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Before the work of Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778), the botanist who established the binomial system of plant nomenclature, a plant sometimes had a name that consisted of many descriptive words. Linnaeus helped to standardize botanical nomenclature by establishing a genus and species name for each plant, followed by its designator. A clinical report involving a plant must always include the plant’s botanical (binomial) name, which consists of both the genus and the species, for example, . By convention, both are italicized or underlined. is the name of the genus and the first letter is always capitalized. A genus (the plural of which is genera) may be composed of a single species or several hundred. The second part of the binomial, in this case , is the particular species within the genus, and it is always in lowercase letters. It is important to include the name of the person (often abbreviated) who named the particular species, as part of the scientific name, to minimize confusion between similar or related plant species. For example, in the case above, the complete name, which would allow the most precise identification, is L.; L. is the accepted abbreviation for Carolus Linnaeus.

This list of botanical and horticultural terms is provided to aid in understanding the plant descriptions found in the text. The terms have mostly been taken from two primary references, , Second Edition (Henry A. Gleason and Arthur Cronquist, 1991) and (Liberty Hyde Bailey and Ethel Zoe Bailey, Revised and Expanded by The Staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, 1976). Some definitions have been modified from the original for ease of use and understanding by the nonbotanist, and the reader is urged to consult a botanical text book if greater detail is required. The botanical illustrations are by Bobbi Angell.

This section includes detailed scientific and clinical toxicological information. For nonphysicians, this scientific and medical information should be utilized for informational purposes only; certain medical terms utilized in this section terms are not defined. For physicians, clinical care should not simply focus on the potential plant exposure, although this information is obviously helpful in many situations. Rather, clinical care should take into account the patient’s current and prior medical history, physical examination, appropriate diagnostic testing, response to therapy, and all other factors normally utilized in the provision of clinical care. That is, the patient should be managed based on his or her clinical condition rather than just on the knowledge of an exposure or suspicion of a toxin. Appropriate clinical judgment should be exercised in the management of all patients. The information in this section should be supplemented by consultation with a Poison Control Center, medical toxicologist or other expert, or the use of a medical textbook or other appropriate reference.

Skin-associated complaints are the most common form of plant poisoning reported to Poison Control Centers. Dermatologists often see patients with complaints directly or indirectly related to plant exposures (Table 4). For example, outdoor workers may directly develop dermatitis from the toxin-laden pollen from the various plants in the family Compositae (Asteraceae) (e.g., chrysanthemums, which contain sesquiterpene lactones). Indirectly, the use of perfume or other lotions that contain plant derivatives may produce dermatitis in an unsuspecting user.

Gastrointestinal (GI) decontamination is the use of medical methods to decrease absorption of ingested toxins. Not long ago, it was widely believed that the proper initial approach to the management of all patients with toxic exposures included an aggressive attempt at gastrointestinal decontamination. Its widespread use was based on the assumption that these methods were effective at toxin removal and that they improved patient outcomes. Despite the fact that, for most toxins, until the toxin is absorbed into the body it is not “poisonous,” it has been quite difficult to prove that preventing absorption improves outcome.

The rosary pea is a slender, twining vine with a woody base. It is supported generally on other plants or a fence. The compound leaves have numerous short leaflets, which are sensitive to light and droop at night and on cloudy days. The inconspicuous flowers are a pale reddish-purple. The fruit, a pea-shaped pod about 1.5 inches long, splits open as it dries to reveal three to five hard-coated, brilliant scarlet, pea-sized seeds with a small enamel-black spot at the point of attachment (hilum). This hilar spot serves to distinguish them from look-alike seeds from Mexican vines of the genus , in which the black and red colors are reversed.