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Poisonous Plants

Expert Q&A

By Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com

Updated: May 09, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Q. My son ate a berry off the Aristocrat pear tree. Will it hurt him? Heather, KY

A. I couldn't find the Aristocrat pear tree on any list of poisonous plants, so probably not.

In situations like this, you could always call poison control if your child ingests something and you are concerned that is may be poisonous.

Surprisingly, many household plants and ornamental plants are poisonous. For example, eating a few berries of the plant 'Daphne' can be fatal.

Fortunately, you have to ingest large amounts of most other plants for them to be poisonous.

It is still important to know what plants might be poisonous in and around your home. These websites provide comprehensive lists of poisonous plants:

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