Rosary Pea
Also known as rosary pearls, these are tropical houseplants bearing red berries. Ingestion of broken seeds causes a delayed reaction of vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, major abdominal pain, burning in the throat and lesions in the mouth and esophagus. The rosary pea can cause death. Because the peas look edible and are bright red, resembling cranberries, they may attract children.

Living with Poisonous Plants
The first rule for plants and young children is stay away. Keep plants out of reach and explain to children that they are not a toy. Children should also be taught from a young age never to eat berries or other fruits that they encounter, since some poisonous varieties look almost exactly like the foods we eat. Picking poisonous berries off houseplants may be necessary.

If your child shows symptoms of poisoning, it’s important to try and identify the source. Damage to houseplants may be obvious. If the child is responsive, ask him or her to point out the plant that was eaten, then call the poison control hotline for treatment instructions.

In addition to poisoning, the pollen of some plants may trigger allergic reactions. It’s best to introduce new houseplants one at a time, waiting two weeks and checking for any signs of allergies before introducing another.