PLANTS POISONOUS TO EAT 199 



The danger attending the use of the herbage of the pokeweed 

 as a pot-herb has already been noticed. Not infrequently 

 deaths are caused by eating the leaves of poisonous wild 

 plants picked by mistake for the marsh-marigold (Figs. 184, 



Fig. 186. — Indian Poke {I'crutruni viridc, Lily Faniil\-, Liliacecr). Upper 

 and middle section of plant, J. (Chesnut.) — Perennial herl) about 

 1-2 m. tall; leaves somewhat hairy; flowers yellowish green; fruit 

 dry. Native home, North America. 



185), or other spring ''greens." The plant which has proved 

 most dangerous in this way is the Indian poke (Fig. 186). 

 Another common herb which has sometimes been eaten for 

 "greens" with fatal results is the jimson-weed (Fig. 187). 



