POISONOUS PLANTS 



The beauty of the Lily order does not prevent it from 

 being a particularly dangerous group of plants. Perhaps 

 the worst poisons in this order are those of the Meadow 

 Saffron (Colchicum autumnale), Herb Paris, Veratrum, Saba- 

 dilla, Lily of the Valley, Tulip, and Crown Imperial bulbs. 

 Chamaelirium, Trillium, Squills, Garlic, Solomon's Seal, 

 Aloes, and the Sarsaparillas are all well-known medicines. 



The order Solanacece is perhaps the most interesting, for it 

 includes such dangerous poisons as Tobacco, Datura, Atropa 

 belladonna (Deadly Nightshade), Henbane, Bittersweet {Sola- 

 num dulcamara). Common Nightshade {Solanum nigrum), 

 and a very great many important drugs. Even the common 

 potato contains a poisonous secretion solanin, and it is 

 dangerous to eat green potatoes or the foliage. Yet the 

 Tomato or Love Apple (so called because it was supposed 

 to excite tender feelings) is both nutritious and delicious. 

 Chillies and Cayenne Pepper (Cap-yia^T^t spp,)a.re also commonly 

 used as condiments. 



Such poisonous orders should of course be avoided, but 

 much more dangerous are those deadly plants which appear 

 as it were accidentally in orders which are amongst the most 

 useful friends of man. Amongst the grasses there is the 

 deadly Darnel {Lolium temulentum), a first cousin and not 

 very unlike the very commonest and one of the most useful 

 grasses — Rye Grass {Lolium perenne). 



Then in the useful Carrot order, there are such dangerous 

 and even deadly plants as FooFs Parsley, Water Dropwort, 

 and Cowbane. (Enanthe crocata (Water Dropwort) is one of 

 the very commonest marsh and ditch plants in Great 

 Britain. It is perfectly well known to botanists as distinctly 

 poisonous, yet in 1902 a veterinary surgeon brought me 

 some of the tuberous roots to name, and told me that six 



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