100 BLACK BRYONY. 



and when autumn has matured them into red- 

 ness, they are among the most beautiful of all 

 our woodland berries, but are very poisonous 

 in their nature. 



The roots of this plant are large, and it is to 

 their black coloiu' that it owes its distinctive 

 Enghsh name. The root is a black-coated 

 tuber, which has so acrid a pulp that it is 

 sometimes used as a stimulating plaister. The 

 large roots themselves are white internally, and 

 full of starch. This, however, is mixed with a 

 bitter acrimonious substance, not only unplea- 

 sant in flavour, but doubtless unwholesome in 

 its nature. Their bitterness and acridity may 

 be destroyed by repeated washings, and by 

 heat, and if the black tumours on them are 

 previously removed, they may be safely eaten. 

 The young spring shoots are so mild, as to 

 possess, when dressed, a very agreeable flavour, 

 and are said to form a good substitute for 

 asparagus ; though the experiment is a dan- 

 gerous one. Many of the trees of Morocco 

 are hung, like ours, with festoons of this plant, 

 and the young shoots are commonly boiled by 

 the Moors, and eaten with oil and salt. 



