lo Nov.. 1910.] Reputed Fnisi'i! Plants. 735 



The result of a considerable amount of work performed during two 

 successive seasons allows of the definite conclusion being drawai, that the 

 Wild Parsnip is not poisonous. It contains no active poisonous principle 

 that could be found by any of the standard methods of procedure. The 

 questions whether cattle wdll feed upon it readily and in quantity, and 

 whether under such circumstances it is harmful to them, could not be 

 answered at the laboratorv. 



Tree Tobacco, Nicoiiana glauca. Graham.- -In the AVceds and Poison 

 Plants of Victoria this plant is included among the poison plants, with 

 the proviso that moderate quantities may be eaten without serious con- 

 sequences. 



The green parts were sent up to the laboratory in connexion with blind- 

 ness occurring in horses. Nicotine is known to cause blindness in man, 

 and it was therefore of interest to compare this species of Nicotiana 

 with its better known relative. The stems and leaves were examined 

 quantitatively for the amount of nicotine present. In both stem and leaf 

 it was found that there was no nicotine, and a qualitative examination 

 failed to show the presence of any alkaloid. It is possible that feeding 

 tests with stock may show the suppo.sed poisonous character of this plant 

 to be based upon unsound evidence. 



Merian's Bugle Lilv. Watsotiia Mcriana. Mill., var. iridifoUa 

 (Iridege). — This plant, a native of South Africa, is now widely spread in 

 Victoria, being carried both by its .seeds and its bulbils and is especially 

 abundant along the banks of creeks, and in moist or somewhat swampy 

 places. It is frequently reported as poi.soning stock, and since it belongs 

 to an order which contains several poisonous plants, its exact investigation 

 appeared to be highly desirable. 



No evidence of any poisonous action was, howe\er, obtained. Animals 

 readily eat it, and no harmful after effects of any sort were noted in the 

 case of sheep, goat, and rabbit. Iniections of extracts designed to con- 

 tain active principles were without <='ffect. The possible presence of an 

 alkaloid was negatived bv qualitative chemical tests. The liulbs were 

 investigated as well as the green parts. 



Bermuda Pig Koot. SisyrincJiiiini Bcrmiidiamim, T. — This is al.so a 

 member of the Iridcic. but is an introduction from America. It is gener- 

 allv considered to l)e a weed injurious to stork, without being actuall}' 

 poisonous. It and an allied species are sometimes termed " scour-weeds." 



This plant has not been exhaustivelv studied, but no indications were 



obtained that such a studv would vield any definite result. From feeding 



experiments it apjieared perfectlv harmless, and without some further 



definite e\-idence as to its being poisonous, there is no reason to look upon 



it as such. Qualitative tests for the presence of an alkaloid were uniformly 



negative. 



****** 



It is evident from the foregoing tests that close investigation is likely 

 to reduce considerablv the number of sujiposed poison plants, both native 

 and introduced in Victoria. As. however, the full investigation of these 

 win take a considerable time to complete, it has been thought advisable 

 to publish the notes from time to time as the tests on each small series of 

 plants are completed, since it is often of considerable importance to be able 

 to .state definitelv whether a particular plant is poisonous or not. 



{To he continued .) 



