Toxic Mushrooms, All are deadly

Most Deadly Toxic Mushrooms over the World

Many mushroom species produce secondary metabolites that can be toxic, mind-altering, antibiotic, antiviral, or bioluminescent. Although there are only a small number of deadly species, several others can cause particularly severe and unpleasant symptoms. Toxicity likely plays a role in protecting the function of the basidiocarp: the mycelium has expended considerable energy and protoplasmic material to develop a structure to efficiently distribute its spores.

1. Conocybe filaris

This toxic mushroom is widely distributed and especially common in the Pacific Northwest. It contains the same mycotoxins as the Death Cap. 

It is also known as Pholiotina filaris. They have been shown to contain amatoxins, which are highly toxic to the liver and are responsible for many deaths by poisoning from mushroom.

2. Turkey Tail

Trametes versicolor, often called the "turkey tail," has the dubious distinction of being the only member of the forest fungal fowl community not named for the full bird, but a feathery fraction.

However, the chicken of the woods and the hen of the woods look nothing at all like chickens or hens, while the turkey tail does look (vaguely) like a turkey's tail.

3. Clustered Woodlover

This dangerous mushroom is also commonly known as Sulphur Tuft or Sulfur Tuft. It is bitter and poisonous and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and the death case by this mushroom is reported in Japan.  

Symptoms may be delayed for 5-10 hours after consumption. Paralysis and impaired vision have been recorded. The autopsy of one fatality revealed fulminant hepatitis reminiscent of amatoxin poisoning, along with involvement of kidneys and myocardium.

4. The False Morels

Gyromitra esculenta , one of several species of fungi known as the brain mushroom, is an ascomycete fungus from the genus Gyromitra, widely distributed across Europe and North America. It normally sprouts in sandy soils under coniferous trees in spring and early summer. The fruiting body, or mushroom, is an irregular brain-shaped cap dark brown in colour which can reach 10 cm high and 15 cm wide, perched on a stout white stipe up to 6 cm (2.4 in) high.

Although potentially fatal if eaten raw, Gyromitra esculenta is a popular delicacy in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and the upper Great Lakes region of North America. Although popular in some districts of the eastern Pyrenees, it is prohibited from sale to the public in Spain. It may be sold fresh in Finland, but it must be accompanied by warnings and instructions on correct preparation. It is eaten in omelettes, soups, or sautéed in Finnish cuisine. Although it is still commonly parboiled before preparation, recent evidence suggests that even this procedure may not make the fungus entirely safe, thus raising concerns of risk even when prepared properly.

5. Destroying Angel

The all-white Destroying Angel contains amatoxins as Death Caps do. It is responsible for the overwhelming majority of deaths due to mushroom poisoning.

Symptoms do not appear for 5 to 24 hours, when the toxins may already be absorbed and the damage done. As little as half a mushroom cap can be fatal if not treated quickly enough. The symptoms include vomiting, cramps, delirium, convulsions, and diarrhea.

6. Deadly Webcap

Deadly Webcap common characteristics are quite common, making them difficult to identify, which often leads to fatal poisonings.

Young examples of the species often have a veil between the cap of the mushroom and the stem. This species of poisonous mushroom is common in Europe.

7. Death Cap

This species has been involved in the majority of human deaths from mushroom poisoning. It is a poisonous fungus widely distributed across Europe that resemble several edible species which is the most common cause of accidental human poisoning. The principal toxic constituent is a-amnitin, which damages the liver and kidneys, often fatally.

No antidote is known.Historical figures believed to have died from Death Cap poisoning (or other similar, toxic Amanitas) were Roman Emperor Caludius, Pope Clement VII, Tsaritsa Natalia Naryshkina, and Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI.

8. Ivory Funnel

The ivory funnel of Europe and North America is also known as the sweating mushroom, it derives this name from the symptoms of poisoning. It contains potentially deadly levels of muscarine, much higher than the Fly Agaric.

