Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Is the plant in my backyard poisonous?
QUESTION:
As the mother of a young baby, I am concerned about her access to poisonous
plants. I have a blue morning glory in my back yard and believe through my
research that the scientific name of this plant is either the Convovulvus or the
Ipompea. I did not see either of these listed on your site. Does that mean that
it is not poisonous and safe to have in my
yard?
ANSWER:
The seeds from some members of the impomea (morning glories, sweet potatoes,
etc.) species have LSD-like compounds in them that can cause unpleasantness and
severe problems at high doses. Some species of convovulus were used by indians as
fish poisons. But most ornamental plants have some
potential toxins and you can't raise a kid on dirt. Best to keep an eye on them
and keep their
intake of plants, (and sand, worms, sticks, beetles, etc.) to a minimum, I
think.