146 



POISONOUS PLANTS 



(Arum macnlaUnii). The plant is called cabaret 



in France, as it is employed as an emetic by 



drinkers among the lower classes. 



The Daphne Family {Thymelacece). — Two 



species of a single genus, Daphne, represent this 



family in Great Britain. 



Mezereon {Daphne Mezereuni). — This is a small 



shrub about a yard high, 

 with numerous rose-red 

 flowers and scarlet ber- 

 ries. The leaves appear 

 after the flowers. It 

 occurs in copses and 

 woods, but has long been 

 grown as a garden plant. 

 The flowers of Daphne 

 consist of a tubular calyx 

 of four coherent sepals, 

 carrying eight stamens in 

 two rows ; and a pistil of 

 a single carpel, which 



Fig. 37. Daphne Jureola ; Spurge- bcCOmeS the bcrry. 



'^"'■"•- All the parts of this, 



as well as of the next, our only other species, are 

 acrid and poisonous. 



Spurge-laurel {D. Laureola, Fig. 37). — The 

 attractive berries of this plant have been the cause 

 of many mishaps among children. 



Drying does not destroy their poisonous property. 



