11 minute read
GARDENING
Poisonous but beautiful blue-hooded aconite or monkshood (Aconitum napellus) made headlines in 2009 after a woman laced her ex-lover’s curry with poison derived from the plant
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One man’s poison
While the RHS lists well over 100 plants that can cause us potential harm, serious poisoning is uncommon in the UK and many powerful plant substances are used in homeopathic medicine. The difference is in the dose, says Elly West
When we sit in the garden listening to the birds and enjoying the colours and scents of our carefully nurtured plants, one would hope they are doing us nothing but good and encouraging only positive thoughts. But throughout history, plants have been misused for misdeeds and responsible for fatalities, harbouring some of the most deadly poisons known.
Long before modern drugs, chemicals and warning labels on cleaning products, the great outdoors would be the first place to look if murder was on the mind. Symptoms of poisoning were similar to those of many diseases, and given the difficulty of finding the poison in the body, criminals in days gone by had a good chance of escaping punishment.
Stories of poisoning run through history and make interesting and often gory reading, from Ancient Greek and Roman times, through the Middle Ages and into the Victorian era. Royals wary of assassins would have ‘tasters’ to confirm their food was safe to eat, and it’s said that Louis XIV was so afraid of being poisoned that he employed 324 servants to monitor his meals.
Some of these stories can be traced to Atropa belladonna, more commonly known as deadly nightshade – a herbaceous perennial in the same family of plants as tomatoes and potatoes. It sometimes pops up as a weed in gardens, and can be found in woodland and along paths and banks. All parts of the plant are poisonous, but it’s the shiny black berries that pose the real danger.
During the Renaissance, a beauty tonic was made from the leaves and berries to redden the skin and dilate the pupils, which gave rise to the name belladonna, or ‘beautiful lady’. However, the berries contain atropine, which can also cause paralysis, hallucinations, convulsions and death. The Roman emperor Claudius was famously poisoned with deadly nightshade, at the hand of the serial killer Locusta who was hired by Claudius’ wife, Agrippina the Younger.
However, as with many potent plant-based substances, its powers have also been harnessed for good, and it has many modern-day medicinal applications including being used in pain relievers and antiinflammatories, and by eye surgeons to dilate the pupils.
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is another dangerous plant with a long history of misuse. Although it’s not native to this country, it can be found across the countryside in ditches and along riverbanks. This tall green plant is often mistaken for harmless cow parsley, with its feathery leaves and umbels of white flowers, however hemlock has distinctive purple blotches on its smooth green stems. All parts of the plant contain poisonous alkaloids that can be fatal even in small amounts when ingested. Just touching the plant can cause a skin reaction, but eating it can cause a slow death by paralysis, leading to respiratory failure.
According to Christian mythology, the plant became poisonous while growing at the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. His blood touched the plant, turning it toxic. In Ancient Greece, hemlock was used to poison condemned prisoners. Socrates was famously sentenced to death by hemlock, as punishment for corrupting the minds of young men in Athens, and forced to drink the poison by his own hand.
Despite the Royal Horticultural Society listing well over 100 plants
that can cause potential harm on the advice pages of its website (rhs.org.uk), serious poisoning by plants is uncommon in the UK. However, it’s common sense to teach children not to play with or eat growing plants (and to follow this advice as an adult!) and to use gloves when pruning or weeding. Check plant labels for toxicity warnings, and avoid anything poisonous if you have pets or children that are likely to nibble your garden plants. If you suspect a child or adult (or pet) has eaten something poisonous from the garden, seek medical advice and take a sample of the plant with you.
Foxgloves are among the most common garden plants that cause concern, although recorded incidents of poisoning are rare. All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause nausea, diarrhoea and skin irritation. However, like most plants that are on the RHS list, they are very unlikely to cause harm unless eaten in quantity.
Monkshood, also known as aconite, is another beautiful plant commonly grown in gardens, but one of the UK’s most poisonous. It made headlines in 2009 when a woman was convicted of murder after lacing her ex-lover’s curry with poison derived from the plant – the first case of aconite poisoning in England since 1882. Its attractive hooded blue flowers make it popular, and there are also cultivars in pink, yellow and white. However, every bit of it is poisonous, especially the roots, which can affect the heart and be fatal in large doses. Wear gloves while handling plants in your garden.
Like many other powerful plant substances, aconite is used in homeopathic medicine to treat anxiety, headaches and colds, along with other ailments. As they say, the difference between medicine and poison is in the dose. However, with tobacco linked to more than eight million deaths per year, this probably makes the tobacco plant, Nicotiana, by far the most deadly plant in the world. n • ellyswellies.co.uk; Instagram: @ellyswellies1
Plant of the month: Brugmansia (Angel's trumpets)
This show-stopping plant flowers at the end of summer into autumn, with large trumpet-like flowers dangling from sturdy stems. Hailing from tropical climes, brugmansia won’t survive hard frosts, but can be grown outside in a sheltered spot over the summer months where it will make a tropical statement. It’s best to keep it in a pot, then bring it under cover into a cool greenhouse or cellar before the first frosts for a period of winter dormancy. It can also be grown indoors in a conservatory as a houseplant, but you’ll need space as it can easily reach a good couple of metres in height. Prune in autumn after flowering to keep the size in check, but wear gloves as the sap can irritate skin. In the same family as deadly nightshade, all parts of the plant are poisonous, particularly the leaves and seeds, which can cause paralysis, hallucinations, migraine headaches and even death if ingested.
A charming 4 bedroom Grade II listed end of terrace Georgian Villa located in a highly sought after residential area on Bath’s southern slopes and enjoying magnificent views to the rear overlooking the Lyncombe Vale. This beautiful family home which retains a wealth of original period detail has attractive rustic French style accommodation arranged over 4 floors which, is in need of a little decorative upgrading in some areas.
On the ground floor there is an elegant formal drawing room to the rear which has an ornate first floor stone balcony and enjoys breathtaking views overlooking the Lyncombe Vale. To the front there is a large well-appointed family bathroom.
On the first floor there is a pretty master bedroom to the rear enjoying the beautiful views and a further double bedroom to the front. There are 2 further generous bedrooms, both with lovely solid oak flooring on the top floor along with plenty of built in eave storage.
At garden level there is an impressive hand painted bespoke ‘Shaker’ style kitchen with granite work surfaces and a Belfast sink. The kitchen is linked to a lovely dining / family room which has double doors leading out onto the sun terraces and gardens and a door to a useful boot room. In addition, there a 2 large dry storage vaults to the front.
Externally there is a pretty paved sun terrace that spans the width of the property. There is a further sheltered sun terrace and seating area at the bottom of the garden and access to a large, detached stone built garage that has the potential to develop subject to the necessary planning consents. Significantly there is also access to a ¾ acre private orchard for recreational use which belongs to number 59 and the trustees of 6 neighbouring houses.
This is a very special property and to fully appreciate it a viewing is recommended by the sole agents Cobb Farr.
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Guide price £1,000,000
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Andrewsonline.co.uk
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Andrewsonline.co.uk
Oldfield Lane, Bath, BA2 £550,000
This property has a beautiful homely feel with plenty of character and a well-designed layout. In brief the accommodation comprises of: entrance hall, a kitchen with breakfast bar, a full-width sitting room with French doors opening onto a rear terrace, a dining room which includes an integral door to the garage. The first floor has two double bedrooms, a single bedroom and bathroom. The south facing garden features two patios and a lawn. Energy Efficiency Rating: D 01225 805 680 bearflat@andrewsonline.co.uk To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk
