DICOTYLEDONS AS POISONOUS PLANTS 



61 



Poisonous Principles. Not all of the species have been studied 

 for their poisonous constituents, but there have been found in D. consolida 

 and D. staphisagria the alkaloids delphinin C22H 35 O6N extremely poi- 

 sonous and with a bitter taste; delphisin C^HaaNOs poisonous; delp- 

 hinoidin C 4 2H 6 8N2O7 poisonous and staphisagrin. Delphhiin has a 



FIG. 23. Pass Creek Park, Colo., with low larkspur (Delphinium Menziesif) in 

 blossom. (After Marsh, C. Dwight, Clawson, A. B., and Marsh, Hadleigh: Larkspur 

 Poisoning of Live Stock, Bulletin 3657, U. S. Department of Agriculture, September 8, 1916, 

 Plate III.) 



local irritative action. Its systemic action is mainly paralytic on the 

 heart and respiration and resembles that of aconitin in many respects. 

 Post mortem examination in poisoning by mouth with this body showed 

 marked reddening of the stomach. Recently in a number of Van Praag's 

 experiments with feeding solutions of Delphinium a marked increase in 

 urinary secretion was noted. 



