1'OLSONOUS PLANTS 267 



The great distribution of the plant makes this difficult, 

 although the sheepmen knowing the more dangerous 

 places can protect themselves to certain extent. 



The plant grows abundantly in the shallow foothill 

 valleys and in the mountains, although it does not 

 flourish in the wet, swampy places. It is often called 

 "wild onion," and at certain periods of its growth re- 

 sembles a young onion plant. The flower is a greenish- 

 yellow. There is a variety of the camas known as 

 swamp camas (Zygadenus elegans), which grows ex- 

 clusively in swampy places. It is much coarser in 

 growth and leaf than the death camas, but appears to 

 have all the poisonous properties of the other plant. 

 Fortunately it is not so widely distributed and, owing 

 to its coarse growth, is not eaten with the other grasses, 

 as is the death camas. 



Water Hemlock (Cicuta occidentalis, C. maculata. 

 This plant sometimes is called cowbane or wild parsnip. 

 It is a smooth perennial from two to five feet in height, 

 with several slender tapering roots in a cluster at the 

 base of the main stem. The similarity of the roots to 

 the ordinary parsnip accounts for the term "wild par- 

 snip." The leaves are doubly compounded with narrow 

 separate leaflets two to three inches in length. The 

 flowers grow in clusters at the ends of the stem and are 

 of a dull greenish white color. The flowers have an 

 umbrella-like appearance similar in shape to the umbrella 

 tree of the Southwest. The stems are hollow and 

 whistles made from them have poisoned children. 



The plant grows along the banks of streams and ponds 

 and in wet vegas and marshes. It is found all over the 

 West and is injurious to all stock and also to man. It 

 is deadly in its action, and the operation of the poison 



