(See the original question here.)

Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) are beautiful, deer- and rabbit-resistant, deciduous perennial plants in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family, in the genus Narcissus. The genus includes species found across the United States, Northern Africa, Europe, Afghanistan, China, and Japan. Their natural habitats are woodlands, grasslands, riverbanks, and marshes.

Image 1. (Photo Dorothea Rose Calvano Young . Click to enlarge.)

Description of the plant: These are upright, clumped plants [see Image 1] that grow 8 to 30 inches tall and develop a single flower at the top of each stem that points toward the sun as it traverses the sky. These distinctive flowers are composed of an outermost group of six yellow or white petals that surround an inner corona (composed of fused cup-shaped petals) [see Image 2]. The corona can be shallow or deep depending on the variety. [see Images 3,4]

Image 2. (Photo Jason Hack, MD. Click to enlarge.)

Toxins: Lycorine and galantamine are the primary toxic bioactive alkaloids found throughout the plant but are most highly concentrated in the bulbs.

Insoluble, needle-like calcium oxalate crystals are also present in the sap and tissues of the plant.

Toxic Effects: In humans, the most commonly described oral exposures are cases where someone confused daffodil bulbs with onions—they have a similar appearance, but not the onion odor or eye irritation.^1-4 Daffodil ingestion causes rapid onset of vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and acute abdominal pain that may last several hours. Typically, these are self-limited, likely due to the early vomiting that clears the material from the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Image 3 shows a shallow cup. (Photo Dorothea Rose Calvano Young . Click to enlarge.)

In animals, the effects of daffodil ingestion can be more severe and may include sedation, seizures, hypotension, and hepatitis, in addition to the gastrointestinal symptoms.¹ Animal studies demonstrate a correlation between lycorine dose and degree of illness.^2,5

After contact with sap or tissues containing calcium oxalate (the outer layer of the bulbs is rich in them), the most common symptoms are mucosal irritation of the mouth and throat, salivation and burning sensation, along with swelling, redness, and itching of the skin—i.e., “bulb fingers.”⁴ Irritation and contact dermatitis in the hands and skin exposed to the cut stems is well described in agricultural workers harvesting the plants.⁶

Treatment: There is no antidote. Treatment is symptom-based: antiemetics, fluids, and pain medications as needed. Dermal and mucosal reactions have been treated with irrigation, antihistamines, and local or systemic steroids.