Plant

Usual Habitat and Appearance

Remarks

Yew

Churchyards, old gardens. A dense evergreen tree.

All parts poisonous. Often kills farm animals in winter

Marsh Marigold

Wet boggy land. Yellow flowers in spring and early summer.

Not poisonous in hay - toxins lost by drying. Irritating causes blisters.

Larkspur

Was a garden plant - into fields in many places. Tall blue flowers.

Causes cattle deaths frequently in USA.

Wood Anemone

Woodland in spring. Small white flowers.

Poison: ranunculin. Traveller's joy In S. Britain, hedgerow climber creamy flowers in July/August. Same as related Anemone

Lesser Celandine

Small yellow flowers on banks & hedgerows in early spring

V. common. Ranunculin, very irritating to the skin.

Creeping Buttercup

Like buttercup but with runners. Bad weed in gardens.

All buttercups contain ranunculin, particularly when flowering. Not poisonous in bay. Aconite is the really dangerous one of this family

Ivy

Climbing plant with glossy evergreen leaves.

Berries more poisonous than leaves. Sheep can eat leaves in moderation.

Hemlock

Umbelliferous. V. similar to some harmless plants. Purple blotches on stem, unpleasant smell when bruised.

Very dangerous.

Deadly Nightshade

Rather rare. Large purple flowers, June-August.

All parts poisonous

Henbane

Grows in seaside places, large yellow and purple flowers, June-August. White hairs on stems. Unpleasant smell when bruised.

Introduced by the Romans as a narcotic.

Woody Nightshade  

Common hedgerow weed. Purple flowers June-September.

Foxglove

Tall plant with pinkish bell- shaped flowers.

Digitalis is a cumulative poison. Not less active in hay.

Honeysuckle

Climbing shrub with pink and cream scented flowers. 

Can produce severe diarrhoea

Lords and Ladies

The Arum lily, black rod in a green sheath and scarlet berries 

Berries the most poisonous part.

Ragwort

Tall yellow raggy flowers in old pastures

Still poisonous in hay.