C2 MEDICINAL HERBS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



We may note witli refereuce to the Rauunculucea^ 

 that there is a kind of family resemblance in the 

 poisons that are found in its various members. In 

 general the}^ are of the acrid, narcotic kinds; they lose 

 their properties considerably Avhen subjected to drying, 



because the poisons contained 



a v 



olatil 



e 



in them are of 

 nature. 



Papaveraceae. — The mem- 

 bers of this order are best 

 recognized by the pivstil (fig. 



32). 



This 



composed of 



many carpels joined together. 

 When cut across, the com- 

 pound ovary is seen to possess 

 only one cavity, which, how- 

 ever, is divided up into a 



<x 



I 



Fig. 31. 



Larkspur {Delphinium) 



Fi-. 32.— a, Poppy Head (ristil). 

 bj Same, cut aui'uss. 



number of stalls, the number of stalls corresponding 

 to the number of carpels that have made up the 

 pistil. If the latter be examined once thorouohly, 

 and bearing in mind that the type is peculiar to the 

 Papaveracefe, the reader should have little difficulty in 

 recognizintr the order in subsequent examinations. lu 



