1/4 POISONOUS PLANTS 



do not appear till the following spring, accompanied 

 by the large capsule. It has only been separated 

 from Lilies in consequence of the way its capsule 

 bursts. By reference to the figure it will be seen 

 that the three carpels separate from each other 

 entirely, so liberating their dark brown seeds. In 

 tulips and lilies each carpel breaks down the back 

 (corresponding to the outer lines in the figure). 



The Colchicum is acrid, and avoided by animals, 

 probably from the nauseous odour. 



All parts of the plant are poisonous. Drying 

 does not remove the deleterious property. Water 

 in which the leaves, flowers, etc., are macerated, 

 becomes very poisonous ; but the vegetative organs 

 are less poisonous after the maturation of the 

 seeds ; though they are always dangerous, in 

 consequence of the migration of the deleterious 

 principle into the seeds on their ripening. This, 

 called Colchicine^ is not volatile. It is in August 

 and September when the corms are richest in 

 Colchicine. 



Both men and children have been accidentally 

 poisoned ; but animals have been poisoned during 

 May and from the middle of September to the end 

 of October. In the first period, it is the leaves and 

 unripe capsules which they eat, and in the second 

 period it is the flowers, when they are consumed 

 with the grass. 



In case children should chew the petals or pick 



