Tomatoes, nightshade, and datura are all in the same family: Solanaceae
Poinsettias are not poisonous to humans. Some plants in the euphorbia family can cause severe inflammation if you are exposed to the sap, and that may be why poinsettias have gotten the reputation.
I got the runs from eating too many green tomatoes. That may be a unique reaction, or atypical, I am not sure. It is purely anecdotal, may not have a basis scientifically, although I do know that a certain percentage of people have a sensitivity or slight allergic reaction to the compounds in tomatoes (nightshade family). Probably why the love apple was first thought to be poisonous… also interesting to speculate that the ancient and original strains of tomatoes might have been more flavorful because of a higher level of these compounds. Maybe, why some people also have an aversion to the taste of fresh tomatoes.
Quoth Kalhoun:
Yeah, it’s a shame, too, since they smell so wonderful. Tomato leaves would make a lovely herb if they weren’t poisonous.
Quoth WhyNot:
<pulls bowl of dandelion towards self>
Um, right, I’d better dispose of this, to make sure nobody gets poisoned. Yeah, that’s the ticket! And while I’m at it, I’ll just dispose of this bacon dressing, too.
Does anyone have a confirming cite that tomato leaves are poisonous? I feel like I’ve seen them used in a dish on Iron Chef.
picunurse’s husband had a bad reaction to anemone – thread about it here.
Very interesting. Thank you! I grow those tobacco flowering “nightshades” each summer. I had no idea they were from the same family. The purple variety smells wonderful when the sun goes down. However, I never noticed a stronger scent from the tomato plants.