20 MEDICINAL HERBS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



other nations which possess this knowledge. In Hunt^aiy^ 

 ' for example, experimental farms, to determine the nature 

 of the conditions of growth of valuable medicinal plants, 

 have been established for a long time. It is certain that 

 the haphazard cultivation of wald plants, be they ever so 

 valuable, wall hot succeed in the long run against the 

 eflbrts of formidable organizations from abroad. We 

 must recognize the existence of, and be able to cope with, 

 the difficulties resulting from the physiological variations 

 that tnay arise, when any particular plant is cultivated 

 under different conditions. 



CHAPTER III 



MONOCOTYLEDONS 



Liliaceae, — This order is easily identified by the fol- 



lowing: 



1. Parts of the flower in tlirees. 



2. Conspicuous corolla. 



3. Six stamens, 



4. Superior ovary. 



Meadow Saffkon (Colchiciim autumnale). — This 



plant is easily the most important of the Monocotyledons, 

 because the active principles contained in it are not only 

 very poisonous, but also very valuable w^hen harnessed 

 to the service of man. 



The flower is rose-coloured, comes up in autumn, and 

 resembles the Crocus in its general appearance (fig. 9). 

 It is hence often called Aniinfrin Crocus. The stem 

 takes the form of a corm (see fig. 9) about the size of 

 a chestnut, is somewhat conical, flattened on one side, 

 round on the other. The outer coat is brown, thin, and 

 membranous, the inner reddish -yellow. When cut, a 



