PLANTS POISONOUS TO EAT 



193 



rains. Being hungry the trampers bite off a piece of the 

 root, and finding that it tastes good they continue to eat it. 

 Before long distressing sj'niptoms appear, leading within a 

 few hours to violent convulsions and perhaps death. The 

 plant of which they have eaten is probably the water hem- 



FiG. 179. — Water Hemlock {Cicutu maculala, Pansley Family, Umbellifcrw). 

 Lower stem and roots, cut vertically, i. Flowering and fruiting 

 top, h. Part of leaf, 5. Fruit entire, r. Half of same, cut across. 

 (Chesnut.) — Perennial herb 1-2 m. or more in height; roots spindle- 

 shaped, .3-7 cm. long; stem rigid, hollow, smooth; leaves smooth, 

 somewhat celery-like; flowers white; fruit becoming brown. Very 

 poisonous throughout. Native home. North America, in damp soil. 



lock (Fig. 179) one of our commonest swamp or brookside 

 plants and one of the most deadly. Fatal cases like that 

 described occur almost every year especiall}^ among chil- 

 dren, and manj' cattle are poisoned by eating various parts 

 of the plant. Sometimes poisoning results from drinking 



