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The Rosary Pea plant. Image obtained with thanks from the NIH.
Love Bean/Rosary Pea
The Rosary Pea (see alternative names below) is a plant which has been used around the world for the production of various things, from aphrodisiac drugs, to jewelery and percussion instruments. The jewelery is produced using the beautiful seeds from this plant, which also happen to be extremely toxic. A single seed can kill a human being. It is also unsafe to inhale.
According to the NIH:
‘Abrus precatorius is a vine native to India and other tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Since introduction to Florida and the Caribbean, it is now commonly found throughout these areas and in the southern United States. It is known by a variety of names, including jequirty bean, rosary pea, prayer bead, crab’s eye, and love bean. The vine has pods with oval seeds and a hard glossy shell. The seeds vary in color, from red, black, orange or white with black and white centers (Figure 1). While all parts of the plant are toxic, the highest concentrations are found in the seeds. Due to their appearance, the seeds are often used for jewelry, beadwork and ornaments.’
Other things you should know: Ingestion of the intact seed may not necessarily kill you as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract due to its hard shell. The crushed seeds can kill you several days after ingestion, so be sure to see a doctor immediately if you mistakenly ingest these seeds. Beware of anyone that tries to administer any part of this plant for medicinal reasons. Mankind has a long history of administering poisonous substances as medicines because they were unaware.
Survival after an Intentional Ingestion of Crushed Abrus Seeds
