98 Plants suspected of being Poisonous [CH. vn 
Molinia caerulea, Moench. A short account by Pott shows that 
when forming the principal part of moorland pasture grasses, and hence 
extensively eaten, this grass causes brittleness of the bones of stock, 
and in sheep chlorosis and wool eating. It also induces haematuria, 
but if free from parasitic fungi (e.g. Claviceps microcephala) and not 
covered with microscopic, sharp crystals, is quite harmless if only eaten 
as a secondary or incidental fodder. This grass seems to be very poor 
in liine (Immendorf, 1898), and Schulze and Castoro found the internodes 
of the stem to contain a considerable quantity of a pentosan (Xylan). 
It is poor in nutritive constituents. The harm done is due perhaps in 
part to this fact, and in part to more or less accidental or occasional 
constituents (as 0-046 per cent, of lead oxide in a case of the var. altissima 
near some lead works). Plants said to be occasionally similarly harmful 
are Juncus sp., Nepeta Glechoma, and Hieracium Pilosella. 
