THE BROOM-RAPE TRIBE. 189 



handsome orange- coloured fruit, the size of a small 

 apple, the pulp of which is eaten by birds without 

 any ill effect. This fruit, however, encloses seeds 

 which are extremely poisonous, and which furnishes 

 the drug nux vomica of our shops." 



"But I have heard of people taking it as a 

 medicine/' said Mary. 



"In small doses, and under medical advice, it 

 may be safely taken; but in large doses, it pro- 

 duces frightful convulsions, and death. You will 

 perhaps be surprised to hear that near these venom- 

 ous plants, come the BROOM-RAPES, those extraor- 

 dinary brown parasites * that grow on the roots 01 

 hemp, clover, and other plants; but they also 

 possess a bitter principle similar to that already 

 described." 



"I remember," said Henry, "what hard work I 

 had to dig up a plant of broom-rape which was 

 very deep in the ground, and had taken fast hold 

 of the roots of the clover ; it looked a poor de- 

 caying thing, but I found it very tough and 

 leathery." 



"The poisonous nature of some of these tribes 

 will prepare you for another group, possessing also 



* Orobanche. 



