Perilous Charmers: Poisonous Plants of the Pacific Northwest

Alice Kidd is an editor with The New Catalyst editorial collective in
Lillooet, B.C.

Plants are not totally benign and passive organisms. In many cases they
have evolved ways of protecting themselves from other species that
includes a toxic substance in their leaves, stem, fruit, or roots.
Perilous Charmers is an excellent guidebook to these plants, whether in
the wild, in the garden, or in the home. Each entry contains a detailed
description of the plant, information about its origin and distribution,
and examples of typical poisoning incidents. Also included are the
specific toxin involved, where it is located in the plant, and the usual
symptoms of poisoning. The plants are labelled RED (most toxic; obtain
medical attention immediately), YELLOW (toxic), and BLUE (not
life-threatening). Each entry is accompanied by a color picture of the
plant to aid in identification.

The rising market in North America for wild herbs and botanicals has
increased the chance that someone will ingest a poisonous substance by
mistake. This guide is highly recommended, but especially to Pacific
Northwest hikers and campers.