LOCO WEEDS AND OTHER POISONOUS PLANTS 85 



as the flowers) may be kept in alcohol. Sections of the stems of one or two of the 

 spurges should be kept in alcohol. European teachers can make selections of European 

 plants mentioned in this chapter. The loco-weeds are found on the great plains and 

 the rattlebox in the east, etc. 



LABORATORY EXERCISES 



1. Describe the dried plant given you in all of its parts. The study of the flowers 

 may be facilitated by the use of fresh or alcoholic material. This will emphasize the 

 structure of the papilionaceous and euphorbiaceous flowers. 



2. Stain mount and study the longitudinal section of the stem of some spurge, as 

 Euphorbia splendens, to see the distribution and contents of the latex tubes. Other 

 species of Euphorbia occurring in Europe and elsewhere may be substituted for this one. 



3. Examine and draw the seeds of the castor-oil, Ricinus communis. Draw the 

 young seedlings previously started by the teacher by planting the seeds in sand, or 

 sphagnum moss. Study the developmental stages of the same. 



