120 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Commonly cultivated in gardens. The root is poisonous. 



Vicia sativa L. Common Vetch. 



A frequent weed in grain fields. The seeds of this are said to be in- 

 jurious to pigs. It is not injurious to cows. Contains vicin. 



Prosopis juliflora DC. Mesquit Tree. 



The seeds of this tree contain a small amount of saponin, probably it is 

 not very strongly poisonous as it is used as food for cattle in Texas. 



Cicer arietinum L. Chick Pea. Idaho Pea. 



Commonly cultivated in Southwestern U. S. Said to be poisonous in Eu- 

 rope. 



Geraniaceae. Geranium Family. 



Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Her. and E. moschatum (L.) L'Her. Storks- 

 bill. 



Both of these plants are widely distributed, especially on the Pacific 

 Coast. The former is becoming abundant in Utah. The pointed callus of the 

 seed sometimes inflicts mechanical injuries. 



Oxalidaceae. Wood Sorrel Family. 

 Oxalis violacea L. Wood Sorrel. 



Dr. Schaffner reports a case of a boy who was poisoned from eating a con- 

 siderable quantity of the leaves. The leaves are frequently eaten as a salad. 



Tropaeolaceae. Nasturtium Family. 

 Tropaeolum ma jus. L. Nasturtium. 

 This plant is commonly cultivated and has more or less acrid properties. 



Linaceae, Flax Family. 



Linum usitatissimum L. Flax. 



Said to produce death to cattle, probably due to the formation of HCN 

 in the wilted leaves. People working with the fiber of the plant often have a 

 form of dermatitis. Flax-seed, when fed in considerable quantities to live 

 stock, especially hogs, produces death. Linum cathartlcum contains a bitter 

 principle linin, and linamarin. 



Linum rigidum Pursh. Large-flowered Yellow Flax. 



This plant is reported as poisonous to sheep in some parts of the country. 

 Found westward. 



Zygophyllaceae. 



Tribulus terrestris (L.) Caltrop. 



Caltrop is found chiefly from Nebraska to Kansas and occasionally east- 

 ward. T. maximus, sometimes called soap-brush, is found in the west. The 

 prickly fruit is more or less injurious; it presumably contains saponin. This 

 plant should be looked upon with suspicion as one exotic species is regarded as 

 poisonous. 



Rutaceae. Rue Family. 



Ruta graveolens L. 



This plant is more or less acrid and produces blisters. Several species 

 of the family are regarded as poisonous. 



Zanthoxylum scandens and Z. alatum are used as fish poisons in India. 

 It is not known whether our native prickly ashes are poisonous or not, but they 

 may be looked upon with suspicion. 



