We are still putting toxins on our skin for beautification. The skin care line Nerium contains ingredients derived from Nerium oleander. Oleander or Nerium oleander was the first poisonous plant to stand out to me when I moved to Florida. If you live anywhere in the southern United States, from Los Angeles to Miami, you have probably seen oleander. It is a popular ornamental shrub that displays tons of beautiful flowers. It is an evergreen shrub so It never loses its leaves. You'll see it planted in parking lots, along sidewalks and in commercial landscaping. Oleander was also the very first poisonous plant that caught my attention when I was a kid. It was when I was twelve or thirteen years old, and I read the book White Oleander by Janet Fitch. The main character's mother, Ingrid, an eccentric and witchy woman is sentenced to life in prison for poisoning her boyfriend with white oleander. In retrospect this was when I began to connect with more complex themes in association with poisonous plants. It wouldn't be until many years later that I began using them in magic. Nerium oleander is the only species in the Nerium genus. It is a member of the Apocynaceae or Dog bane family. Oleander grows in temperate and sub-tropical areas. It prefers average to medium moisture, and is an indicator of nearby water. It thrives in full to partial sun. It is native to the Mediterranean, growing along dry stream beds. Oleander is able to tap deep into the ground to find water. The leaves are lanceolate. The flowers can be pink, white, purple, red and coral. They have five petals and grow in clusters. Oleander may be propagated from cuttings late in the summer. The entire plant is extremely toxic. In some cases as little as one leaf was enough to kill and adult. The poisonous components can be found in all of the aerial parts. Oleander is not entheogenic and should not be consumed. This info is for educational purposes. You can read more on my website. Link in bio. #nerium #neriumoleander #dogbane #poisonousplants #poisonplantlore #banefulherbs #toxicology #phytotoxicology #poisonpath #thepoisonpath #poisonersapothecary #poisonplantprofiles https://www.instagram.com/p/CSc0CXKr7jy/?utm_medium=tumblr