Aside from sweating, symptoms include increased salivation, and tear flow within 15-30 minutes of ingestion and followed by abdominal pain, severe nausea, diarrhea, blurred vision, and labored breathing. The specific antidote is atropine

9. Entoloma sinuatum

Entoloma sinuatum is a poisonous mushroom of Europe and North America and it may be mistaken for the edible St Georges’ mushroom or Miller mushroom.

This species has been responsible for 10% of all cases of mushroom poisoning in Europe. It causes primarily gastrointestinal problems that, though not generally life-threatening, have been described as highly unpleasant.

10. European Destroying Angel

Amanita virosa which is commonly known as the European Destroying Angel is highly toxic, and has been responsible for severe mushroom poisoning. Like the closely related Death Cap, it contains the highly toxic amatoxins and phallotoxins.  

Immature specimens of resemble several edible species commonly consumed by humans, increasing the risk of accidental poisoning. It is one of the most poisonous of all known toadstools.

11. Fool’s Mushroom

Who will not be captivated and tempted to eat this lovely-looking mushroom? Another deadly all-white mushroom is the Amanita verna of Europe, commonly known as the Fool’s Mushroom. Its specific epithet verna is derived from its springtime fruiting habit.  

Closely related to other deadly pure white amanitas, the Fool’s Mushroom is one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world. Just like the Death Cap, it contains amatoxins, primarily alpha-amanitin, which can cause liver failure.

12. Western North American Destroying Angel

This mushroom contains the highly toxic amatoxins and phallatoxins and has been responsible for a number of mushroom poisonings in western North America. Death Angel, Destroying Angel or more precisely Western North American Destroying Angel is found mostly in the Pacific Northwest and California growing near oak trees. Just half a cap of this mushroom can be enough to kill a human.  

There is some evidence it may be the most toxic of all the North American phalloideae, as a higher proportion of people consuming it had organ damage and 40% perished. Dogs, too, have been known to consume this fungus in California with fatal results. No definitive antidote for amatoxin poisoning is available, but some specific treatments such as intravenous penicillin have been shown to improve survivability. Article Source: wikipedia, themysteryworld

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Big Cats, Absolutely Biggest in Cat Family

Big Cats, Absolutely Biggest in Cat Family

The term big cat – which is not a biological classification – is used informally to distinguish the larger felid species from smaller ones. One definition of "big cat" includes the four members of the genus Panthera: the tiger, lion, jaguar, and leopard. Members of this genus are the only cats able to roar. A more expansive definition of "big cat" also includes the cheetah, snow leopard, clouded leopard, and cougar. Despite enormous differences in size, the various species of cat are quite similar in both structure and behavior, with the exception of the cheetah, which is significantly different from any of the big or small cats. All cats are carnivores and efficient predators, in fact they are apex predators. Their range includes the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

1. Tiger

The tiger is the largest of all cats. The tiger is one of four species that belong to the genus Panthera, more commonly referred to as the 'roaring cats'. Tigers are solitary animals that prefer the cover of dense vegetation—a habitat in which they can stalk their prey. 

Their range once extended throughout India, Bangladesh and southeastern Asia, from the Caspian Sea to northern China and Siberia. The tiger's coat is orange with black stripes and white markings on its face, chest, and underside. Eight subspecies of tiger have been identified, though three of those subspecies have been extinct since the 1950s. The extinct subspecies include the Caspian, Javan, and Bali tigers.

2. Lion

Lions usually inhabit savannah and grasslands and will sometimes be found in forests. A group of lions is called a pride which consists of females, lion cubs, and a few male lions. The female lions usually do the hunting in groups (males will rarely ever hunt). The lion is known as a vulnerable species with a population decline of 30-50 percent. 

A male is recognized by its mane. The lion is the second largest feline in the entire world. The color of their coat is usually a light yellow. Lion cubs are born with spots on their body but they disappear as they mature. The diet of a lion includes wildebeest, impalas, zebras, and buffalo.

