Poinsettia Plants Huge But Not Poisonous

Popular Christmas Flowers

These bright red flowers are sold in locations all over Okinawa around the Xmas holidays.

Legend has it, some kid ate the plants and died. We found out that's BS.

The Flower Society and Ohio State University conducted an experiment.

No parents wanted to volunteer their children so, rats were used for testing.

They fed the rodents large quantities of Poinsettia plant parts and the rats didn't die!

Monster Size Poinsettia Plants

On Okinawa, the Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia) can become shrubs as large as trees.

The first time I found one taller than me, I was on an outer island.

Not wanting people to start worrying about their pets or children eating poison, I checked.

Doctors at WebMD say the poisonous part is a myth, like flying reindeer.

Over the years whenever I spot a huge Poinsettia, I try and pose with them.

It must have been freezing the day I was wearing that red jacket.

That would be below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 Celcius. 

People worried about pets around these plants should visit the HELPLINE.

Treatment for dogs and cats is rarely required because:

What Kind of Stupid Animal Would Eat Pretty Flowers Anyhow?

Research Cracks Me Up

Sometimes, I roll around on the floor laughing at the things scientists come up with.

Let me give you one last photo of a giant Poinsettia plant next to me.

To prove they're not poisonous sometimes, I touch the fuzzy little things.

Poinsettia Plant Taller Than Me

Texas Cooperative Extension busts the poison myth wide open.

If you have a really stupid child weighing 50 pounds, you could try this:

Feed the kid 500 pounds of Poinsettia parts and, it won't kill them!

This kind of stuff I don't make-up.  It's true. The plants are harmless.

Visit Texas A&M University to learn more about Poinsettias.

Poisonous Viper: Okinawa Habu

Found Throughout Okinawa Islands

This character was spotted on a road between some tobacco fields on Miyagi Island.

They are venomous snakes, that eat rodents and birds, not particularly people.

Most of he time, they'll shy away from humans, unless they are provoked. 

Normally, they won't pose for a camera, to get this close for photos.

Vehicular homicide seems to have been performed on the rascal.

To show approximately, how long the snake was, I used a size 12 flip-flop.

Just guessing, I'd say it would be four or five feet long. I didn't want to stretch my luck.

In case there was any life left in the dude, I didn't feel like getting bit.

Don't Mess with These Snakes

 

This species is the largest and most poisonous one on the island.

Great images and descriptions of others can be seen a Shawn Miller's website.

If, you get bitten by one chances are good, you'll survive if, medical attention is speedy.

Don't do like the cowboys and, try to suck the poison out of the wound.

Stay calm, keep the area clean, elevated and, get your fanny to a hospital.

A few of my friends, have been bitten, surviving the ordeal even though, it was painful.

More about the habu, is provided by Camp Lester Naval Hospital. 

Another interesting thing, you may want to know about the snakes, occurred to me. 

Way before Viagra was invented, Okinawans, created Habu Sake.

The snake come in a big glass jar of, what locals call, awamori.

If, you're having trouble, impressing the ladies, with your super powers, drink some.

Then, come back here and, let us all know, how things turned out !

Meet the Flower Called Madam Fate

AKA Star of Bethlehem

 

 

It has the Latin name Hippobroma longiflora.

In Japan they call it Hoshiazami (ホシアザミ) hoshi, meaning star, which the flower resembles.

Azami, some would interpret as meaning thistle and, this plant has them, too.

Someone gave me the Japanese name for these flowers when I was out with the camera.

This image has been geotagged in case anyone wants to find the location.

Researching the flowers for some common names and the Latin name was interesting.

Madam Fate is a plant, I wouldn't put in my garden.

At the National Tropical  Botanical Garden, they say, the sap of this beauty is poisonous.

Gardeners working around these plants should be wearing gloves.

At Wildlife of Hawaii, I learned, it's not a good idea to get sap from the leaves in your eyes.

These flowers could make you go blind.

