May 3, 2015
Doll’s Eyes (Actaea pachypoda)
Also known as White Baneberry, Doll’s eyes are a flowering plant, most prevalent in Northern and Eastern North America. The name originates from the fruit of the plant, which is a tiny white berry with a contrasting black dot, which looks very similar to an eye.
Although the whole plant is toxic when ingested by humans, the fruit or ‘the eye’ is where most of the toxins are concentrated. Because they look like little candies, and are sweet tasting, the plant is notorious for claiming unsuspecting children’s lives.
The toxin produced by the plant is carcinogenic and has an immediate, sedative effect on human cardiac muscles: it will cause a quick death if consumed.