3. Jaguar

The jaguar is the third largest big cat in the world. It is the national animal of Brazil. Jaguars closely resemble leopards but are much larger. It is also one of the few big cats that enjoy swimming. They are solitary predators and are known to regulate the populations of prey species.  

The powerful bite of the jaguar allows them to break through shell and hard reptile skin. Sadly, their numbers are dropping quickly and are nearly threatened because they are often killed by humans. Jaguars’ short, stocky limbs make then skilled in climbing, crawling and swimming.

4. Leopard

The leopard is the most widely distributed member of the genus Panthera. The present-day range of the leopard includes Africa, the Near and Middle East, southern Asia, and the Malaysian archipelago. Leopards are secretive and mostly solitary cats that inhabit a wide range of habitats including lowland forests, savannahs, mountains, scrublands, and deserts.  

The leopard's coat has a background color of pale, cream-yellow on its underside that darkens slightly to an orange-brown on its back. Solid black spots adorn its limbs and head, smaller and denser than the golden, umber-centered rosettes that cover its back and sides. The leopard's tale has irregular patches that, at the tip of the tale, become dark-ringed bands.

5. Cougar

The cougar, also known as puma, mountain lion, mountain cat, catamount or panther, depending on the region, is a mammal of the family Felidae, native to the Americas. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, extending from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. An adaptable, generalist species, the cougar is found in every major American habitat type. It is the second heaviest cat in the American continents after the jaguar. Although large, the cougar is most closely related to smaller felines. 

A capable stalk-and-ambush predator, the cougar pursues a wide variety of prey. Primary food sources include ungulates such as deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep, as well as domestic cattle, horses and sheep, particularly in the northern part of its range. It will also hunt species as small as insects and rodents. This cat prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking, but it can also live in open areas. The cougar is territorial and persists at low population densities. Individual territory sizes depend on terrain, vegetation, and abundance of prey. 

6. Cheetah

The cheetah is the world's fastest land animal with the ability to reach speeds of 70 miles per hour. The round, black spots on the cheetah help them to camouflage when hunting. The head of the cheetah is said to be small compared to other big cats. They will eat mostly mammals including gazelles, wildebeests, and zebras.  

When a cheetah sprints for its prey, its body temperature becomes so high that it would become fatal if kept at that level for a long period of time. Cheetahs are on the World Conservation Union list of vulnerable species. There are said to be about 12,400 cheetahs left in the wild.

7. Snow Leopard

The snow leopard is a large species of cat that roams the mountain ranges of central and southern Asia. The snow leopard is well adapted for the cold temperatures of its high-altitude habitat its life span is usually about 15-18 years. It is about the size of a regular leopard but has a long tail that is used for balance in rugged terrain.

They may live in caves in mountainous regions. There are estimated to be about 5,000 snow leopards left, making them an endangered species. The snow leopard will occasionally kill prey three times its size. Their diet consists of ibexes, boars, and deer. A snow leopard will not fight hard for its territory.

8. Bobcat

The bobcat is a North American member of the big cat family. As a predator, it inhabits wooded areas, desert edges, semi desert edges, and swampland environments. The bobcat’s diet consists of: rabbits, hares, deer, small rodents, and even insects. Similar to many other big cats, the bobcat is a solitary hunter. Each bobcat will use a single method to mark its territory. Although bobcats are hunted by humans, for both sport and fur, their population is under no immediate threat at the time. However, continuous hunting of bobcats could jeopardize their population.

Bobcats will travel for the last three hours of sunlight and three hours after sunrise. They are also very skilled at adapting to a new environment. This is a very important skill for the animal because humans have a tendency to invade their habitat. The grayish brown coat, black-tipped ears, and whiskered face resemble many species of lynx. The bobcat may be considered a “big cat” but in relation to other big cats, it is very small in size. In fact, it is only about twice as large as a domesticated cat.

