POISONOUS PLANTS 289 



in crowded cymose clusters on short stalks in the axils 

 of the leaves ; and the fruits, containing four stones, 

 are round, black, and strongly cathartic and purgative 

 in character. The flowers appear from May to July, 

 and, according to Hooker, the Buckthorn occurs from 

 Westmorland southwards, chiefly on chalk, and is 

 perhaps not wild south of Durham, while it is rare 

 in Ireland. The fruits should not be eaten, as they 

 may produce dangerous effects : they yield a green 

 dye. 



LEGUMINOS.E 



Indian Tares. Various species of Lathyrus met 

 with in Spain, Italy, Africa, and other parts of the 

 world are poisonous, and not unfrequently lead to fatal 

 results when consumed by animals. In 1894 several 

 horses belonging to the Bristol Tramways Company 

 were poisoned by eating so-called Indian Peas (the 

 seeds of Lathyrus sativus), and other injurious effects 

 upon farm stock are recorded after eating cakes and 

 meals containing these seeds. The British species, 

 L. Aphaca L. (Yellow Vetchling), has caused violent 

 headaches and vomiting in the case of persons who 

 have eaten the seeds. This plant occurs in corn- 

 fields from the Midland counties southwards, and 

 flowers in June and July. It grows to a height of 

 i to 3 feet, and bears large leaf-like stipules and long 

 tendrils. The pale yellow flowers are produced singly 

 at the nodes. [See also " Lathyrus Poisoning," Veteri- 

 nary Journal, 1885 and 1886; " Leguminous Plant 

 Poisoning," Jour. Bot. Soc. Edin. y Dec., 1894, by Dr. 

 R. S. MacDougall.] 



Lupins (Lupinus sp.) are not much cultivated in this 

 country on the farm, but various kinds are well known 

 in garden cultivation, where they are highly valued for 



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