Poisonous Plants
Karen Kaczorowski
Twice this school year, 1996-1997, Mr. Lane's 6th through 8th grade class took a trip to the Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP), first from November 4th through 6th and then from April 14th through 16th. The area of the park where we stayed and studied was a lowland area in Sekundur. Each student was able to select a topic to investigate and learn more about. My own project is in regard to poisonous plants. I find that plants are easier to observe as they are stationary and the fact that they are poisonous makes them all the more interesting.
Part of what whetted my interest in poisonous plants were two incidents where a plant's toxins had ill effects on humans. One of those people was me. We had gone swimming in a river where several vines hung into the water. We climbed them and played around on them and very soon after I developed a blistered rash on part of my arm, my shoulder and my back. It was itchy but lasted only a few hours. The other incident affected my teacher, Mr Jacoby. While he and other students went out to a pond to catch frogs, he brushed against and was punctured by the thorns of a medium-sized bush. He did not think much of it and covered it with iodine and covered it up with a bandage. Later, he looked back and it had not healed in the least. It had, in fact, gotten worse. So, he scrubbed the wound with a washcloth and again covered it up. A few days later, it began to get pussy and his entire calf began to ache. He could feel the blood throbbing through it and he began to worry. He finally called a doctor and found that the wound could be treated with antibiotics. These happenings go to show what a plant's toxins can do.
When we were finally able to begin collecting samples and data of our research topics, I went about it a slightly different way than did others working with plants. As some of my plants had sap that irritated human skin upon contact, I was not always able to collect samples. When Ety, the botanist, or Riswan, the forestry agent, pointed out a poisonous plant, I drew it in detail to the best of my ability. Later, although not of yet, these drawings will be identified by a computer program at the LDP office in Medan.
While my project is on poisonous plants, Ety had knowledge of plants in general. She taught me a great deal of general information about plants. I learnt to recognize those plants belonging to the LEGUME family. I also learnt of the different types of margins, shapes of leaves, types of compound leaves, venation, apexes, arrangements, bases and attachments. When collecting plant samples it is important to obtain as many parts of the plant as is possible. Often the leaves of plants are very similar to one another. More of the plant's organs are necessary for it to be identified. The most important part of a plant in its identification is the flower. Because there are so many various species of plants to be found in the rainforest, it is not always possible to identify a species on site; thus it becomes necessary to mount the plant parts and bring them back where a database can be accessed.
To avoid poisonous plants one must be able to recognize them. This skill would prove valuable to those intent on visiting GLNP. Were a person to visit the part, get an appalling rash and then vow to rid the world of such evil flora, eco-tourism would have suffered. Therefore, I think it important that all tourists be well aware of the dangerous plants out there.
All in all, I found three species of poisonous plants. The first, most commonly found, was a species of Rhodedendren. It has a very beautiful blossom about six and a half centimeters in diameter and is colored purple. The leaves are about six centimeters long and are protected by many tiny hairs. When they are rubbed against the grain, the leaf feels like sandpaper. When the leaves reach maturity they turn a dark red. The fruit of the Rhododendren is a light green near the base and turns a dark red away from the base. In some of them, a slender pink projection protrudes from the center. The fruit grows in bunches and has little hairs growing on the edge. Some of the smaller branches of the Rhododendren are yellow and are guarded by red thorns. If one were to ingest the Rhododendren leaves, they would suffer from stomach aches.
Another common species of poisonous plant is the rattan. Despite its toxicity, it is a very useful plant. It can be made into furniture and any other variety of things. It is a climbing plant and belongs to the species Calamus. "Rattan" is its common name. It has paripinnate leaves that branch off the stem. The stem is a long vine covered in thorns. The midstem is also covered in thorns. Long, slender leaves branch off the midstem in opposite fashion near the base and in an alternating pattern farther on. While the leaves stop stemming off about thirty-seven centimeters from the base, the midstem goes on for another forty centimeters. The entire plant is dark green in color. Should the thorns scratch or puncture the skin of an unsuspecting victim, he stands a good chance of having it infected.
The last, perhaps not-so-common species found was a plant of the species Caladium. The leaf is about forty-four centimeters in length and is nearly symmetrical. It's leaf is sagittate in shape and has a long dark stem attaching the leaf to the ground from the center of the leaf. The leaf and stem are dark green. The leaf has light yellow-green veins and the stem has even darker markings on it. The stem is about seventy centimeters long and there is only one leaf per plant. If any person's skin were to come in contact with this plant's sap, he would suffer a severe rash.
On my trip to the rainforest, I was able to find three poisonous plants. Based on what scientists in the field have told me, I do know that there are a great deal more out there. Poisonous plants made a very interesting study. I enjoyed learning more about them and about plants in general. It is important for the public to be educated of these plants, especially those interested in visiting GLNP or any rainforest. They are not dangerous as long as they are avoided. All of them have their niche in the ecosystem and are important in some manner or another to other organisms. For this reason, they should be left alone. Many of these plants are very beautiful and can be safely appreciated from a distance.
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