9. Marbled Cat

Almost matching the size of a domesticated cat, the marbled cat is one of the smallest of the big cats. The cat’s 45cm tail will sometimes be used as a balance when hunting. The marbled cat’s range stretches from parts of India to Southeast Asia. Their diet consists of squirrels, reptiles and birds.  

Unfortunately, this cat is rarely studied because they are extremely difficult to spot. Their population is said to be fewer than 10,000 because of their shrinking forest habitat. Scientists have discovered that the marbled cat is closely related to Asiatic Golden Cats. Looking at the picture, it is obvious where the cat got its name from.

10. Ocelot

The ocelot is famous for looking extremely similar to a domestic cat. Its fur may resemble that of a clouded leopard or jaguar. Regrettably this amazing coat has made them a valuable hunting target. Ocelots often hunt for lizards, amphibians, deer, rodents, and frogs. Ocelots are mostly found in South America, Central America and Mexico.

Ocelots were considered endangered during the 1980s but have since been removed from the endangered species list. They are rarely seen together and enjoy resting in dense foliage. They are exceedingly territorial and will sometimes fight to the death at the invasion of land. Since ocelots are nocturnal, they have the best night vision of the big cats.

11. Serval Cat

The serval is a medium-sized cat, measuring 59 to 92 centimetres (23 to 36 in) in head-body length, with a relatively short, 20 to 38 centimetres (7.9 to 15 in) tail, and a shoulder height of about 54 to 66 centimetres (21 to 26 in). Weight ranges from about 7 to 12 kilograms (15 to 26 lb) in females, and from 9 to 18 kilograms (20 to 40 lb) in males. It is a strong yet slender animal, with long legs and a fairly short tail. The head is small in relation to the body, and the tall, oval ears are set close together. The pattern of the fur is variable.



Usually, the serval is boldly spotted black on tawny, with 2 or 4 stripes from the top of the head down the neck and back, transitioning into spots. The "servaline" form has much smaller, freckled spots, and was once thought to be separate species. Servals have the longest legs of any cat, relative to their body size. Most of this increase in length is due to the greatly elongated metatarsal bones in the feet. The toes are also elongated, and unusually mobile, helping the animal to capture partially concealed prey. Another distinctive feature of the serval is the presence of large ears and auditory bullae in the skull, indicating a particularly acute sense of hearing. Article Source: wikipedia & web

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The world largest Aircraft _ Antonov An-225

The world largest Aircraft in aviation history

The Antonov An-225 Mriya (Ukrainian: Антонов Ан-225 Мрія, Russian: Антонов Ан-225 Мрия, Dream, NATO reporting name: 'Cossack') is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft, designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s. It is the world's heaviest fixed-wing aircraft. The design, built to transport the Buran orbiter, was an enlargement of the successful An-124 Ruslan. The An-225's name, Mriya (Мрiя) means "Dream" (Inspiration) in Ukrainian.

One An-225 was completed in 1988 and a second An-225 has been partially completed. The one An-225 is in commercial operation carrying oversized payloads. The Antonov An-225 was designed for the Soviet space program as a replacement for the Myasishchev VM-T. Able to airlift the Energia rocket's boosters and the Buran space shuttle, its mission and objectives are almost identical to that of the United States' Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

The An-225 first flew on 21 December 1988. The aircraft was on static display at the Paris Air Show in 1989 and it flew during the public days at the Farnborough air show in 1990. Two aircraft were ordered, but only one An-225 (tail number UR-82060) was finished. It can carry ultra-heavy and oversize freight, up to 250,000 kg (550,000 lb) internally, or 200,000 kg (440,000 lb) on the upper fuselage.

Cargo on the upper fuselage can be 70 metres (230 ft) long. A second An-225 was partially built during the late 1980s for the Soviet space program. The second An-225 included a rear cargo door and a redesigned tail with a single vertical stabilizer. It was planned to be more effective for cargo transportation. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the cancellation of the Buran space program, the lone operational An-225 was placed in storage in 1994.

