65 



MEZEREUM FAMILY {Thymelaeacece) 



WICOPY {Birca palustris L.) 

 Plate XXV. 



Common Names: — This plant, so useful to the North American 

 Indians, retains some of their original names, as leatherwood, moosewood, 

 swaxnpwood, rope-bark. 



Description: — The wicopy is a much-branched shrub from two to 

 six feet high, with smooth, jointed, yellowish-green twigs and tough fibrous 

 bark. Like the mezereon, it produces its small clustered flowers very 

 early in the spring before the leaves have expanded. The calyx is petal- 

 like, pale yellow, tubular, with a wavy or slightly four-toothed margin 

 showing the protruding stamens and style. The flowers grow in clusters 

 of three or four and are protected from cold winds by dark hairy scales 

 which look like folds of fur around the silky yellow calyces. There is no 

 mistaking it when in flower, especially as it is one of the earliest shrubs to 

 bloom. The leaves are oval, two to three inches long, alternate and very 

 short-stalked. The reddish, oval drupe is about one-half inch long. The 

 plant is in bloom in April. 



Distribution: — It is a native of Canada and grows in damp, rich 

 woods from New Brunswick to Ontario. 



Poisonous Properties: — The bark contains poisonous properties 

 similar to its relative mezereon (which see) and, when fresh, causes severe 

 irritation to the skin, followed by blisters. All parts of the plant have 

 a burning, nauseous taste. The poison is most powerful during flowering 

 and fruiting. 



MEZEREON {Daphne mezereum L.) Mezereum Family. 



Common Names: — The popular names by which this poisonous 

 plant is known include spurge-laurel, lady-laurel, paradise plant, mystery- 

 plant, and dwarf bay. 



Description: — The mezereon is a small shrub from one to four feet 

 high. It bears, in early spring before the leaves are out, strongly sweet- 

 scented, rose-purple flowers clustered on the shoots of the preceding year. 

 As it has no corolla, the brightly coloured, tubular calyx, with its four 

 sepals outspread, lends attraction to its flowers. The leaves are long, 

 narrow, tapering into short stalks. The fruit is a one-seeded berry or 

 drupe, oval, one-quarter to one-third inch long, bright red. The plant 

 is in bloom from April to May. 



