Knight's star is poisonous to humans
Don't let the majestic funnel-shaped flowers fool you about the extreme toxicity of an amaryllis. A knight's star contains toxic alkaloids in all parts. The health-threatening lycorin is explicitly found in high concentrations in the onion. If only a few grams of it are consumed, severe symptoms of poisoning are the result. Affected people suffer from these symptoms:
- Massive nausea and vomiting
- Acute dizziness followed by a racing heart
- Heavy sweats
Cultivating amaryllis should be avoided within the reach of children. In addition, the plant is classified as toxic to animals, so that there is a high risk of death for cats, dogs, guinea pigs and other pets if consumed.
