過3微克。相思子毒素進入人體後，會附着於細胞膜上並阻止蛋白質合成，而合成蛋白質是細胞最重要的功能。若不慎吸入相思子粉塵中毒，其臨牀症狀爲：呼吸困難、發熱、噁心以及肺水腫。若相思子種子外層的保護膜破損，誰又不幸攝入了相思子毒素，中毒者就會出現嚴重的噁心嘔吐，並由此引發脫水，最終出現腎、肝、脾衰竭。中毒者一般在中毒後三至四天內死亡。

r Hemlock

2.水毒芹

The water hemlock, or cicuta maculata, is a very attractive wildflower with an upright growth pattern, purple-striped leaves and small white blooms. But the water hemlock's white roots are sometimes mistaken for a parsnip plant -- a potentially fatal error. The poison contained in the water hemlock, cicutoxin, is present in the entire plant, but is most concentrated in the roots. Anyone who confuses the plant with parsnips and decides to take a bite faces a violent death.

水毒芹，又名斑毒芹，是一種非常漂亮的野花。它屬直立草本，長着紫色斑紋葉，白色迷你花瓣。但水毒芹的白色根有時候會被誤認爲歐防風的根，這種誤認可能會造成致命的後果。整株水毒芹都包含有毒物質——毒芹素，但根部的毒芹素含量最高。若把水毒芹錯認爲歐防風，嘗一口也是存在致命風險的。

The water hemlock, which is native to North America, is considered by many to be the most deadly plant on the continent. The wildflower, which grows to 6 feet (1.8 meters), thrives along stream banks, in marshy areas, and in low-lying, damp meadows. For those unlucky enough to taste the water hemlock, the onset of illness is rapid. The cicutoxin contained in the plant causes violent and painful convulsions, nausea, vomiting, cramps and muscle tremors. Those who survive the poisoning experience long-term health conditions, such as amnesia. No amount of water hemlock root is considered safe to ingest.

水毒芹原產於北美洲，被衆人喻爲“北美地區最具致命性的植物”。該植物的高度可達6英尺（1.8米），多生於溪岸、沼澤地及低窪的溼草甸處。誤食毒芹者很快就會出現由毒芹素導致的劇烈反應——噁心、嘔吐、抽搐、痙攣以及肌肉震顫，十分痛苦。有些人即使沒有毒發身亡，也會長期受到一些健康困擾，如健忘症。總之，對於水毒芹的根而言，服用多少都是不安全的。

nder

1.夾竹桃

The oleander, or Nerium oleander, is considered by many to be the most poisonous plant in the world. All parts of the beautiful oleander contain poison -- several types of poison. Two of the most potent are oleandrin and neriine, known for their powerful effect on the heart. An oleander's poison is so strong, in fact, that it can poison a person who simply eats the honey made by bees that have digested oleander nectar.

夾竹桃，又名歐洲夾竹桃，被衆人喻爲“地球上最具毒性的植物”。它的每一部分都極具觀賞性，但其實含有多種毒素。毒性最強的要屬歐夾竹桃甙和夾竹桃甙，這兩種毒素都具有顯著的強心作用。夾竹桃毒性很強，一隻吸取了夾竹桃花蜜的蜜蜂產出的蜂蜜都能使人中毒。

The oleander is an attractive plant, and despite its deadly reputation is often planted for decorative purposes. Although native to the Far East and the Mediterranean areas, oleander has been introduced in the United States, where it grows easily. It's tolerant of poor quality soil and dry weather. The plant grows as a dense shrub, and is typically 6 to 18 feet (1.8 to 5.4 meters) tall at maturity. It has thick, dark green leaves, and the flowers, which grow in clusters, can be yellow, red, pink or white. Even in barren areas, the oleander produces lovely flowers and fragrance. Animals instinctively avoid the plant, and it grows rapidly, so it's often used for highway barriers and other areas that require screening from noise and pollution. Its rapid growth also makes it a popular choice around new construction zones, as it prevents erosion. Unlike some toxic plants, the oleander is poisonous to most animals as well as humans. A single ingested oleander leaf can kill a child. Ingestion of oleander results in diarrhea, vomiting, intense stomach pain, drowsiness, dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, and often, death. If the victim survives the initial 24 hours after ingestion, his or her odds of surviving increase dramatically. For successful treatment, the patient is induced to vomit, his or her stomach may be pumped, or he or she may be fed activated charcoal to absorb as much of the poison as possible.

雖然夾竹桃含有劇毒，但它外形可人，常作爲觀賞植物。夾竹桃原產於遠東及地中海區域，後被引入易於其生長的美國。它耐瘠薄、耐乾旱，通常會長成一片密集的灌木，成熟期時可達6至18英尺（1.8至5.4米）高。其葉爲深綠色，花朵簇擁生長，有黃、紅、粉、白四種顏色。即使在土地貧瘠地帶，夾竹桃也能長出芳香四溢的漂亮花朵，而動物一般會本能地避開夾竹桃。因其生長速度快，所以常常被用於高速公路護欄及其它噪聲、污染隔離區。也正因如此，夾竹桃還被用於新建築羣周邊的綠化植被，有助防止水土流失。與一些有毒植物不同，夾竹桃對人類和大部分動物來說都具有毒性。一片夾竹桃葉就能使一個小孩喪命。誤食夾竹桃會導致腹瀉、嘔吐、劇烈腹痛、睏倦、頭暈、心律不齊等，並常常致人死地。如果中毒者熬過了初攝入的24小時，其存活率也會顯著上升。妥善的治療方案有：催吐，用泵灌洗胃，吞食活性炭以多吸收毒素。

審校：惠月 編輯：listen 來源：前十網