1 . Indoor plants are a beautiful way to brighten up your home, especially in the gray months of winter. But there can be a dark side to houseplants if you have children or if children visit your home. I’s important that you know which plants are poisonous to them.
Gardening expert Jessica Damiano often points out houseplants in friends’ homes should be kept out of children’s mouths. “I don’t mind ruining friends’ hopes of a beautiful indoor jungle if it means preventing harm,” Damiano said.
America’s Poison Centers in Arlington, Virginia get an average of 33,000 calls a year from people whose kids put different plants in their mouths. The cases usually involve children under 3 because they would explore their environment and put everything in their mouths. Most accidental exposures aren’t serious. But in some cases a child’s breathing, skin and eyes can be badly harmed.
Damiano recently visited her cousin’s home and saw a dieffenbachia plant in the kitchen. Her cousin told her that her young son, who had just begun crawling (爬), had shown interest in the leaves. Damiano had to explain to her cousin that eating a small amount of the plant’s stem (茎) can cause temporary but severe pain. The plant parts can cause throat and mouth swelling. The plant’s sap (树液) can cause nose, skin and eye pain. Other plants that can cause similar reactions include: caladium, flamingo flower, Swiss cheese plant, peace lily and pothos.
Damiano said that parents should teach their young children not to put non-food plant parts into their mouths. Besides, she urges parents to research whether the plants in their homes are safe to grow around children. She also suggests learning the official botanical names of houseplants so that they’re able to provide that information quickly to a poison control expert, if needed.
Not all houseplants are problematic, of course. Spider plants are nontoxic (无毒的) and are also among the easiest indoor plants to grow. African violets, Boston ferns and Christmas cactus are other safe choices.
1. Why are children under 3 more likely to become victims of houseplants?| A．They have easier access to houseplants. |
| B．They enjoy tasting anything out of curiosity. |
| C．They tend to mistake houseplants for candies. |
| D．They are more sensitive to poison of any kind. |
| A．Its sap can lead to pain in the skin. |
| B．Its stem can cause long lasting pain, |
| C．It harms health only when eaten a lot. |
| D．It looks like the peace lily in appearance. |
| A．They should avoid growing houseplants. |
| B．They should ask their children not to touch plants. |
| C．They should teach themselves knowledge about houseplants. |
| D．They should keep in close touch with poison control experts. |
| A．How to Choose Safe Houseplants’ |
| B．How to Decorate Houses with Plants |
| C．Keep Young Children Away from Houseplants |
| D．Watch Young Children around Some Houseplants |
