Skip to main content

PLEASE NOTE:
"Poisonous" does not mean deadly. Some manifestations of toxicity are subtle. The dose, as always, determines if a plant is safe source of nutrients or a toxic hazard.

Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions

Simple keyword search (one or two words only)

 


BRIEF: What could cause this condition?


QUESTION:
I live in Oregon. Does any poisonous plants by the coast make a persons skin turn purplish, blistered, red and yet not itch? What about in the forest areas near the coast? My brother has something on his lower legs.

ANSWER:
A heavy dose of poison oak can stain skin blackish or purple, but it sounds like something else. I would get him to a clinic in a hurry. I am not a doctor, but those symptoms could be indicative of some serious condition unrelated to plants.