Question: Hi... For it's size, what is the most poisonous animal, or plant, in the world?

Edward Codling answered on 16 Jun 2011:

Zara has answered about animals so I thought I would list a few deadly poisonous plants or plant extracts – don’t read this if you’re about to eat lunch!

(From wikipedia)

– Apples – the seeds are toxic, and could potentially harm you if you ate enough.

– Cherry (and plum, peach, etc) – leaves and seeds contain poisonous compounds

– Chocolate (!) contains theobromine which is toxic for cats and dogs – don’t feed them chocolate!

– Kidney beans – contain the toxic compound phytohaemagglutinin – which can kill you if you eat enough beans. Cooking them at high tmeperatures first or soaking in water breaks down the toxin.

– Onions and garlic contain thiosulphate, which in high doses is toxic to dogs, cats and some other livestock.

– Potatoes contain toxic compounds known as glycoalkaloids which can be highly toxic. This is concentrated in the green areas though so normal cooked potatoes are fine.

– Rhubarb – the stalks are edible, but the leaves contain notable quantities of oxalic acid, which is a toxic and corrosive acid that is present in many plants!

– Tomato – is actually related to deadly nightshade – the tomato leaves and stems contain atropine and other tropane alkaloids that are toxic if ingested. Use of tomato leaves as a tea has been responsible for at least one death.

The above are just the ones we eat! Far more dangerous plants are out there – and some of the worst are actually found in gardens and parks in the UK! E.g. yew trees – the berries are really poisonous 🙁

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poisonous_plants