Poisonous Cacti: All You Need To Know About These Cacti Species

Cactus is a fleshy plant that grows in places with hot and dry climates.

Cactus is a fleshy plant with no leaves. The leaves are modified into thorns, which reduces water loss during transpiration.

Desert plants grow and thrive in places where other plants find it difficult to live. These succulents have immense capacity to capture and store moisture in their white sap.

Their thick coat and thorns also protect them against predators. They follow the process of the oxidative photosynthetic carbon cycle for their production of food. Despite being succulents, they can grow in any type of harsh weather conditions.

Cactus is a popular home plant. Being a slow-growing plant that requires little water and minimum attention to survive, they are the favorite indoor plants of many plant lovers. They hold immense economic importance and are extensively cultivated for their beautiful flowers and ability to grow in small spaces.

If you like reading our article on Poisonous cactus, check out our other interesting articles on Bamboo plants and Begonia facts.

Poisonous Cactus Species List

There is a wide variety of about 2000 different kinds of cacti. They grow in different shapes and colors in various parts of the world. Although some varieties such as prickly pear, cholla, and dragon fruits are a few edible cactus fruits, there are a number of poisonous cactus species in the world too.

Saguaro, which grows in parts of California and Arizona, is considered to be the most dangerous cacti by many. But there are a number of other cactus species that are also said to be pretty dangerous. Here are a few of them.

Peyote Cactus: Found in the Southwest United States, northern Mexico, and Peru, Peyote is a small, slow-growing, spineless cactus. Also known as Lophophora williamsii, this cactus is known to contain psychoactive properties and can be toxic if consumed in large amounts.

In some places growing this plant is not illegal unless it is being used for the preparation of hallucinogenic substances or illegal drugs, while in some other places, this plant is banned from being owned.

San Pedro Cactus: Native to the Andes mountains, this cactus has a fast-growing nature and can reach the height of 10-20 ft (3-6 m). It is also known as Echinopsis pechnoi. It contains high amounts of psychedelic alkaloids, which have hallucinogenic properties. Thus this cactus is highly poisonous and is also considered an illegal substance in many countries.

Peruvian Torch Cactus: Also known as Echinopsis peruviana, this cactus is native to the western slopes of the Andes. It is a fast-growing tall columnar cactus with ribbed stems and white flowers. These poisonous cacti contain a significant amount of hallucinogenic substances, especially mescaline.

Saguaro Cactus: Also known as Carnegiea gigantea, they are the largest cactus in the United States. This slow-growing columnar cactus grows notable branches known as arms.

They have long spines for protection against predators and have a life expectancy of 150-200 years. This cactus is not poisonous, but its huge size and its pointy cactus needles can be a threat to pets and children.

Euphorbia canariensis: Commonly known as Canary Island Spurge, it is a small succulent shrub with long straight stems. They have a milky sap rich in cycasin which can cause problems such as stomach pains and diarrhea if consumed.

The sap is highly toxic and has a bitter taste. It is also irritant to the skin and can cause skin diseases.

Cholla cactus: Native to Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States, Chollas belong to the genus of Cylindropuntia. It is also known as jumping cholla as it jumps onto the skin or clothing of passersby. Cholla spines aren't poisonous, but they can cause infections that can turn septic.

Barrel Cactus: Found in the deserts of Southwestern North America, these cactus plants have sharp cacti spines that don't contain any toxins. However, the ribs of the barrel cacti contain toxic sap that can cause skin irritation. This is a poisonous cactus with a toxic sap of latex-like juices.

Pencil Cactus: Also known as Euphorbia tirucalli, they are very plants that can survive in any condition. They contain a milky substance that can be toxic to humans and animals, which makes this cactus poisonous.

How To Identify Poisonous Cacti

Most cacti aren't poisonous, but cactus spines are usually known to cause irritation if they come in contact with the skin. Many cacti have other psychedelic alkaloids that give them a bitter taste, but that doesn't make them poisonous but leads to hallucinogenic effects.

If cacti are to be kept as house plants, it is better to keep them out of reach of children and pets. Though cacti aren't harmful to humans or pets, most cacti, if ingested, can cause digestive disorders. Also, if the cactus thorns come in contact with skin or eyes, they can induce allergic reactions.

