Mountain Laurel

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Commonly found in wet, high mountain meadows, the mountain laurel is an attractive, but deadly plant. All parts are poisonous and can be fatal to both humans and animals. After initial consumption, the victim will experience burning lips, mouth, and throat, followed six hours later by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, drowsiness, convulsions, weakness, and progressive paralysis followed by coma and death. Children have been poisoned by merely sucking on the flowers of this plant. Even honey made from mountain laurel pollen is toxic. Mountain laurel is sometimes confused with Labrador tea (Ledum spp.).

Photo by C.Webber

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