A deathly compendium of poisonous plants : wicked weeds and sinister seeds / Rebecca E. Hirsch ; with illustrations by Eugenia Nobati.

By:

Hirsch, Rebecca E [author.]

Contributor(s):

Nobati, Eugenia [illustrator.]

Material type: Text

text

Media type:

unmediated

Carrier type:

volume

Audience:

Teenagers
Young adults
Preteens

ISBN:

9781728493282
1728493285
9798765625248

Subject(s):

Genre/Form:

LOC classification:

QK100.A1 H569 2024

Contents:

Prologue: a word to the wise -- Aconite -- Arrow poisons -- Belladonna -- Castor bean -- Chemical warfare -- Coca -- Datura -- Ergot -- Gympie-gympie -- Habanero chili -- Heartbreak grass -- Henbane -- Lie detector beans -- Manchineel tree -- Mandrake -- Opium poppy -- Poison hemlock -- Poison ivy and poison oak -- Reactions turned deadly -- Strychnine tree -- Tobacco -- Tree nettle -- White snakeroot -- Epilogue: a note from the author.

Awards:

School Library Journal Best Books, 2024.

Summary: "A must for fans of science and history-and also armchair detectives-this entertaining and informative illustrated compendium delves into nature's deadliest plants and their fascinating histories as implements of medicine, warfare, and foul play"-- Provided by publisher.Summary: "Explore the strange and remarkable stories of poisonous and even deadly plants. Science, history, and true crime converge in an informative and exciting look at Mother's Nature's ghoulish garden. From a hallucinogenic fungus linked to the Salem Witch Trials to the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln's mother, learn how certain plants evolved toxicity to avoid being consumed by predators and became the predator on their own. In A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds author Rebecca Hirsch takes you on a wild journey to look at how toxic chemicals in the natural world have been used for medicine, warfare, and sinister acts of foul play. Tread lightly as we explore these plants' ominous deeds." -- Provided by publisher.

List(s) this item appears in: New Young Adult Additions

Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Collection	Shelving location	Call number	Status	Notes	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Adult Book	Phillipsburg Free Public Library	YA Non-Fiction	Teen Spot	YA 581.6 HIR	Available	pap. ed		36748002638338

Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"Should you encounter any of the plants in this book, do not treat them lightly. They can kill you. Or cause you unbearable agony. Or land you in jail. Consider yourself warned."

Explore the strange and remarkable stories of poisonous and even deadly plants.

Science, history, and true crime converge in an informative and exciting look at Mother's Nature's ghoulish garden. From a hallucinogenic fungus linked to the Salem Witch Trials to the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln's mother, learn how certain plants evolved toxicity to avoid being consumed by predators and became the predator on their own.

In A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds author Rebecca Hirsch takes you on a wild journey to look at how toxic chemicals in the natural world have been used for medicine, warfare, and sinister acts of foul play. Tread lightly as we explore these plants' ominous deeds.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"A must for fans of science and history-and also armchair detectives-this entertaining and informative illustrated compendium delves into nature's deadliest plants and their fascinating histories as implements of medicine, warfare, and foul play"-- Provided by publisher.

"Explore the strange and remarkable stories of poisonous and even deadly plants. Science, history, and true crime converge in an informative and exciting look at Mother's Nature's ghoulish garden. From a hallucinogenic fungus linked to the Salem Witch Trials to the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln's mother, learn how certain plants evolved toxicity to avoid being consumed by predators and became the predator on their own. In A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds author Rebecca Hirsch takes you on a wild journey to look at how toxic chemicals in the natural world have been used for medicine, warfare, and sinister acts of foul play. Tread lightly as we explore these plants' ominous deeds." -- Provided by publisher.

Ages 12-18 Zest Books.

Grades 7-12 Zest Books.

School Library Journal Best Books, 2024.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

Prologue: A Word to the Wise (6)
1 Aconite (9)
2 Arrow Poisons (17)
3 Belladonna (23)
4 Castor Bean (31)
5 Chemical Warfare (39)
6 Coca (45)
7 Datura (53)
8 Ergot (61)
9 Gympie-Gympie (69)
10 Habanero Chili (77)
11 Heartbreak Grass (85)
12 Henbane (93)
13 Lie Detector Beans (101)
14 Manchineel Tree (107)
15 Mandrake (115)
16 Opium Poppy (123)
17 Poison Hemlock (131)
18 Poison Ivy and Poison Oak (139)
19 Reactions Turned Deadly (147)
20 Strychnine Tree (153)
21 Tobacco (161)
22 Tree Nettle (169)
23 White Snakeroot (177)
Epilogue: A Note from the Author (184)
Glossary (186)
Source Notes (190)
Selected Bibliography (195)
Further Information (196)
Index (197)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Booklist Review

Promising "myth, mayhem, and murder," this diabolical botanical guide delivers on all fronts. Hirsch distills her training in plant physiology to potent effect as she walks readers through a lethal garden of 22 plants (and 1 fungus) of infamous repute, including flora such as belladonna, datura, heartbreak grass, the manchineel tree, the opium poppy, and the strychnine tree. Each eight-page entry opens with an alluring, vintage-style illustration, famous quote, and true account of a poisoning. Socrates (poison hemlock) and Abraham Lincoln's mother (white snakeroot) are among the book's casualties, as are more recent victims etched in history for their unfortunate demises. Next comes a box of fast facts; an overview of the plant's appearance, history, and use; a "Bodily Harm" rundown of ill effects, often describing the deadly chemicals at play; and a short list of "Deadly Details." Deliciously macabre and almost conspiratorial in tone, Hirsch's coverage is nicely rounded, pulling in traditional uses of many of these plants, some of which have medicinal treatments in small doses. An excellent bibliography and source list draw this sinister offering to a close.

Kirkus Book Review

An introduction to the seemingly harmless flowers, leaves, and seeds that hold dark potential as unexpected tools for murder and warfare. Appealing illustrations abound in this collection of facts and cautionary tales about the world's most poisonous plants. Readers learn about familiar plants, such as tobacco, habanero chili, and poison ivy, along with more mysterious ones, such as henbane, mandrake, and aconite. Each chapter contains harrowing anecdotes about poison victims and subsections relaying scientific information and concludes with a detailed description of the plant's toxic effects on humans (and sometimes animals, too). Hirsch includes a bulleted list of "Deadly Details" for each plant, providing surprising facts ("People have been poisoned by eating honey made by bees gathering nectar from heartbreak grass flowers"). The striking page design evokes a strong sense of the macabre and is reminiscent of dark academia. Botanical drawings and other images break up the blocks of text. Color photographs of the plants provide a glimpse of how these dangerous species appear in the wild. Bookended by a thoughtful prologue and cautionary epilogue, the contents are organized alphabetically, allowing for quick reference. Source notes, a selected bibliography of high-quality works, a comprehensive glossary, and teen-appropriate further resources (including a quirky blog by a professional horticulturalist) invite readers to continue their education beyond the text. An engaging, visually appealing guide for science buffs, true-crime enthusiasts, and herbalists alike. (index, photo credits)(Nonfiction. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.