ALASKAN POISONOUS PLANTS
An important skill that every scout needs to know in Alaska is how to identify the major poisonous plants that he is likely to encounter along his journeys. Some of these plants can give you ugly rashes, complete with blisters that are slow to heal. Others, if ingested, can be deadly. These pictures were taken from Wildflowers Along the Alaska Highway by Verna E. Pratt, c 1991; Alaskakrafts, Inc. This introduction is insufficient to really learn these plants, but it does show which plants a scout needs to know. Knowing these plants is essential. Going to the bookstore, or the library, and studying these plants can help a scout recognize them, and that's a Tenderfoot requirement. Click on any picture to enlarge it for more details.
Yellow
Anemone-VERY POISONOUS. Very common . Contains a
toxin anemonin. Likes wet, boggy soil.
Baneberry
(Snakeberry)-Six berries have been known to cause death. Berries may
be red or white and are very distinctive, almost like a miniature 'peach'.
Very common in the Eagle River valley and all along the Eagle River trail.
All parts of the plant are toxic. Ingestion can cause sharp pains, bloody
diarrhea, and death due to cardiac arrest and/or respiratory paralysis.
Death
Camus-Contains hydrocyanic acid and zygadenine, an alkaloid that can
cause salivation, muscular weakness, impaired breathing, and coma. Thrives
in open woods and grassy places. Looks like an onion growing,
with yellow flowers. Deadly.
Cow
Parsnip-Confused with wild celery. Very irritating; may cause
itching and rash and small blisters are possible. People's
sensitivity varies; some aren't bothered at all. Burning cow
parsnip may irritate the lungs; breathing the burning smoke can result in
inernal blisters and can possibly lead to death; children have been severely
affected by throwing stalks on campfires and by handling the
foliage. This plant is dangerous. Important note:
In some plant texts this plant is listed as a wild edible, because if harvested
with gloves using extreme care the non-flowering stalks are edible in the very
early spring. For scouts, this would be WAY STUPID. DO NOT EAT THIS
PLANT!!!!
Devil's
Club-Berries hold a toxin and are not edible. Thorns can cut
the skin, and walking through devil's club is an ugly prospect, especially in
shorts or thin pants. Devil's Club is always where you want to go.
Important Note: In some plant texts you will see this plant listed on the
wild edible list; the very early, tender soft leaf shoot is edible, and native
Americans have chipped the inner and outer bark of the roots and stems to make a
tonic tea.
Water
Hemlock-VERY POISONOUS! Roots contain cicutotoxin; this
is the plant that was used to kill Socrates. Sometimes confused with wild
celery. Death can occur within eight hours of ingestion. Hemlock
bears white umbels, hollow stems, and chambered roots.
False
Helbore-A type of lily, contains a number of toxic alkaloids.
Can grow to human height and has broad, corn-like leaves. POISONOUS--causes
numbness of the extremities and stomach cramps with diarrhea.
Wild
Cala-Contains the toxin calcium oxalate, which can cause intense
burning of the mouth and throat. Leaves look similar to the Marsh
Merigold, but come to a very abrupt point. The plant has a white modified
leaf, and the flowers are followed by red berries. This plant
is dangerous.
Larkspur-A
deadly plant, often picked for decorative arrangements. Don't eat
it!
Arctic
Lupine-These plants are extremely poisonous, especially the seeds. Dangerous.
Marsh
Merigold-Poisonous if eaten. Found along streams, marshes,
and swamps.
Monkshood-Deadly
if eaten. Also called Wolfbane, as discussed in a scene from one of the
Harry Potter movies. Was once ground and mixed with hamburger and used to
kill wolves. Common. You WILL see this at camp Gorsuch.
Contains aconite, which paralyzes the central nervous system. DO NOT EAT.