THE DANGER OF UNKNOWN PLANTS 



449 



have by no means exhausted the sources of plant food. The 

 fact that wild dandelion leaves are becoming popular as a 

 market vegetable is evidence that the future may have many 

 surprises in store for us. Some of the plants which are now 

 despised and are considered weeds will doubtless be cultivated 

 by coming generations and made important garden products. 



The danger of unknown plants. Although all plants contain 

 food substances, it would not be safe for us to gather at random 

 unknown leaves, roots, fruits, and seeds for use as food, because 

 some plants contain substances which when eaten are injurious 

 and even poisonous. 

 The dainty leaves of the 

 graceful poison hemlock 

 resemble parsley, its 

 thickened root is simi- 

 lar to the parsnip, its 

 tiny seeds are akin in 

 appearance to anise, 

 and it is often mistaken 

 for the harmless plants 

 which it resembles. The 

 root of the old poke- 

 berry is sometimes mis- 

 taken for horseradish 

 and parsnip, and when 

 eaten causes serious 

 trouble and sometimes 

 death. The leaves of 

 the marsh marigold and 

 Jimson weed are sometimes used as 

 quently been the cause of serious trouble, 

 tobacco plant is extremely poisonous. 



Certain plants, like poison ivy and poison sumac, frequently 



FIG. 317. Poison ivy. 



" greens " 



and have fre- 

 The dainty Indian 



