April 30, 2026

These are the seeds of the Rosary Pea

They contain the deadly poison Abrin

Although they are often made into beads

Beauty's not worth the danger within. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/abrus-precatorius

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

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September 18, 2021

These are the flowers of the Rosary Pea

They look quite innocent and lovely

But the seeds of this plant contain poison

Ingest just one drop and you'll see no recovery.

Birds, however appear to be immune to it's charm

And they can and do eat it, quite smugly.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/abrus-precatorius/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 10, 2020

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

I am a Spotted-winged Grasshopper
Throughout the Americas, you can find my friends and I
We are a type of slant face grasshopper
In the family Acrididae.

Sources: Wikipedia - Orphulella pelidna

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 21, 2020

Location: Fellsmere, my yard

These are the seeds of the Rosary Pea,
It's native to India and parts of Asia
Birds are unaffected by Rosary Pea seeds,
But for humans, it's effective for euthanasia.

Sources: UF | IFAS Center for Aquatic and  Invasive Plants - Abrus precatorius 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Facts About Abrin

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 24, 2019

Location: Archbold Biological Station, Venus (seed pod, top photo), My house (leaves, bottom photo)

This is known as Rosary Pea
In Florida, it's a listed noxious weed.
It's root can be used to induce abortion
And you will die eating just one single seed.
But the seeds are really quite pretty
And often used to make jewelry.

Sources: UF | IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants - Abrus precatorius

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson