Where is oleander found?

There are two varieties of oleander: Common or Pink oleander (Nerium oleander) is found throughout Australia and is pictured above. Yellow Oleander (Casabella thevetia or Thevetia peruviana) is found mainly in tropical areas of Queensland.

Where is oleander commonly found?

Nerium oleander is either native or naturalized to a broad area spanning from Northwest Africa and Iberian peninsula eastward through the Mediterranean region, to the Arabian peninsula, southern Asia, and as far east as Yunnan in southern parts of China.

Why is oleander so poisonous?

All parts of the nerium oleander are poisonous, primarily due to the contained cardiac glycosides—that is, oleandrin, nerin, digitoxigenin, and olinerin of which oleandrin is the principal toxin. The bark also contains rosagenin which has strychninelike actions.

What does oleander do to a person?

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a flowering shrub. It contains chemicals called toxic cardiac glycosides, which can lead to death when consumed. The cardiac glycosides in oleander affect the heart. These chemicals can slow the heart rate down.

Is oleander native to USA?

Oleander is a native of the Mediterranean region and is widely planted in the southern United States. It is often found as an ornamental in eastern, central and southern Texas.

Is it OK to touch oleander?

Oleander is so toxic, humans don’t even have to ingest it to experience symptoms of poisoning — just touching the plant and tree sap with bare hands or inhaling the smoke of burning oleander can induce toxic effects.
 

What is the most poisonous plant in the world?

Oleander (Nerium oleander)



Indeed, the toxins in oleander are so strong that people have become ill after eating honey made by bees that visited the flowers!

What to do if you touch oleander?

If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a common ornamental evergreen shrub.

What happens if you smell oleander?

Skin irritation is the most common toxic effect. It is also common with exposure to smoke fumes if oleander is burned. Inhaled smoke fumes can cause severe irritation to the airways as well as cause systemic toxicity due to the cardiac glycosides and digitoxigenin within the plant.
 

How many oleander seeds cause death?

The active toxins include thevetin B, cerberin, nerifolin, thevetin A, ruvoside, and peruvoside (in ascending order of toxicity). The usual fatal dose comprises 15–20 g of root or 8–10 seeds. In general, yellow oleander is more toxic than pink oleander.

Is oleander the most poisonous plant in the world?

The oleander, or Nerium oleander, is considered by many to be the most poisonous plant in the world. All parts of the beautiful oleander contain poison — several types of poison. Two of the most potent are oleandrin and neriine, known for their powerful effect on the heart.