The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities

Really enjoyed reading this book. Has some interesting stories for some of the plants it covered and makes you realize you better be sure to be careful about gathering plants that you are not familiar with out in the wild.

The title just makes me want to explore this books pages! My daughter is interested in Botany and is starting college as a Plant Science or Horticulture student so I bought this for her. It's always fun to have some obscure trivia to share with others.

Nice book, you'll learn about some interesting characteristics of plants you thought were completely harmless.
However, there are repetitions (same plant mentioned multiple times) and it's difficult to keep the interest up.
Recommended if you're looking for light reading and find it discounted

I ENJOYED THIS BOOK & IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. I DIDN'T FIND EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR BUT I FOUND OUT A LOT OF PLANTS TO STAY AWAY FROM! THIS WOULD BE A VERY GOOD READ FOR ANYONE WANTING TO PLANT A "SAFE" GARDEN. THE PICTURES WERE A GREAT HELP, ALSO. WOULD HELP SAVE YOUR PETS FROM HARM, ALSO.

Good Book with some interesting details about plants. This gives an overview of different plants and how they can be very dangerous if eaten. I will not be putting things in my mouth after reading this!!

Though well researched with a detailed bibliography, the author does not deliver.

Detailed illustrations & pictures of plants are sparse and often not included at all. (This reader often had to google the plant to find a picture!)

The title promises or at least suggests that the book will be filled with antidotes & stories about the poisonous plants in question, but as with pictures, they are few and far between.

Buyer beware!

Very good book.
The manner in which it is delivered is more encyclopedia-style than a novel, so it doesn't read very fluidly. Also, if you don't live in America many of the plants in the book will be unfamiliar to you.

This book is so interesting and full of information about plants and how they survive, reproduce, kill, and irritate. It might give you some nightmares about your backyard or that next jaunt out into the wilderness. Beware! Some of these plants appear to think, plot and form their attacks as if they have a war room hardwired into their innocent looking exterior. Many are used for medicinal purposes but whoever uses them must be highly educated in the field of botany and natural healing to avoid doing more harm to the patient than good. Some plants were purposely brought over from other countries to help tackle erosion and they are now considered extremely invasive, such as, kudzu. Let us hope they don't have to resort to using Agent Orange to kill it since it is taking over many parts of the Deep South. All in all, this book is very entertaining and could give some writer some great ideas for a horror story.

I originally thought that the internet would be a better source for finding poisonous plants, however, I was delightfully surprised upon opening and reading this attractive, small hardcover book. Although not annotated, this charming book does have a nice bibliography in the back and several links to places such as poison-plant gardens. Of course the best of them exist in England, where the most famous of murder mystery books were penned. The descriptions are short and well-researched, and, all in all, the book was creatively written and put together and seems so special to read through. Recommended for only the most devious of souls... - lc

This book is great for someone with a budding interest in plants. The writing is easy to digest without sacrificing depth of information. The structure of the book makes it just as easy to burn through as it would be to put down and pick back up months later.

I loved this book! Very well written and enjoyable to read. Information about each plant is given, including common and scientific names, but the author manages to give a little history on the plants and makes it a very entertaining read. I enjoyed this book cover to cover! Factual and entertaining. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy the "dangerous" side of the plant kingdom!

I loved this book. There is so much interesting information and I learned a lot about everyday plants as well as the history behind some of them. I garden all the time, love to landscape, and do quite a bit of herbology. Even if you are not into plants, you will enjoy this book!

I was prompted to read this book because my husband was coming into contact with a plant in our garden that was causing numbness in his hands. After reading this book two things are abundantly clear, never garden without gloves and never eat anything you don't purchase at a market.

I was prompted to read this book because my husband was coming into contact with a plant in our garden that was causing numbness in his hands. After reading this book two things are abundantly clear, never garden without gloves and never eat anything you don't purchase at a market.

An interesting book, and leaves an almost characterization of these wicked plants. Just reminds the reader that things are not always what they appear to be and to never bring something into the home without knowing its dangers. I'll recommend it as a good intro to dangerous botanicals. Looking forward to the next book in the wicked series.

I like books like this. Books that are informative with facts that make one say...."oooo, I didn't know that, that is interesting."

But this book seems to be missing the "ooooo factor" in too many places.

Some of the facts are repetitive. Not the author's fault if the many of plants result in similar physical effects, but I would have liked a little bit more about the plant. I need some meat with my potatoes. Had the author included more stories associated with the different poisonings due to exposure to the plants, I know I would have enjoyed it more.

Some of the plant chapters offered information that was short and sweet. Some chapters did have more to offer, and I really enjoyed reading those chapters.

The book is still a really good conversation starter.

If you like books like this, but like more information too, try reading "The Disappearing Spoon and other stories." That is a bit too much information but is a very good book with lots of "oooooo factor"

"Wicked Plants" is really just for a fun, quick, and simple read. Nothing less, nothing more.

This was actually a very well written and informative book. It's enough to make a vegetarian decide to eat meat. Not really, but it will make you re-evaluate the plants we take for granted as "benign".

A fascinating read with lovely pictures throughout! I've enjoyed this book whole heartedly. It's currently decorating my coffee table, as it's very beautiful, but it hardly sits there for long because I'm always skimming it over and my guests love it! Arrived on time and in perfect condition.

Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities is a wonderful book that goes into some of the world’s most toxic plants. If you ever wanted to create a poison garden or know what plants you should avoid hugging this is your book!

Wicked plants feature plants from all over the world with information about why they are toxic, how this has affected its evolution and human history. We also get interesting anecdotes about events that have made these plants infamous. This is a must read for plant geeks!

This book could have been so much more interesting. I expected lots of interesting stories about the nasty things plants can do. Unfortunately, the stories were very brief. They read more like police reports than stories. The result is that the book comes off as very clinical, almost like a textbook.