Open AccessA Case Study of the Exotic Poisonous Plants found in Kottayam District, Kerala, India
Author(s) -
Binu Thomas,
V. Vasudev
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bioscientific review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2663-4201
pISSN - 2663-4198
DOI - 10.32350/bsr.0204.01
Subject(s) - apocynaceae , euphorbiaceae , bark (sound) , biology , forensic science , woody plant , botany , ecology , genetics
Poisonous plants contain many harmful biological components which can be dangerous for living organisms upon contact or due to ingestion. The current study is based on extensive field observations aimed to find out the various exotic poisonous plants in the Meenachil Taluk of Kottayam District, Kerala. A total of 19 exotic plants belonging to 10 families and 18 genera were documented. Among these, Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae were dominant in terms of the number of species with 5 species each. Moreover, the authors also verified the nativity of these plants. The various plant part(s) such as bark, stem, leaves, fruits, latex, and tuber were found to have different types of poisonous compounds. The severity of the illness caused due to these plants and their respective parts depends on the dose in which the organisms ingest their components or the extent to which they make contact with them. People should be aware about such poisonous plants for avoiding various complications.