20 POISONOUS PLANTS OF ALL COUNTRIES 

 PSYCHOTRIA IPECACUANHA {Brazil). 33. 



IPECACUANHA. 



Rubiacece.— Stem ascending, somewhat shrubby.— Leaves 

 ovate-lanceolate, slightly pubescent; leaflets slightly cordate; 

 bracts large. — Flowers white, in involucred head; corolla 

 tubular; 5-cleft; stigma 2-parted.— Berry 2-seeded; receptacle 

 chaffy. 



Toxic Principle.— EMETINE, also contained in Asclepias 

 asthmatica. 



The ipe-caa-goene (in the native Brazilian language), w little wayside- 

 '^ant emetic, is our ipecacuanha. — Tylor: " Anthropology."' 



II 



ASTHENICS 



Symptoms. — Numbness, and tingling in the mouth; abdo- 

 minal pain; vertigo; vomiting; purging; tremor; occasional 

 delirium; paralysis; dyspnoea, ending in syncope. 



PRUNUS LAUROCERASUS {Cultivated in Britain). 34. 



COMMON LAUREL — CHERRY-BAY. 



RosaceoB. — Evergreen shrub; sometimes 20 ft.; branches 

 spreading; gray-green; shining. — Leaves thick; alternate; 

 ovate-lanceolate; margin faintly serrate; midrib prominent 

 })elow. — Flowers in upright racemes from leaf axils ; petals 5 ; 

 soon falling; stamens 20; spreading.— Fruit a cherry -like 

 drupe; shining; blue-black.— Seed solitary .—May ; white. 



Toxic Principle.— AMYGDALm, yielding PRUSSIC ACID. 



'Twas a sunrise of blossoming and May. 



BeneatJi a flowering laurel-thicket lay 



Sorddlo. Browning: " Sordello." 



