62 PASTURE AND RANGE. 



The plant arises from a perennial rootstock. It has 



alternate, palmately lobed leaves which resemble those 



of certain of its near relatives, the Lark- 



The Plant M.V v i. M. ^ t j 



spurs, with which it is often confused, especi- 

 ally in the younger stages. The flowers, too, are arranged 

 as in Larkspurs. They are large and one of the ir- 

 regular coloured sepals forms the "hood." The five small 

 petals are all alike. The stamens are numerous and the 

 three to five carpels are partly united to form a horned 

 seed capsule as in the Larkspurs. Though similar in 

 many respects, Monkshood and Larkspur may be easily 

 distinguished when in flower by the presence of the hood 

 in one case and the spur in the other- 



PASQUE FLOWER Anemone patens L., var. Wolfgangiana 



(Bess.) Koch. 



Other Common Names: Prairie Crocus, Prairie Ane- 

 mone, American Pulsatilla, Prairie Smoke. 



Willing mentioned this plant as causing the death of 

 sheep in Alberta, concluding that the trouble was due 

 to the formation of felt-like balls (phytobe- 

 Effect< zoars) of the hairs with which the whole plant 

 is plentifully provided. In addition to this 

 Pammel notes the presence of a very acrid poison, a crys- 

 talline substance anemonin, which, in the fresh plant, has 

 given much inconvenience to collectors, producing an 

 inflammation of the eyes and even blistering the skin 

 where wet by the juice. The drug is used by homo3o- 

 pathists. 



