SPERMATOPHYTA GRAMINEAE GRASSES 



363 



speaks of it as communicating these intoxicating properties to beer. It acts 

 as a narcotic, acrid poison. Darnel meal was formerly recommended as a 

 sedative poultice. In Taylor's work on poisons, the statement is made that the 

 seeds, whether in powder or in decoctions, have a local action on the alimentary 

 canal and a remote action on the brain and nervous system. He states further 

 that no instance is reported of its causing fatal injuries to man, and as much 

 as three ounces of a paste of the seeds have been given to a dog without caus- 

 ing death. Then he goes on to cite the experience of Dr. Kingsley, in which 

 several families, including about thirty persons, suffered severely from the ef- 

 fects of bread containing the flour of darnel seed. These persons had staggered 

 about as if intoxicated. It is claimed by some investigators, however, that this 

 plant is not poisonous. One writer claims to have made bread from flour said 



Fig. 152. At left, a hypha from 

 leaf base of seedling of "Darnel" 

 (Lolium temulentum). At right, hy- 

 phae in the starch endosperm of a 

 seed. h. hyphal layer of grain nu- 

 cellus, st, starch cell, w, wall of starch 

 cell, a, knot formation in an inter- 

 cellular space. After Freeman, re- 

 drawn by Charlotte M. King. 



0< 6cr 



Fig. 153. "Darnel" (Lolium temulentum). 

 Section of outer part of a grain which has been 

 ti a germinating chamber 24 hrs. /, pal*. *. 

 pericarp, *, crushed integuments, o, outer row of 

 nucellus cells, b, cavities with nucellus (probably 

 -Id cell lumina), h, hyphae, a, aleurone. c, starch 

 mdosperm. After Freeman, redrawn by Char- 

 lotte M. King. 



to contain considerable darnel and experienced no injurious effects. When 

 mixed with flour and water the dough is foamy and narcotic in its action. 

 There are other grasses which produce similar narcotic effects. Quite recently 

 it has been claimed by several European investigators that the fruit of Lolium 

 temulentum contains a poisonous fungus. Guerin states that the hyphae of a 

 fungus constantly occur in the nucleus of the seed and the layer of the caryop- 

 sis lying between the aleurone layer and the hyaline portion of the grain or 

 nucellus. He also thinks that the toxic action of the Loliums is due to this 

 particular fungus hypha. The threads were also found in L. arvense and Z,. 

 linicolum ; but, as yet, have not been found in L. italicum and but once in L. 



