BY E. CHEEL. 587 



more prostrate, spreading liaVjit, and is considered to possess 

 more poisonous properties. A world-wide weed. Tliis wide- 

 spread weed has very frequently been brought under notice as 

 poisonous botli in this and in other colonies. Some years ago it 

 was reported to have poisoned a number of cattle in Victoria, 

 and those appointed to inquire into the matter gave it as their 

 opinion that the deaths occurred from this cause. The evidence, 

 however, as to the fruit being poisonous is very conflicting. Jt 

 has been asserted that children have been poisoned by eating 

 the berries raw, but cooked they may be partaken of with im- 

 punit}'. There are two forms of the plant met with in Queens- 

 land, as before stated, and in all probability the more straggling- 

 form with greenish berries is the dangerous kind, and probably, 

 as has been asserted, tlie plant may possess more or less poison- 

 ous properties according to the soil upon which it is grown; thus 

 it may be most dangerous when growing on rich soil, rubbish- 

 heaps, tfcc, and perhaps quite harmless when growing upon dry, 

 poor soil, enjoying the full rays of the sun." In a subsequent 

 publication, Bailey (5) makes a statement as follows: — "There 

 are two forms of this plant in Queensland, the one nearly 

 glabrous, which has an erect growth; the other having a some- 

 what procumbent habit and clothed with a glandular pubescence. 

 This latter is sometimes called var. humile; its fruit is of a some- 

 what greenish-yellow, and when we hear of children being 

 poisoned from eating the fruit of this species, it has probably 

 been the fruit of the latter variety that has caused the mischief. 

 The herbage of both varieties is considered poisonous to stock. 

 It has, however, been used both here and elsewhere as a sub- 

 stitute for spinach." Dr. Aitchison, in writing on the Botany 

 of the Afghan Delimitation Commission, states(2) "thatiS'o/mmw 

 iiiyrum grew in quantity, and was employed as a pot-herb by the 

 camp followers." 



In a list entitled "The supposed Poisonous Plants of West 

 Australia," Mr, F. Turner (73) gives Solarium nigrum L , " Night- 

 shade," together with a brief description and the following re- 

 marks: — " Flowers small and white, arranged in little cymes. 

 Tliese are succeeded by small, globular berries, usually nearly 



