Have you heard that poinsettias are dangerously poisonous to dogs and cats? As the holidays descend upon us, we wanted to set the record straight on these showy wintertime favorites. As our experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) explain it, the myth of the plant's toxicity began during the early part of the 20th century, when the two-year-old child of a U.S. Army officer was alleged to have died from consuming a poinsettia leaf.

As a result, the poinsettia's toxic potential to living beings of all species has become greatly exaggerated. In reality, points out the APCC's Dana Farbman, CVT, poinsettia ingestions typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. "Therefore," says Farbman, "while keeping the plant out of the reach of your pet to avoid stomach upset is still a good idea, pet owners need not fear the poinsettia and banish it from their homes for fear of a fatal exposure."

For more on which plants are toxic to pets and which ones are not, please visit these pages:

• non-toxic plants
• toxic plants