PLANTS POISONOUS TO EAT 



213 



as is well known, the pure oil expressed from them is quite 

 harmless under ordinary conditions. 



Some of the worst cases of poisoning occur every year from 



Fig. 204. — Yew {Taxus baccata, Yew Family, Taxacece). Branches with 

 leaves and staminate flowers (cf), ovule-bearing flowers (9), and 

 fruit (//•.); a, a single staminate flower; b, stamen with anthers still 

 closed; c, same, with anthers open for discharging pollen; d, an ovule- 

 bearing flower, the tip of the ovule seen projecting beyond the pro- 

 tecting scale-leaves; e, same, cut vertically, showing tip of the stem- 

 brancla at x; /, fruit, half ripe, showing the cup-like envelope (aril) 

 growing up from the base of the young seed; g, ripe fruit; h, same, cut 

 vertically; i, seed, cut vertically. (Eichler, Richard.) — Tree growing 

 20 m. tall; bark, reddish, flaky; leaves dark green above; fruit (aril) 

 scarlet. 



eating poisonous mushrooms or ''toadstools." While any 

 intelligent person, under competent guidance can learn to 

 distinguish the edible species of fleshy fungi which grow- 

 abundantly in our fields and woods, it is exceedingly danger- 



