BLUE AND PURPLE WILD FLOWERS 



from Mintha, the Greek nymph and daughter of Cocy- 

 tus, whom Prosperine, the wife of Pluto, is said to have 

 transformed into these plants. 



NIGHTSHADE. BLUE BINDWEED. FELON- 

 WORT. BITTERSWEET. POISON-FLOWER. 

 POISON, OR SNAKE BERRY 



Solatium Dulcamara. Potato Family. 



This pretty Nightshade has been classed among the 

 principal poisonous plants of our country, but it is far 

 from being the treacherous and violent sort with which 

 it has often been associated in folk-lore. It is not of 

 the Poison Ivy sort, and can be handled with impunity 

 in this respect. At the same time one should refrain 

 from testing its effects upon the system. It should not 

 be held in the mouth nor chewed, neither should the 

 berries be eaten, as some ill effects have been caused 

 thereby. It is rather common in moist thickets and 

 along damp, shady roadsides, streams and ditches, 

 from May to September. The smooth or finely-haired, 

 green stalk grows from two to eight feet in length, and 

 is perennial. It is branched, straggling and climbing, 

 and has a rank, coarse odour. The thin, alternating, 

 dark green, toothless leaves taper toward the tip and 

 are set on slender stems. The lower ones are usually 

 heart-shaped while the upper ones are deeply cut at the 

 base into two narrow, flaring lobes or wings with pointed 

 tips. The veinings show on the under side, and the 

 midrib is coarse. The surface is frequently marked 

 with irregular, pale rusty spots. The enticing, yellow- 



360 