The six Ivchenko Progress engines were removed for use on An-124s, and the second uncompleted An-225 airframe was also stored. The first An-225 was later re-engined and put into service. By 2000, the need for additional An-225 capacity had become apparent, so the decision was made in September 2006 to complete the second An-225. The second airframe was scheduled for completion around 2008, and then delayed. By August 2009, the aircraft had not been completed and work had been abandoned. 

Based on Antonov's earlier An-124, the An-225 has fuselage barrel extensions added fore and aft of the wings, which received root extensions to increase span. Two more Ivchenko Progress D-18T turbofan engines were added to the new wing roots, bringing the total to six, and an increased-capacity landing gear system with 32 wheels was designed. 

 The An-124’s rear cargo door and ramp were removed to save weight, and the empennage was changed from a single vertical stabilizer to a twin tail with an oversized horizontal stabilizer. The twin tail was essential to enable the plane to carry large, heavy external loads that would disturb the aerodynamics of a conventional tail. Unlike the An-124, the An-225 was not intended for tactical airlifting and is not designed for short-field operation.

Initially the 225 had a maximum gross weight of 600 tones (1,320,000 lb) but the aircraft was modified in 2000-01, at a cost of US$20M, with a reinforced floor that increased the maximum gross weight to 640 tones (1,410,000 lb). Both the earlier and later takeoff weights establish the An-225 as the world's heaviest aircraft, being heavier than the double-decker Airbus A380 even though Airbus plans to pass the An-225's maximum landing weight with 591.7 tones (1,304,000 lb) for the A380.The Hughes H-4 Hercules, known as the "Spruce Goose", had a greater wingspan and a greater overall height, but was 20% shorter, and due to the materials used in its construction, also lighter.  

In addition, the Hercules only flew once, making the An-225 the largest aircraft in the world to fly multiple times. The An-225 is larger than the Airbus A380 airliner, and also bigger than the Antonov An-124, Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter, and Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, the nearest equivalent heavy cargo aircraft.

In the late 1980s, efforts were begun by the Soviet government to generate revenue from its military assets. In 1989, a holding company was set up by the Antonov Design Bureau as a heavy airlift shipping corporation under the name "Antonov Airlines", based in Kiev, Ukraine and operating from London Luton Airport in partnership with Air Foyle HeavyLift. 

As the Soviet space program was in its last years, the An-225 was considered and accepted to be the prime way to transport the Buran Shuttle.The company initiated operations with a fleet of four An-124-100s and three Antonov An-12s, but by the late 1990s a need for aircraft larger than the An-124 became apparent. In response, the original An-225 was re-engined, modified for heavy cargo transport, and placed back in service under the management of Antonov Airlines.

On 23 May 2001, the An-225 received its type certificate from the Interstate Aviation Committee Aviation Register (IAC AR). In September 2001, carrying 4 main battle tanks at a record load of 253.82 tones (279.79 short tons) of cargo, the An-225 flew at an altitude of 2 km (6,600 ft) over a closed circuit of 1,000 km (620 mi) at a speed of 763.2 km/h (474.2 mph).

The type's first flight in commercial service departed from Stuttgart, Germany on 3 January 2002, and flew to Thumrait, Oman with 216,000 prepared meals for American military personnel based in the region. This vast number of ready meals was transported on some 375 pallets and weighed 187.5 tons. 

The An-225 has since become the workhorse of the Antonov Airlines fleet, transporting objects once thought impossible to move by air, such as locomotives and 150-ton generators. It has become an asset to international relief organizations for its ability to quickly transport huge quantities of emergency supplies during disaster relief operations.

