Diann,

On the poison plant, I imagine there are dozens of plants in Belize (and indeed in most subtropical areas including in the southern U.S.) that are poisonous to one degree or another.

I'm trying to think what specific one you mean, that is associated with Christmas, and I'm not sure what it would be.

The poinsettia which is associated with Christmas can be poisonous, mainly to animals and small children. It does grow in Belize.

One of the most lethal plants is the rosary pea -- it has little red, hard berries in a pea-like pod that are sometimes used for jewelry or for decorations, including some Christmas decorations. The peas are a beautiful red with a black dot -- when I was a kid in Florida we used to play with these all the time, but I now realize that just one pea if chewed up and ingested can kill you. I imagine it is in Belize though I don't specifically recall seeing one.

There is a plant called the Christmas rose which is quite poisonous, but I believe it grows in Europe and is not in Belize. The there is a Christmas cactus which is poisonous, but I don't know if it is in Belize or not.

--Lan Sluder

Lan Sluder/Belize First
http://www.belizefirst.com