POISONOUS PLANTS 183 



Laurel or Lambkill, Rhododendron, Staggerbush, 

 and Branch Ivy or Calfkill. Staggerbush is a low 

 shrub growing south of Connecticut, with thick 

 leaves and handsome clusters of white, blueberry - 

 shaped flowers. Branch Ivy, with saw - toothed 

 evergreen leaves, and inconspicuous white flowers 

 having a nauseating odor, is unknown here, 

 and is only troublesome in the Alleghanies be- 

 tween southern Georgia and West Virginia. 



Lastly comes Black Wlto ctfe fifty 

 Cherry, a graceful tree, 

 that has stepped out of 

 its native forest in the 

 Middle Atlantic States 

 to saunter along 

 roadways, following 

 fences across lots and 

 quenching its thirsty 

 roots at the pasture 

 springs. In May and June it waves its glossy green 

 leaves and fragrant white flower -sprays on every side, 

 in early Autumn replacing these with brilliant foli- 

 age and bunches of pungent, juicy black cherries. 



Yet a fatal sort of beauty has Black Cherry, 

 for, owing to that very quality and to the ex- 

 cellence of its fruit for compounding the delect- 



