DICOTYLEDONS 



103 



wine, yet an infusion made from the leaves is fatal 

 to insects, so that some gardeners use a strong 

 infusion to preserve delicate plants from insects 

 and caterpillars. The young leaf-buds are very 

 purgative, and are somewhat dangerous in con- 

 sequence. The bark, too, is violently cathartic. 

 The juice of the root, taken as a supposed remedy 

 for a bilious attack, proved fatal in the case of a 

 woman ; and the leaves have caused severe irritant 

 poisoning in a child. 



Dv^ARF Elder, or Dane-wort {Sambucus Ebu- 

 lus) is a somewhat local 

 species, and sub-herbace- 

 ous rather than being a 

 woody plant. It produces 

 black shiny berries. 



It has a strong odour 

 which repels animals. Al- 

 though the root, bark, and 

 leaves possess violently 

 purgative properties, no 

 accident has been re- 

 corded from misuse of 

 these parts. 



The berries, equally pur- 

 gative, rarely tempt children because of the odour 

 of the plant. They have, however, been fraudu- 

 lently used for colouring wine, to which they 

 impart their deleterious properties. 



Fig. 28. Sambucus Ebulus; Dwarf 

 Elder. 



