Hikers and foragers in the UK are being warned to watch out for a dangerous 'nightmarish' plant known as 'Doll's Eye' due to its creepy resemblance to eyeballs. The white baneberry plant, which spreads across woodlands and forests during autumn, is native to North America but can adapt to most growing conditions and may be found in other regions.
Every part of the plant, from root to berries, is extremely toxic. If ingested, it can cause severe side effects including dizziness, delirium, hallucinations, cardiac arrest, and circulatory failure. Other symptoms include gastrointestinal inflammation, vomiting, stomach pain, a burning sensation in the mouth or throat, headaches, and convulsions. In extreme cases, it can be fatal.
Forager Alexis Nikole described the berries, which grow on flesh-like pink stems, as 'complete and utter nightmare fuel' in a recent TikTok video. She added: 'It looks like if you eat one of those, your bloodline will be cursed for always and eternity.'
The word 'baneberry' stems from Old English words meaning 'slayer' or 'murderer'. The Indiana Native Plant Society warns that eating just six of these bitter-tasting berries could trigger severe sickness or death, with children being more at risk than adults. The toxicity is linked to a chemical compound called ranunculin, which becomes an irritant oil in the plant.
While no baneberry-linked deaths have been reported in the US, a Eurasian species of the plant has been connected to the death of several children, according to Colorado State University. The National Park Service has issued warnings about the plant, urging people not to eat the fruit from the 'creepy eyeball aesthetic' plant.
