It all started back in the early 20th century when the 2-year-old child of a U.S. Army officer was alleged to have died from consuming a poinsettia leaf, says Snopes.As these things have a habit of doing, the toxic potential of poinsettia has become highly exaggerated, and many a concerned cat parent now treat poinsettias as persona non grata (or, as the case may be, poinsettia … In addition, like many other plant saps, coming into contact with poinsettia sap can cause irritation. The poinsettia is well known for its bright red and green colors. An updated plant toxicity list can be found in the House Rabbit Handbook, 4th Edition. The showy colored parts of Poinsettias that most people think of as the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves). The yellow flowers, or cyathia, are in the center of the colorful bracts. The mature plant exudes a white milk similar to that of genuinely toxic euphorbias, which would tend to increase the belief in this myth once it got started. The sap can cause a skin rash, too. Mistletoe won’t do you any good if you eat it. is not particularly dangerous. The Full Story. Veterinarians will state with straight faces that poinsettias will kill cats or dogs, though no veterinarian on earth has ever seen this happen because it can't happen. Socrates was poisoned by hemlock. Belladonna (or Deadly Nightshade) is also a killer. If children and pets eat it, they can develop a mouth rash and stomach upset. Breathing allergens from poinsettias can cause respiratory distress and touching them can cause rashes. Poinsettia can be irritating but it is not fatal if eaten. Anatomy of a Poinsettia. This misconception was spread by a 1919 urban legend of a two-year-old child dying after consuming a poinsettia leaf. If you eat a few leaves, you may feel ill or vomit. It is a wise idea to keep all houseplants away from rabbits, other pets, and small children. Sure, you should know that poison ivy and poison oak are very dangerous. Poinsettia sap also has the potential to cause temporary blindness if rubbed into a person’s eyes. In 1944, the plant was included in H. R. Arnold's book Poisonous Plants of Hawaii on this premise. The beautiful poinsettia is not something you want on a salad, but this is not particularly dangerous. One of the most common Christmas plants is the poinsettia. Though Arnold later admitted that the story was hearsay and that poinsettias … Rubbing the sap from the plant into your skin can give you an itchy rash. Beyond that, this plant is unlikely to cause a problem for either humans or pets. However, there is no reason to single out this beautiful plant. 3 Poinsettia Most often seen around the festive period, the milky sap in the veins of this plant is actually quite toxic. Poinsettia also can kill ya. However, in the case of Poinsettia, this concern is unfounded. There have only ever been two documented cases of them causing human death, but you’ll want to keep your children and pets away from them nonetheless, as vomiting and diarrhoea could be rife if ingested. The word Poinsettia is traditionally capitalized because it is named after a person. Because poinsettias are members of the rubber tree family, people allergic to latex are often allergic to them, as well. Eating poinsettia leaves can cause stomach upset, but experts generally believe that a person needs to consume a lot of leaves before this occurs. It is a very common household plant, especially around the winter holidays. They can be especially hazardous for infants, toddlers and pets. Poinsettias can be grown year round for lush green foliage. Poinsettias are popularly, though incorrectly, said to be toxic to humans and other animals.