Poisonous Weeds Found At Newton's Memorial-Spaulding School?

NEWTON, MA – The principal at Memorial-Spaulding said because there may be a potentially toxic type of weed growing in the front lawn at elementary school, he's asking students not walk there and he will be sending them out different door at the end of the day to help ensure they don't.

"Currently, Parks and Recreation is working to precisely identify the weed and gauge any potential safety issues," he wrote home to families in an email. "As a precautionary measure, the Parks and Recreation Department mowed the entire lawn. As the investigation continues, they will determine the best course of action," wrote Tom Morris. He also said it seemed isolated to the front lawn, so it wouldn't affect recess, which happens out back.

Although Morris did not name this weed, Deborah Reynolds did: She said it was Jimsonweed.

CBS Boston first reported early Thursday that Reynolds, a Boston anesthesiologist, happened to be walking her dog in front of the school when she noticed what appeared to be Jimsonweed - a toxic plant, that can cause serious illness or even death if ingested — and then alerted the school.

It's unclear what day she alerted authorities and phone calls and an email to her were not returned.

If it turns out to be Jimsonweed, the entire plant is considered poisonous, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

“It’s a very dangerous plant,” Reynolds told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. “If it gets exposed to the skin of the child, it can actually cause a whole host of symptoms.”

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Jimsonweed was used by American Indians for medicinal and religious purposes. It grows wild and is often used as an ornamental plant. The plant, Datura stramonium, is also known as thorn apple, angel’s trumpet, and Jamestown weed among others.

It's the plant's "alkaloids," that cause toxicity in humans. The concentration of toxins varies over time and in different parts of the plant, with the seeds having the highest concentration. Jimsonweed’s toxins can be fatal in small doses, according to Food Safety News.

Morris said the weed was brought to his attention that the front lawn at Memorial-Spaulding potentially contained a weed that could have adverse affects on adults and children recently but did not say when this was. Upon receiving this information, the City of Newton Parks and Recreation Department, together with NPS Operations, immediately began an investigation, he said.

Email this reporter at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or follow her on Twitter @ReporterJenna

Read the full CBS Story here

Check out the poisonous plant database here