ABSTRACT
In this paper, 17 autopsy cases of poisoning by toxic plants: mushroom 4, xanthium sibiricum 3, trichosanthes kirilowii 2, aconitum chinense 3, tripterygium wilfordii 1, gelsemium elegans 1, nerium indicum 1, pachyrhizus erosus 1, dioscorea simulans 1 were reported (accident 15, suicide 2). Emphasis was put on analyses of the selective injured locations, namely, target organs or tissues, which were poisoned by these poisonous plants. The machanisms of poisoning and causes of death were approached based on the pathological changes. The associated problems of forensic medicine were discussed summarily. On the basis of author's experiences, it is essential for medicolegal examination and expertise that the body should be systematically, completely, forensic-pathologically inspected and the species of questioned poisonous plants should be identified by the associated expert. Poisoning by toxic plants is one of often contacted and difficult problems in medicolegal expertise, so that we should pay attention to it.