POISONS ACTING ON THE BRAIN 9 



PISCIDIA ERYTHRINA {West Indies). 15. 



JAMAICA DOGWOOD — FISH-POISON TREE. 



Leguminosce. — The only known species of this genus. — A 

 tree; 30 ft. — Flowers white, and mixed with blood-colour; 

 appearing before the leaves; calyx-teeth broadly triangular; 

 standard silky-hoary outside the claw, almost equalling the 

 calyx; panicles lateral, sometimes ovate and dense flowered, 

 scarcely 3 ins. long (sometimes elongate thyrsoid, 6-12 ins. 

 long). — May. — Leaves alt. pinnate, exstipulate; leaflets 7-11, 

 oval, obovate, or broadly oblong, obtuse or shortly acuminate, 

 at length coriaceous, 2-4 ins. long on stalks J in. long. — Pod 

 lance-shaped, bearing 4, projecting, longitudinal wings. 



T oxic Principle.— PISCIDINE, also contained in P. carthagi- 

 nesis. 



Blasted by that rose-acacia 

 We're so proud of / . . . 



Browning: " Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister.^' 



ARTEMISIA PAUCIFLORA. 

 ARTEMISIA LERCHEANA {Scandinavia). 16. 



WORM SEED — SANTONIN. 



Compositce. — Shrubby. — Rootstock branching from the 

 crown. — Shoots short; numerous; 1 ft.; woody-white. — 

 Branches erect. — Leaves alternate. — Flowers crowded in 

 spike-like panicles; 3-5 in each head; bluish. — perennial. 



Toxic Principle.— SAl^TONJN. 



Daisies, smell-less yet most quaint. 



Beaumont and Fletcher: " Bridal Song.'' 



ARTEMISIA MARITIMA {British). 17. 



SEA WORMWOOD — GARDEN CYPRESS. 



Compositce. — Erect. — Leaves downy, bipinnatifid, with 

 linear segments. — Flowers in drooping racemes. — Sea-shore, 

 1 J ft. — perennial. — September. — yellowish. 



Toxic Principle.— ARTEMISIN, 



Meantime, just medidate my madrigal 



0' the mugwort that conceals a dewdrop safe. 



Browning: " Sordello.'' 