This Dude Turned Pufferfish into Lamps !

Also Known as Blowfish

 

 

These have to be some of the ugliest and deadliest fish, I've ever seen.

In Japan, they are called Fugu and, are considered delicacies especially, if you like to gamble.

One fish, contains enough poison to kill a few dozen people.

So, you have to be a specially trained sushi chef, if you want to serve them.

The place, I stayed at on Izena Island has them as hanging lamps in the dining area.

They are each about the size of a football and, make nifty decorations.

Not a big fish eater, I didn't ask if they had any on the menu.

Some Facts About Pufferfish

 

 

 

There are over 100 different types of them.

They are also called toadfish.  Tetraodontidae is the scientific name.

They live in mostly tropical waters.

When a predator, comes along, they inhale lots of air and water and expand their volume.

 The spikes sticking out of them contain poison and should scare an enemy away.

Some sharks and snakes, eat them anyway because the poison doesn't bother them.
 

 They come in sizes ranging from 2.5 centimeters to over 60 centimeters.

That's from about 1 inch, to over two feet.

 They sure make pretty lamps but, you'll never catch me eating one.

Tomatoes, lettuce and hamburgers, is what I'll be sticking down my throat.

Learn more about Pufferfish

Possibly a Pink-eyed Pong Pong Tree

Sometimes Facebook Ain't Such a Bad Deal

 

 

When my brain doesn't feel like working, I go over there and get inspiration.

If it hadn't been for someone asking to identify a plant, I wouldn't know what to blog about today.

Flowers that looked something like this, got me going.

There are lots of photos, of these plants in my pending folders so, I did some research.

Whenever, I find some unusual flower on a tree, I shoot the leaves and fruits, too.

These were spotted on the other side of the island.

If I had some in my backyard, I'd shoot them year round just to show seasonal changes. 

There's plenty of information about this tree on a Singapore Government Website.

They give common names, Latin and even Chinese, if you need some.

It can be called: Sea Pong Pong, Pink-eyed Cerbera, Pong-pong, Buta Buta or, Tanghin Poison. 

Latin: Cerbera manghas L.

Chinese: 海芒果

Poison Rang a Bell with Me

 

 

So, I did a little more investigating because that stuff could be dangerous.

 If you have one of these trees growing in your yard you should know something about it.

The leaves and fruits are extremely poisonous.

Some dingbats, intentionally, kill themselves with it.

REF: US National Library of Medicine

Another common name for it is Sea Mango (ミフクラギ) for the Japanese audience.

The flowers are fragrant but, if you are the proud owner of a Pong Pong Tree...

Don't Eat the Fruits or Leaves !

Don't Use This Plant for Shish Kabobs !

Another Pretty Killer Found in Okinawa

 

Research indicates, all parts of this plant are dangerous.

If you decide to burn the stuff, don't even think of inhaling the smoke.

Commonly called Oleander, the scientific name is Nerium oleander.

That dude, Alexander the Great,  lost some of his army but, it didn't make the online news.

Someone fed them meat, skewered on the twigs from this plant.  Oops.  Poison.

Somebody Should Have Warned This Lady

 

It seems, she ate some of the stuff and, get this:

Stuck some up her exhaust pipe (so to speak) and, she died.

Read about her autopsy here, if you don't believe me.

 The flowers I spotted were white,  They also come in pink or, red.

They start off as shrubs but, look like trees when they grow up.

They might be pretty.  However, who wants a plant that kills kids, dogs and horses ?

Plant Photo: The Blood Flower

Asclepias curassavica

 

A native of South America this plant blooms from summer to early fall.

This photo was taken in the northern hills of Okinawa, Japan.

Butterflies and hummingbirds like it.

Named after the Greek healing god, Asklepios, you might want to be careful around the stuff.

The sap, from the leaves is poison !

Learn more about this flowering plant at:

Missouri Botanical Garden

Dave's Garden

or

University of Florida IFAS Extension