There are a few cacti, such as Peyote cactus, San Pedro cactus, Peruvian torch, Euphorbia canariensis, Bolivian torch, which contain toxins that have hallucinogenic effects that can be harmful. The best shot is to identify them and acquire knowledge about them.

It is better to avoid eating a cactus fruit if the facts about that cactus plant are not properly known. The few cacti plant fruits that can be consumed, such as prickly pear, dragon fruit, organ pipe cactus fruit, and others, should be consumed only after removing the necessary parts, if any present.

Cactus usually stores water in its sap as spongy flesh mixed with other acids and alkaloids. These chemicals make cactus water not fit for human consumption. Thus, cacti water is not usually poisonous, but the chemicals can be harsh for the kidneys to filter and sometimes cause problems such as diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting.

How To Handle Poisonous Cacti

One should stay extra careful while dealing with cacti plants, be it to clear them from your backyard or install them as houseplants. Though the cacti thorns aren't poisonous, they are capable of causing skin irritations that can hurt pretty bad. So, it is better to wear gloves while handling them.

There are various forms of cactus spines like straight or curved, flat or round, hair-like, bristle-like, needle-like, and others. Cacti with hair-like spines can cause itching and should be handled with gloves or thick towels.

Also, they should not be sniffed as that might cause the hair-like substances to enter inside your body and cause allergic reactions. Wearing glasses will help avoid any eye-related irritations.

Cacti with long sharp thorns can go deep inside the skin and cause internal damage. Even after it is pulled out, it can cause infections later.

It is better to be extra cautious while handling them and safeguard oneself accordingly so that the spines cannot pierce through. It is also better if such cacti are not installed as houseplants.

Moreover, if you have pets and small children in the house, it is not really advisable to keep cactus as they might hurt themselves by touching the cactus spines inappropriately.

If a cactus produces a strong fragrance that is unpleasant, it has probably got rotten and is better if gotten rid of. Cacti usually rot if kept too wet for a long time. It is best if the cactus is kept under direct sunlight. Overwatering, lack of sunlight can lead cactus to break into cold sweats.

Cacti spines serve as a defense mechanism for the plant. In extreme conditions, if one has proper knowledge of the types of cacti, one can rely on the cactus plant for food and water to survive. You can consume cactus fruit by removing the spines carefully and drying them under the sun.

After Care If A Cactus Needle Pricks You

If pricked by a cactus, one should immediately follow the following measures:

Use tweezers to remove any visible cactus spine. If you are pricked by glochids, you should carefully remove each spine because the tiny spines can painfully stay in your skin.

Do not pinch the skin or try to get out the spine with fingernails, as it might further insert the spine or might cause the spine to break apart, which might complicate the situation. If you cannot pull out cactus thorns, you should soak them in warm water for some time and try again.

Tweezers must be sterilized before using them on the affected area. In complex cases, duct tape or similar sticky substances can be used to pull out cactus thorns and bristles.

You can also use glue or clear nail polish for the same purpose. Spread a thin layer of glue or nail polish over the area and let it dry. Later pull off the sticky white layer, and it should pull out the cactus thorns along with it.

Please do not give in to your impulse to scrub or scratch the affected area, as it will make it worse. If temptations to scrub are high, use a soft, light fabric to brush it on the area without pressing to get a little relief.

Rinse the affected area of the skin by rubbing alcohol, specialized washes, or detergent with lots of water. This will disinfect the area and reduce the chances of probable future infections. For deep wounds caused by long sharp thorns, it is better to consult a doctor for any possible internal infections.

Use cold water to soothe the pain. Later put on some ointment on the affected area and put on a bandage initially.

This will prevent dust from resting on the wound and thus reduce the possibility of further irritations leading to a speedy recovery. An open wound might lead to the accumulation of dust or dirt, leading to skin irritation.

Cactus is an outdoor plant that grows in well-drained soil. Apart from toxin-containing cacti like Echinopsis Peruviana, Bolivian torch cactus, and others, they also make lovely home plants that are easy to take care of.

These plant leaves are modified into spines. When you touch a cactus plant, cactus thorns do not cause harm until they are mishandled or the plants are squeezed. Cacti are low maintenance and symbolic of people with kind hearts but strong personalities.

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