Poisonous plant

Poisonous plant, any plant that produces harmful effects to people or animals. The harmful effects of a poisonous plant range from minor irritation to death, depending on the plant. Some plants are poisonous when eaten, such as poisonous mushrooms, and others when merely touched, such as poison ivy. Some plants have parts that are safe to eat and other parts that are poisonous. Potatoes, for example, have poisonous leaves. It is not possible to make general statements about the appearance, taste, and smell of poisonous plants. The poison from some plants is used to create medicines, which are prescribed in controlled doses. For example, the leaves of the foxglove, a tall plant with bell-shaped flowers, is used to create digitalis, a medicine used to stimulate the heart.