IMPORTANT POISONOUS PLANTS 103 



fornia, Rocky Mts. Sometimes causes mechanical injuries on account of the 

 pointed callus of the fruit. 



Lolium temulentum L. Darnel. 



The grain of this grass is injurious when ground in with flour. It produces 

 stupor and symptoms resembling drunkenness. The poisoning is due to the 

 fungus found in the seed. Principle loliin, a glucoside. 



Hordeum vulgare L. 



The chaff and awns of barley are often injurious, especially when coming 

 in contact with the mucous membrane, not only in man, but in lower animals. 



Hordeum jubatum, L. Squirrel-tail. Wild Barley. 



Common throughout the west. This grass produces mechanical injuries in 

 animals that feed on hay containing it, the awns working their way in between 

 the teeth and maxillae, where they cause inflammation and the formation of 

 pus. G. gussonianum, H. caespitosum, H. secalinum, etc., produce similar in- 

 juries. 



Sitanion Elymoides Raf. Squirrel tail. 



Common Rocky Mts. to Pacific Coast. Troublesome like Wild Barley. 



Agropyron repens Beauv. Quack grass. 



Widely distributed in northern Iowa. Produces a slight irritation of the 

 mucus membrane. Contains triticin. 



Araceae. 



Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott. Jack-in-the-pulpit. 



It is widely distributed in the north. The corm is known to be very acrid 

 and poisonous, but when boiled or roasted the poisonous substance is expelled. 



Arisaema Dracontium (L) Schott. Dragon's head. 



Widely distributed, especially in eastern and central Iowa and northern 

 states. The corm is somewhat acrid and is used to destroy insects; it is said to 

 be a good vermifuge. The action of the plant in fresh condition is somewhat 

 similar to that of ammonia. 



Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Raf. Skunk Cabbage. 



Local only in a very few places. Said to be poisonous, causes vomiting,, 

 and temporary blindness. The juice is acrid and the plant has a very disagree- 

 able odor. 



Liliaceae. 



Zygadenus elegans Ph. Swamp Camas. 



Common in northern Iowa, Minnesota and westward. In the western states, 

 it is regarded as poisonous to cattle and sheep, occasionally causing death. It 

 is not as poisonous as some other species of the genus. 



Zygadenus venenosus Wats. Death Camas. Common in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and westward. The bulb is especially poisonous. 



Melanthium virginicum L. Bunch-flower. 



Common on low grounds in eastern Iowa and South and East. The root 

 stocks are regarded as poisonous, but reports have come to us of the poisonous 

 effect on horses, of the leaves and stems, when occurring in hay. 



Veratrum woodii Robb. False Hellebore. 



Southeastern Iowa to Mo. Poisonous like the eastern white Hellebore and 

 the western California Hellebore. Probably contains jervin, cevadina and 

 cevadin. 



Veratrum viride Ait. Common swamp hellebore. 



