Figure 1: A poinsettia. Did you know that those poinsettias that look so nice during the holiday season are related to a plant whose sap can cause allergic reactions on contact? |
Among all the famous members of the Euphorbaceae family is a lesser-known cousin called Euphorbia marginata (Figure 2), also known as Snow-on-the-mountain, and sometimes confused with other parsley-like species as described on the Kansas Wildlife Federation page [1]. This plant, like its relatives, contains a white sap inside its stems (kind of like a dandelion). However, the milky-white latex of the Snow-on-the-mountain flower can be highly allergenic to sensitive individuals. This property made it famous when it was widely publicized for interfering in a wedding after the bride transferred some of the plant's sap from its freshly cut stems to her eyes, landing her in the ER on her wedding day [2].
Figure 2: Euphorbia marginata. Also called "Snow-on-the-mountain". |
[1] http://kswildlife.org/ww/snow-on-the-mountain-a-kansas-beauty-that-is-also-dangerous/
[2] http://www.omaha.com/living/allergic-reaction-to-flowers-sent-bride-on-a-wedding-day/article_21cec2fe-d9ef-11e7-a9b6-0beeaf93f6f4.html
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