Flowers: The Poisonous, the Chokers, the Meat-eating

It turns out botanists are not as boring as a pot of soil but have a sense of humor as surprising as a flower bud that just popped open in the Spring. Who needs a scientific name when you can use monikers that shock and humor gardeners throughout the world? Some of the most beautiful and fascinating flowers have the most whimsical, if not inappropriate names. But don’t let their names fool you, as many have a deadly side to them.

As you read this article, you can learn about 10 flowers with unusual names and deadly characteristics:

• Swamp Lousewort
• Bastard Toadflax
• Corncockle
• The Adder’s-tongue Spearwort
• Humped Bladderwort
• Mad Dog
• False Hellebore
• Scurfpea
• Spiny-leaved Sow-thistle
• Cow Vetch

Swamp Lousewort

The Swamp Lousewort is found in meadows, swamps, and prairies. It prefers full to partial sun and wet to damp conditions. There is an old belief that when livestock ate this plant it caused lice infestations. This unconventional perennial lives a dual life. Above ground, it appears like an innocuous wildflower. But on the subterranean level, it sucks the resources from neighboring host plants with is connecting roots.

Bastard Toadflax

The bastard toadflax, more traditionally known as the Comandra umbellata, is a noble plant with an offensive name. Its blooming period is about a month between late spring and early summer. The flowers attract bees, several varieties of flies, butterflies, beetles, and moths. It is classified as hemiparasitic due to its roots, which send out suckers to feed off the roots of neighboring plants. The seeds of the plant were used by Native Americans as a treatment for common ailments such as colds, cold sores, and irritation of the eyes.

Corncockle

The existence of this weed has been found all the way back to the Stone Age. It has grown side by side with grain crops for thousands of years. This annual can produce up to 2,500 seeds per plant. It thrives in cultivated soil and has sought shelter in grain silos in the winter. Very few farms have the time or space for decorative plants; this is the exception. Unlike corn’s functionality, this majestic plant’s name is the only similarity to corn. In contrast, the plant sprouts approximately three feet and is crowned with a gorgeous purple flower.  Although beautiful, it is poisonous.

The Adder’s-tongue Spearwort

First described by Villas Dominique in 1789, the adder’s-tongue spearwort is considered young in relation to its floral family. Its youthful history is predated by roses and daisies. A member of the buttercup family, the adder’s-tongue spearwort is a rare aquatic plant. It germinates in mud while water levels are elevated. It doesn’t produce fruit until the late summer once the water levels have dried out. When below water, the leaves of this plant reach for the surface imitating a water lily. The yellow and orange blooms appear during the months of May through September.

Humped Bladderwort

If you thought alligators and piranhas were vicious, you have not met the carnivorous humped bladderwort plant. It can be found in nutrient-deprived water across the globe specifically lakes, canals, and marshes. The innocuous-looking flower hides an insatiable appetite for meat. It fulfills its nutrient needs by capturing aquatic invertebrates. It snares small prey in its bladder and slowly digests its victims.

Mad Dog Skullcap

This herb was formerly used to treat rabies and therefore known as mad dog skullcap. The bluish-purple flowers bloom throughout the summer months of May through September. Scouring marshes, lakes, and canals, scientists search the waters hoping to use this herb for a more botanical-based nightcap. Scientists have been testing the extracts of this plant in hopes of creating a sedative to aid the many people who suffer from insomnia.

False Hellebore

There is nothing false about the hell this plant can bring to your environment and cattle. The false hellebore is an indigenous plant to the eastern and western regions of North America. It’s a perennial of the lily family. It grows in water-rich meadows appearing in July and August. The plant as a whole is highly toxic. Cloaked behind names such as Indian hellebore, India poke, and green false hellebore, this off-the-spectrum-toxic plant can kill an entire farm, garden, and livestock if eaten. The roots of the plant are five to 10 times more poisonous than the leaves or stems.

Scurfpea

Scurfpea is found sprinkled across canyons and desert grasslands. Like the sun traveling across the sky, this pea-sized flower changes hues as it ages. In its infancy, it is blueish purple in color. As it ages, the purple morphs into either a red or tan color. It is poisonous for livestock but can be burned to ward off mosquitos.

Spiny-leaved Sow-thistle

Indigenous to Europe, western Asia, and North America this plant, considered a weed, loves a crowd. The spiny-leaved sow-thistle can be found in heavily trafficked places like parks and pastures. It can invade farms but is kept at bay by livestock which considers it a delicacy and quite delicious. It is an herb with yellow flowers much like a dandelion. The plant is related to uncultivated lettuce and its leaves can be eaten by humans.

Cow Vetch

Cow vetch is a climbing vine found in open fields and on the edges of roads. It reaches a maximum of 4 feet in length in a short amount of time. The plant sends out tendrils that attach themselves to neighboring plants. This results in the strangulation of smaller plants.  However, its attractive purple flowers rival any intentionally planted flowers. One stem of the plant can produce up to 40 small flowers. The plant is enjoyed by many animals; birds enjoy the small seeds and cows graze on the leaves.

Conclusion

The world of flowers is as diversified as humans. There are healers and there are killers. There are flowers that attract many different types and some that only attract one specific species. What they all have in common is their beauty.