164 POISONOUS PLANTS 



very acrid, and was formerly used as a cathartic 

 medicine, and still is so by quack doctors ; but it 

 is a most dangerous remedy. Death is sure to 

 result from an over-dose. The berries are very 

 emetic. 



In smaller doses than are sufficient to cause 

 death; the berries of the Black Bryony cause 

 paralysis of the lower extremities. 



Flag Family {Iridacece). — The Iris Family is 

 represented in Great Britain by the Iris, Crocus, 

 and Gladiolus ; but a very large number of foreign 

 species are in cultivation. 



Yellow or Corn Flag {Iris Pseud-acorus). — 

 This is common in our rivers, lakes, etc., and well 

 known by its yellow flowers. 



The structure of the flower of the Iris is as 

 follows. First, there is an obvious inferior ovary. 

 If cut through, it will reveal the usual three cham- 

 bers characteristic of monocotyledons, with two 

 rows of ovules in each cell. On the summit is the 

 superior perianth, consisting of three outer leaves 

 which hang downwards and three inner and smaller 

 which are erect. In the centre is the style which 

 branches into three petal-like extremities. There 

 are three stamens (instead of the usual number of six 

 in monocotyledons), one over each outer leaf and 

 under a style-arm. The anthers burst outwards 

 and not inwards, which is the rule. The stigma is 

 a little ledge on the outer side of the style-arm, 



