I love keeping houseplants. I keep these 9 plants in my home to keep my household air clean and healthy, and I keep these 6 in my bedroom specifically to improve my quality of sleep. My friends always remark on how much of a jungle house I have. But there is one type of plant I refuse to grow:

The dumb cane, or Dieffenbachia.

Interesting name for a plant, right? Dumb cane is native to Central and South America. It contains a toxin called Raphides, which in high enough doses actually renders a person completely unable to speak due to tongue swelling. This swelling can be dangerous to children and pets.

The plant is beautiful, don't get me wrong. As the image above indicates, the plant tends to have straight, woody stems and varigated leaf patterns. And while it's easy to grow and difficult to kill, it is incredibly dangerous. Its sap is toxic, but many are completely unaware of this.

Raphides are a rather sinister toxin. Raphides are needle-shaped crystals contained in the cells of the dumb cane and, when ingested, can cause a burning sensation and erythema of the skin. Death among humans is incredibly rare if exposed, but it can happen.

And even if it isn't deadly, the symptoms are incredibly unpleasant. So I just opt not to mess with it. Children will sometimes ingest a piece of the plant (as they are wont to ingest random things they find). Another way it enters their body is by touching the plant and then rubbing their eyes.

Getting raphides in your eyes can cause redness, swelling, and extreme discomfort. It's definitely no fun, especially if you're a kid!

If you do keep dumb cane in your home, know the signs of raphides poisoning. These include loss of sight, burning mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, swollen mouth, hoarse voice, and diarrhea. If you notice any of these symptoms in kids or pets, check your plant to see if pieces of it are missing and get to a doctor immediately.

The National Poison Control Center (which is available toll free 24/7 at (800) 222-1222)) recommends that, if poisoning occurs, rinse the eyes with water, drink a glass of milk if ingested, and you can also simply wipe out the inside of the mouth with a washcloth that has been dipped in cold water.

Click here to check out a list of houseplants that are safe for indoor growing.