![pinta plant pinta plant](https://www.trees.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/pentas-flowers-different-colors.jpg)
But as with any plant that isn’t specifically considered edible, excessive consumption can cause digestive problems. Incidental ingestion has been deemed basically harmless. You may recall, from your childhood, that tempting saltiness of Play-Doh and then noticing the container said “non-toxic.” That label can be found on myriad other products, such as crayons, glues, and scented markers.īut that doesn’t mean those things are food! Pentas flowers are a good example of that as well. So what exactly is the difference between all these classifications? And is there some overlap between them?Ĭlearly, “toxic” and “edible” are very different qualities! And for the sake of this topic, it is safe to say that “non-toxic” and “not meant for consumption” are essentially the same.Īllow me to illustrate with a relatable analogy: Classification: Toxic, Non-Toxic, Not Meant for Consumption, Edible And even if only one component of the plant is toxic, doing so places their health at risk. If it smells good, there’s a chance they may take a taste-test. When it comes to a curious dog, they aren’t going to consider these things. Similarly, there are plenty of root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, turnips, etc.) whose roots are delicious but their foliage is bitter and pungent. Some flowers have petals or leaves that make a lovely tea, but would not taste good in your salad. Likewise, this is good to keep in mind simply from a culinary perspective. That, for instance, is why some people can eat coriander but not cilantro. The reason it’s important to consider a plant’s different parts is because they have slightly different chemical compounds. In a moment we’ll take a more detailed look at how this variable influences the determination of a plant’s toxicity if ingested by a dog or cat. Some people are allergic to a chemical found in the plant’s foliage (cilantro), but have no problem with coriander (the spice made from the plant’s seeds).
![pinta plant pinta plant](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c9/f4/2f/c9f42f09cf24f39cf720c47fe470965c.jpg)
Any combination of these parts, regarding their toxicity, may look different from one plant to the next.Ĭoriander and cilantro are a common example of this situation, when it comes to edible plants.
![pinta plant pinta plant](https://www.gardensonline.com.au/Uploads/Plant/4170/Pentas-Lanceolata-Hybrids-Pink-3.jpg)
There are many plants, even some common food items, that have edible fruits, petals, and/or foliage, but may have stems, seeds, or roots that are toxic. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when making this determination about a given plant. The terms “Pentas” and “Egyptian Star” were nowhere to be found! Thank goodness I knew to look for the scientific name as well.Īnd the good news? Pentas flowers are non-toxic to dogs, cats, and humans! Consider this: the ASPCA website has an exhaustive list of over 300 plants, separated into “toxic” and “non-toxic” categories. It’s easy to see how this important to know, so that you can avail yourself to all possible information about the plant you’re researching. Their scientific name is Pentas Lanceolata.
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The tricky thing is that all plants have at least 2 recognized names, including their scientific name plus however many common names they also go by.įor instance, Pentas flowers are also known as Egyptian Stars, star flowers, or star clusters. So how do you know whether Pentas flowers are or aren’t safe for you and yours? Anyone who is both a garden lover and an animal lover knows the importance of determining which plants may or may not be harmful to pets and children.