Plants that Poison: a New Zealand Guide

Written by a leading authority on poisonous plants and an expert in human poisonings, Plants that Poison: a New Zealand guide is a guide to a selection of plants and mushrooms with toxic properties that can be found in New Zealand – in back yards, public gardens, school playgrounds, on roadsides and in waste ground. With a particular focus on plants that are of concern for children, the emphasis is on safety through education, to help you understand the risks so that you can avoid them. There is advice on what to do if you think you or your child has eaten something poisonous, and a section on toxic mechanisms – how the poisons act on the human body, the signs and symptoms of poisoning, and the treatment likely to be necessary. Enlivened with historical background and interesting folklore, and comprehensively illustrated with colour photographs to aid identification, this book provides a practical and measured response to demand for information about poisonous plants in New Zealand.