DICOTYLEDONS 



105 



cuius is the herb Taragon. And Wormwood {A. 

 Absinthium) flavours absinthe. The species are 

 often bitter ; some Eastern kinds were the Worm- 

 wood of Scripture. 



The species first mentioned is a native of mari- 

 time saline districts, and 

 possesses a principle 

 called Santonin, which is 

 included in our British 

 Pharmacopoeia. 



The minute flower- 

 heads, for it is a member 

 of the Composite family, 

 are a popular remedy 

 for certain infantile com- 

 plaints, and have often 

 been administered unad- 

 visedly with fatal results, 

 but in small proportions, 

 viz. two in eighteen, or 

 eleven per cent. 



It has the remarkable effect of affecting the 

 sight, making everything to appear yellow ; and 

 this effect may last twenty-four hours. This 

 yellowness is preceded by a violet hue in some 

 cases. 



Wild Lettuce {Lactuca virosa). — This has a 

 milky juice like that of the dandelion. It is an 

 annual, frequenting waste stony places, and is 



Fig. 29. Lactuca virosa, var. Scari- 

 ola ; Wild Lettuce. 



