WARNING: These Are the 8 Most Dangerous Plants in Minnesota
As we're getting out and about more this summer, there are certain plants that you should be on the lookout for in Minnesota. It's not because these plants are really pretty or something, it's because they're quite dangerous.
These particular plants can cause serious irritation if they're touched, and some are even poisonous. Yeah, you don't want to mess with these guys.
Don't ruin your summer fun and keep an eye out for these plants and avoid touching them at all costs!
ALSO READ: Minnesota State Park Voted One of the Best in the US
(Sources: Minnesota DNR, Britannica)
Never Touch These Minnesota Plants
Common Tansies have what's called toxic alkaloids (in other words, poisonous toxins) that can be absorbed through the skin. Be careful around these and, if you need to touch them, wear gloves and long sleeves.
Grecian Floxglove may look pretty, but don't touch! If pulled up with bare hands, the plant will release a toxin into the skin that can cause heart palpitations. Scary!
It's also poisonous if consumed by humans and animals. You also can't burn this plant because then it will release toxic fumes into the air.
Leafy Spurge is most dangerous to people with sensitive skin (me!). The plant can give you rashes, so if you need to touch it, use gloves and wear long sleeves.
All parts of Poison Hemlock are, well, poisonous. If you touch it these neurotoxins can get on your skin, and if consumed, it can be fatal.
Everyone knows about Poison Ivy, but here's a reminder of the 'leaves of three, let it be' rule. Don't touch Poison Ivy unless you want a really nice and uncomfortable rash. The oil that makes Poison Ivy a problem is in the leaves and the stems, so be careful with the whole plant.
While Spotted Knapweed isn't poisonous, it's a skin irritant and can make you very uncomfortable. If you do need to touch it, make sure you're wearing gloves and long sleeves.
Talk about uncomfortable, Singing Nettle does what the name suggests, it stings if you touch it. The leaves and stems have stinging hairs that have things like formic acid and other toxins in them.
If you get stung, the stinging hairs inject that toxin into your skin, giving you a burning and itching feeling along with a rash. Britannica says that it'll usually go away after at least 24 hours, but what an uncomfortable 24 hours.
Wild Parsnip may look like a cute little yellow flower to add to your wild flower bouquet, but it's a really bad idea to touch these guys! If you touch Wild Parsnip, the sap gets onto your skin. If your skin is then exposed to sunlight, it creates an awful chemical burn on your skin, with scars lasting for quite a while.
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Gallery Credit: Curt St. John
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