124 SAGACITY AND MORALITY OF PLANTS. 



an acridity ; and one of the brutal bits of practical 

 joking formerly in vogue consisted in inducing people 

 to chew an Arum leaf under the idea that it was 

 Sorrel. The pain resulting was both intense and 

 long-lived. But in consequence of this acridity 

 the Arum enjoys immunity both from mammals and 

 caterpillars, and flaunts its glossy green leaves boldly 

 forth in defiance of both these kinds of hereditary 

 enemies. 



A reference to any book on practical botany will 

 show the reader that the leaves of many other kinds 

 of common plants are not eaten because they are dis- 

 agreeable or nauseous, rather than actually poisonous. 

 This is the case with many of the Cniciferce, the most 

 harmless order of plants, and therefore in striking 

 contrast with the Buttercup family {Raniinciilaced). 

 Among orders whose members have struck out in search 

 of different protective substances, the most remarkable, 

 perhaps, is the Scrophulariacece, which includes such 

 actually poisonous members as the Foxglove {Digi- 

 talis purpurea) ; others, like the Figwort {Scrophu- 

 laria nodosa), which develop such a rank smell, and 

 possess such a bitter taste, that only goats are known 

 to eat it, at least among mammals ; whilst the 

 Germander Speedwell {Veronica chamcedrys), loveliest 

 of British wayside flowers, secrete so much astring- 

 ency that their leaves are protected in a surprising 

 manner. The Mulleins {Verbascuni) adopt another 

 plan, and cover their leaves with abundant woolly 



