A couple from the Vyborgsky district of the Leningrad region has been hospitalized after mistakenly consuming narcissus stems instead of wild onions in a salad. The incident, reported on June 9th by the Leningrad Region Ambulance Service, resulted in the couple experiencing severe poisoning symptoms.

The couple called for emergency medical assistance after ingesting the poisonous plant. Upon arrival, paramedics administered gastric lavage and transported them to a hospital for further treatment.

Narcissus plants contain the alkaloid poison lycorine, primarily concentrated in the bulbs, and its ingestion can cause a range of adverse effects. These include vomiting, diarrhea, and intense abdominal pain. Consumption of the bulbs is particularly dangerous due to the risk of severe neurological symptoms, such as tremors, convulsions, and paralysis.

Narcissus poses a significant threat to children and pets, as even small quantities can lead to severe poisoning. Health officials warn of other poisonous plants that are often mistaken for edible varieties, including hemlock, which resembles parsley and contains coniine, causing paralysis and respiratory arrest.

Other dangerous plants to watch out for include henbane, wolf’s bast, lily of the valley and castor bean. Henbane leaves, similar to lettuce or spinach, can induce hallucinations, convulsions, and coma. Wolf’s bast berries, resembling sea buckthorn or currants, cause burns to mucous membranes and laryngeal edema. Lily of the valley leaves, easily confused with wild garlic, contain convallatoxin, disrupting heart function. Finally, castor bean seeds, similar to beans, contain ricin, one of the most potent plant poisons.