- Flowers and leaves have natural healing properties
- Seeds and tubers of the magic flower are poisonous
Its tropical origins and abundance of flowers rightly attract the attention of experienced hobby gardeners. So much exotic beauty often comes with toxic substances in the floral baggage. Read here about the poison content of a miracle flower.
The magic flower is both poisonous and healing
Flowers and leaves have natural healing properties
The people in their home regions use the herbaceous plant parts of a miracle flower for medicinal purposes. Ingredients like betalains (non-toxic alkaloids), rotenoids (anti-inflammatory bioflavonoid), and arabinose (natural simple sugars) help alleviate these health issues:
- inflammation of the skin
- Open wounds
- indigestion
Prepared as a tea, the miracle flower exerts its healing effect from within. Inflamed skin and wounds heal faster if treated regularly with the tea. Furthermore, knowledgeable healers process the tuber into a healing wound dressing.
Seeds and tubers of the magic flower are poisonous
A Mirabilis jalapa is not completely harmless. Its countless flowers turn into pea-sized seeds, which can cause unpleasant symptoms of poisoning if consumed intentionally or unintentionally. Due to their size, they represent a potential source of danger for curious children and pets.
The tubers turn out to be poisonous if they are eaten. Since they are only planted about 3 cm deep in the ground, curious dogs and cats like to lay hands on them. The consequences are vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. Furthermore, the roots have a hallucinogenic effect on humans and animals, so that the scented and flowering plant is not suitable for the family garden.
tips
During the flowering period, consistently cut off everything that has faded. Thanks to this care, you make room for the next buds, the well-groomed appearance is preserved and the miracle flower does not invest its energy in the growth of poisonous seeds.