A Cautionary Tale

Anybody recognise this weed? Similar looking to a chickweed.Finding this in my new garden I thought I had better post this...



Keeping birds,it has been my habit in summer months to hand pick a few dandelion leaves and other green shoots which the birds seem to like picking through.

Some three years ago I plucked some of the above leaves and threw them into the aviary...thinking no more about it I continued with my work and a few minutes later my eyes felt uncomfortable...I rubbed them,as you do, and within seconds I was hit with unbelievable pain in both eyes...within minutes I was totally blind.I found my way to the sink and stuck my head under the tap...no effect.

Being alone I panicked and staggered to the house next door...no answer.Now I was really crapping myself...I suddenly heard a voice..."Are you alright mate?" it was a passing window cleaner.
He phoned 999 and I was rushed to the eye hospital...all the time in awful pain.They rushed me in and a nurse immediately bathed my eyes with a solution that stopped the pain almost within seconds.
Some three hours later after treatment my sight returned and there was no long term damage.
God knows what would have happened without that passing window cleaner.The doctor told me the milky sap from the plant was one of many with extremely toxic effect if coming into contact with the eyes. Obviously I had inadvertantly rubbed my eyes shortly after picking the plant...after a lifetime of picking leaves for birds and rabbits without accident I never thought to wash my hands...How many kids do after playing outdoors and picking flowers and plants all day long?

Needless to say I now wash my hands regularly when weeding or handling plants...Do you??

 

Blimey thats a scary experience RH,

You were lucky.

that looks like a spurge, very nasty sap.

While we're on this, please please please, everyone else reading this, take a look at the sticky thread on poisonous plants, its there for all to see, to prevent things like this.

Hope you make a full recovery

 

It is definitely one of the Euphorbias ( spurge ) Don`t know which one though. Having said that, they are ALL skin/eye irritant.

 

Terrible experience! You don't happen to know what solution they have used to bath yor eyes with?

 

I KNOW....NOW!...:D

No idea ...sorry...I guess it's one they use regularly,they knew immediately I mentioned I had been handling weeds.

 

Sorry to hear that raebhoop, how frightening. I bet the birds didn't touch it either. Euphorbias tend to have an upright growth, where as chickweed tends to be more ground hugging. My mum's birds used to go mad for chickweed as soon as it was put in the aviaries. They liked groundsel and plantain as well.

I am very aware now of the things that grow in my garden and keep my hands away from my face until washed. Had a nasty experience with hogwort many years ago.

 

Holy mackerel. I have that weed in my garden. I recognised it as a spurge, but left it because it is quite pretty for a weed, with its lovely fresh green foliage.

Its coming out tomorrow now I know this.

 

It gave me a red, blistering rash on my arms when I pulled some out and carried it in a bundle of weeds to the compost heap.

 

Isn't that something to do with Harry Potter??...:D

 

I get loads of that coming up in various parts of my garden, so thanks for the heads up.

I usually nuke it with weedkiller, don't think I've ever picked it up but will be ultra cautious in future!

 

Hand model?

 

:D

'As an international supermodel, Shiney's hands have to look good. He chooses Nivea Age Defying hand cream. And gardening gloves.'

 

Clare! :D