Beginning in June 2003, the An-225, along with An-124s, delivered over 800 tons of equipment to aid humanitarian efforts in Iraq. The An-225 has also been contracted by the Canadian and U.S. governments to transport military supplies to the Middle East in support of Coalition forces. In November 2004, FAI placed the An-225 in the Guinness Book of Records for its 240 records.

On 11 August 2009, the heaviest single cargo item ever sent via air freight was loaded onto an Antonov 225. At 16.23 metres (53.2 ft) long and 4.27 metres (14.0 ft) wide, the consignment–a generator for a gas power plant in Armenia and its loading frame–weighed in at a record 189.09 tonnes (416,900 lb). Also during 2009, the An-225 was painted in a new blue and yellow paint scheme, after Antonov ceased cooperation with AirFoyle and partnered with Volga-Dnepr in 2006.

In February 2010, the An-225 transported 108 tones of construction machinery from Japan to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for quake-stricken Haiti. On 11 June 2010, the An-225 carried the world's longest piece of air cargo, when it flew two new 42-meter wind turbine blades (test subjects) from Tianjin, China to Denmark. An example of the cost of shipping cargo by An-225 was €266,000 for flying a chimney duct from Denmark to Kazakhstan in 2008. 

General characteristics

• Crew: 6
• Payload: 250,000 kg (550,000 lb)
• Door dimensions: 440 x 640 cm (14.4 x 21 ft)
• Length: 84 m (275.6 ft)
• Wingspan: 88.4 m (290 ft 2 in)
• Height: 18.1 m (59.3 ft)
• Wing area: 905 m² (9,743.7 ft²))
• Aspect ratio: 8.6
• Cargo Volume: 1,300 m³ (46,000 cu ft)
• Empty weight: 285,000 kg (628,315 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 640,000 kg (1,323,000 lb)
• Power plant: 6× ZMKB Progress D-18 turbofans, 229.5 kN (51,600 lbf) each
• Takeoff run: 3,500 m (11,500 ft) with maximum payload

Performance

• Maximum speed: 850 km/h (460 knots, 530 mph)
• Cruise speed: 800 km/h (430 knots, 500 mph)
• Range:
• With maximum fuel: 15,400 km (9,570 mi)
• With maximum payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi))
• Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,100 ft)
• Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m² (135.5 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.234

Source: wikipedia

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Devil’s Plants!

Devil’s Plants!

Plants may cause harm to people and animals. Plants that produce windblown pollen invoke allergic reactions in people who suffer from hay fever. A wide variety of plants are poisonous to people and/or animals. Toxalbumins are plant poisons fatal to most mammals and act as a serious deterrent to consumption. Several plants cause skin irritations when touched. In this list are appearing some of devil’s Plants in the world. Description above was probably how these plants get their names.

1. Devil's Tobacco

Lobelia tupa (Tupa, Tabaco del diablo) is a species of Lobelia native to central Chile from Valparaíso south to Los Lagos regions. It is an evergreen perennial plant growing to 4 m tall. The foliage grey-green, with elliptical leaves 10–15 cm long. The flowers are red, trumpet-shaped, produced in a sympodium pattern. It is, and thrives in dry soils.

Its latex is used as an abortifacient, and a hallucinogen, which may explain one of its common names, Tabaco del Diablo (Devil's tobacco). Ironically, this plant has been used as a counter effect herb on nicotine addiction because of alkaloid Lobeline, a nicotinic agonist. The Mapuche Indians of Southern Chile consider it a sacred plant. Tupa leaves have also been found to contain chemicals that act as a respiratory stimulant.

2. Devil’s Club

Also called Devil’s walking stick and for good reason…the plant is covered with sharp spiny thorns. It’s also known as Echinopanax horridum.  It is in the Araliaceae (or Aralia) family and very closely related to Ginsing.  

The berries are poisonous but have been used to kill lice by mashing them up and applying the paste to the hair.  This also treats dandruff and makes the hair shiny.

3. Devil’s Tongue Barrel

The Devil’s Tongue Barrel or Crows Claw Cactus is quite popular because it blooms very early with pinkish purple or yellow flowers.

