112 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



The flowers of this plant are said to be injurious. 



Illicium floridanum Ellis. Anise tree. 



Native to Florida. The leaves are poisonous to stock. 



Berberidaccae. Barberry Family. 



Berberis repens. Lindl. Trailing Mahonia. 



Cultivated. Poisonous. According to Schaffner, the berries are injuri- 

 ous to birds. Probably contain the alkaloids berberin and oxyacanthin 

 which occur in the common barberry. 



Berberis Aquifolium Pursh. Oregon grape. 



This plant also causes poisoning. Cultivated. In the Cascade Mts., Oregon, 

 Washington. 



Podophyllum peltatum L. May Apple or Mandrake. 



This plant is widely distributed east of the Missouri divide. The roots 

 and leaves are drastic and are known to be poisonous. It is said also that 

 when the leaves are eaten by cows, they produce injurious milk. The roots, 

 according to Dr. White, are irritating to the eye, nose, mouth and skin, and 

 contain picropodophyllin, podophyllotoxin. The podophyllin is a resinous mix- 

 ture. 



Caulophyllum thalictroides Mich. Blue Cohosh. 



Widely distributed from Iowa eastward and northward. Said to be poison- 

 ous. 



Menispermaceae. 



Menispermum canadense L. Canadian Moonseed. 



This plant is widely distributed in woods in Iowa and the north. Con- 

 tains menispermin, and menispin. A case is reported of the death of three 

 boys from eating the berries in mistake for grapes. The Cocculus indicus is a 

 well-known remedy for the destruction of pediculi and is known to be poison- 

 ous. It contains picrotoxin, cocculin and an alkaloid menispermin. 

 Calycanthaceae. Allspice Family. 



Calycanthus floridus L. 



Cultivated in Southern Iowa and in the southern states. The aromatic 

 properties of the flowers resemble those of strawberries. This makes it a 

 very desirable cultivated ornamental plant. It contains an active principle 

 calycanthin. Chesnut records it as poisonous. 



The other species of Calycanthus may also be regarded as poisonous. 

 Lauraceae. Laurel Family. 



Sassafras officinale Nees. Sassafras. 



According to Schaffner the berries of this plant are reported to be poison- 

 ous. This species is native to southeastern Iowa, southward and eastward. 



Umbellularia Californica (Arnott) Nutt. California Laurel. 



California. Leaves smart. Used to drive fleas away. 

 Papaveraceae. Poppy Family. 



Papaver somniferum L. Opium Poppy. 



Opium is obtained from the common garden poppy. This species is widely 

 cultivated in the state, and is frequently spontaneous. The more common 

 alkaloids found in the poppy plant are morphin, codein and narcotin. The 

 seeds of poppy are sometimes used to spread on top of cookies and bread. 



Papaver rhoeas L. Corn Poppy. 



