24 RANUNCULACE^ 



Mill. It appears truly wild by the side of the river Teme, in Herefordshire, 

 and on some watery grounds in Somersetshire, near Wiveliscombe. The plant 

 is very conspicuous from its size, being often three or four feet high ; the stem 

 clothed with very minute hairs, and the dark-purj^le flowers appearing in 

 June and July. It is ver}^ common in gardens, but should not be planted in 

 those to which children have access, as its odour is noxious, and they are 

 likely to select it for their play, on account of the fancied resemblance which 

 the nectaries and side petals bear to a chariot drawn by doves. Some persons 

 in delicate health have been injured by even smelling the flower in the open 

 air ; and others, on touching the eyelids after handling it, have experienced 

 considerable pain and inflammation. Even the pollen of the stamens, if 

 lilown into the eyes, causes a dangerous aftection. The root is most power- 

 fully poisonous. A fatal instance occurred in the year 1853, in consequence 

 of but a small quantity having been eaten in mistake for horseradish. Several 

 well-authenticated cases are on record of people who, similarly mistaking the 

 plant, have eaten it, and died in consequence. The stems and fresh leaves 

 have also proved fatal, or caused mental derangement. In one case, in which 

 a man became maniacal through eating it, the surgeon who attended him 

 declared that the malady was not caused by the plant, and, insisting on eating 

 some leaves in jiroof of his assertion, died in extreme agony. This case is 

 recorded by Morreus ; but a man of science ought to have known that the 

 plant was deleterious, for the ancients had recorded it as amongst the most 

 deadly poisons. One of its common English names alluded to its powerful 

 effects on the wolf ; but the Wolfsbane of Switzerland is not so virulent as 

 this species. It is well known that wolves and other wild animals have been 

 killed by arrows dipped in the juice of aconite. 



This plant blossoms in June and July. It had the old names of Helmet- 

 flower and Friar's-cap ; and the Dutch call it Monnikskapper, the Germans 

 Der Stiirmliut. It has been used with much success as a medicine, and its 

 virtues have been greatly eulogised by Dr. Stoerck, a G-erman physician. 

 LiimcEUs, who mentions that criminals were formei'ly put to death by small 

 doses of aconite, says that though it is fatal to kine and goats if they eat it 

 in a fresh state, it is taken by horses without injury when dried. 



14. Bane-berry (Ackm). 



Bane-berry (A. spiaUa). — Raceme of flowers long ; petals as long as 

 the stamens ; leaves stalked, 3-ternate ; leaflets ovate, deeply cut and serrated. 

 Plant perennial. This rare plant, which has hitherto been found chiefly in 

 Yorkshire, grows in bushy tracts on a limestone soil. It is stated to have 

 been found near Ambleside and Sandwick, Ulleswater, in Westmoreland. 

 The stem is one or two feet high ; and both leaves and berries much resemble 

 those of the elder-tree. The flowers are white, and open in May and June, 

 The plant has also the name of Herb Christopher, and the name used by the 

 Dutch has, too, a reference to this saint, — they term it Kristoffelkruid. In 

 France it is known as VAcUe ; and the Germans call it Schwarzwurz. The 

 berries, which are poisonous, yield, when mingled with alum, a good black 

 dye. The tubers of an American species are considered an eflicacious remedy 

 for the wound inflicted by the bite of the rattlesnake ; hence that plant is one 