They come in late autumn to early winter and need moderate amount of bright sunlight to form. It got its name from the bigger thorn that grows in the center of all the thorn rosettes.

4. Devil’s weed

The devil’s weed or datura stramonium plant. The tropane alkaloids in the plant can cause powerful visual and audio hullucinations in those who eat it and leave them in a trance-like or delirious state which can last for several days.

Weeds are plants that grow where people do not want them. The plant can also cause seizures and death.

5. Devil’s Tongue Hot Pepper

The peppers are beginning to turn some beautiful colors. This plant is called the ‘Devils Tongue’. 

Devils Tongue – extremely hot; Habanero Elongated Type; 2 to 3 inches long by 1 to 1.5 inches wide; matures from green to golden yellow; pendant pods; green leaves; 30 to 36 inches tall; Late Season; this pepper is outrageously hot

6. Devil’s Beggar-tick

Devil’s Beggar-tick is one of several species of beggar-tick, plants with seeds that “hitch a ride” on animals and clothing. Each fruit is loaded with tiny flat seeds. Each seed has two barbs (like a fishhook) which will catch on anything soft that brushes against it.

Most often seeds grab onto animal fur or a person’s clothing. Because of the plant’s height, people usually end up picking seeds, sometimes called “hitchhikers,” from their socks. Seeds are also eaten by ducks and other birds.

7. Devil’s Claw

Devil’s claw does not have an odor, but it contains substances that make it taste bitter. It is a leafy perennial with branching roots and shoots. It has secondary roots, called tubers, that grow out of the main roots. The roots and tubers are used for medicinal purposes.

Devil’s Claw – used to treat inflammation, relieve pain and swelling, as well as, treat water retention. Devil’s Claw has also been used for liver, gall bladder and kidney ailments, lymphatic system toxicity, diabetes, respiratory ailments and indigestion.

8. Devil’s ivy

Also known as the Golden Pothos and scientifically termed as Epipiremnum Aureum, the Devil’s ivy is a beautiful vine plant with leaves that are marbled and golden in color as per the name. Even if this plant is not taken care off, it thrives on and continues growing.

This plant acts as an excellent natural anti-pollutant against common pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. However, you should take care that this plant is not ingested in any way even by your own pet dog.

9. Devil’s Tongue

Also known as konjak, konjaku, voodoo lily, snake palm, or elephant yam, is a perennial plant that has been used in China and Japan for over 2,000 years. The starchy tuber, a member of the yam family, is not unlike taro, hence its Chinese name mo yu, which means ‘devil’s taro’.

In Japan it is known as ‘devil’s tongue’ or konnyaku. Through a complicated process similar to the making of tofu, the large brown roots are peeled, boiled, mashed and then mixed with dissolved limestone to coagulate

10. Creeping Devil

Creeping Devil (Stenocereus eruca)  is one of the most distinctive cacti, a member of the relatively small genus Stenocereus. Creeping Devil lies on the ground and grows at one end while the other end slowly dies, with a succession of new roots developing on the underside of the stem

This traveling chain of growth gives rise to the name eruca, which means “caterpillar” as well as the common name Creeping Devil

11. Devil’s Backbone

Devil Backbone is also known as the Variegated Devil’s Backbone, Redbird Cactus, Slipper Flower and Jacob’s Ladder. The botanical name is Pedilanthus tithymaloides ‘Variegatus’ and it is a most unusual plant.

Although it looks like it should be growing in an aquarium, the common name of Devil’s backbone is apt for this plant, since the stems of each alternate leaf bend left or right, producing a mischievous zigzag effect.  The fleshy stems and leaves of the Pedilanthus contain an acrid milky sap which can cause skin irritation and is especially harmful to eyes and open cuts. It is difficult to wash off and will cause an upset stomach, if ingested. Article Source: wikipedia & fizzyenergy 

 

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