Don’t stop reading it, it is a very common TOXIC plant in homes. This beautiful plant that we see in the photos, called diffembachia, which is sold without warnings as a decorative plant, actually has one of the most powerful poisons and toxins in nature. Introduced to Europe at the end of the 19th century, it comes mainly from the virgin forests of Central and South America. The name was given in honor of the German doctor and naturalist Ernst Dieffenbach. In Panama it is known as “pita or pito” in the interior areas of the country and commonly called lottery, in the rest of the nation and in Mexico and Peru galatea.

Dieffenbachia plant cells contain acicular calcium oxalate crystals called raphides. If a leaf is chewed, these crystals can cause a mild temporary burning sensation and erythema. Other enzymes in the plant are believed to increase the potency of the crystals. Rare cases of edema of tissues exposed to the plant have been reported.