UMBELLIFERAE CARROT 663 



That the parsnip does at times produce dermatitis has been proven. The 

 following verey interesting letter from Professor F. C. Stewart, botanist of the 

 New York Agricultural Experiment Station, is of interest in this connection : 



I recollect that some fifteen years ago you were much interested in the reputed poisonous 

 properties of the wild parsnip, and that you reached the conclusion that wild parsnip is not 

 poisonous. I think you may be interested to know of an instance which has recently come to 

 my attention. Henry VanDreser, a prominent lecturer on poultry in this state, last season 

 had a very serious injury to his face and eyes. His face became badly swollen and his eyes 

 were in a terrible condition. It was feared at the time that they would be ruined, but the 

 sight was not lost although it was considerably impaired. The physician in charge diagnosed 

 it as a case of poisoning, due probably to the flowers of wild parsnip. Very shortly before 

 the trouble appeared Mr. VanDreser had been mowing a large patch of wild parsnip which 

 was in bloom. It was a hot day, so that he perspired profusely. He gathered bunches of the 

 wild parsnip plants in his arms and carried them. This brought the plants in contact with 

 his face. Both Mr. VanDreser and the physician feel confident that the wild parsnip was the 

 cause of the trouble. Another gentleman who heard of this case told me that some years ago 

 he lost a little girl with poisoning of a somewhat similar character, and it was attributed to the 

 parsnip blossoms, among which the little girl had been playing immediately before the attack. 



The writer has also known of a few cases of dermatitis produced by this 

 plant. Poisoning similar to the above may be produced by other members of 

 this family notably the cowbane. A young high school lad in Boone lost his 

 life in a way similar to that from Pastinaca sativa. 



8. Heracleum L. Cow Parsnip 



Tall stout perennials with large ternately compound leaves ; flowers in large 

 umbels; involucre deciduous and involucels of numerous linear bracts; calyx 

 teeth obsolete or small; petals white, clawed, the outer flowers dilated; fruit 

 broadly obovate, flattened, lateral ribs broadly winged, the intermediate narrow ; 

 oil tubes extending to about the middle. About 60 species, of cooler regions. 



Heracleum lanatum Michx. Cow Parsnip 



A stout, hairy, pubescent perennial from 4-8 feet high; leaflets broad and 

 large, irregularly cut-toothed; flowers white, in broad umbels. 



Distribution. From the Atlantic coast, Newfoundland, through the northern 

 states and Allegheny Mountains to California. Common in the Rocky Mountains. 

 Poisonous properties. Said to be poisonous although the leaves of the fresh 

 plant are eaten by the Indians. It contains the bitter principle heraclin 

 C 32 H 29 O 10 . The roots have a disagreeable flavor. Hyams states that it is 

 poisonous and Halsted says that cow parsnip will produce blisters. 



Daucus Tourn. Carrot 



Bristly annual or biennial herbs with pinnately de-compound leaves; umbels 

 compound, of white or reddish flowers; involucre of numerous entire or toothed 

 bracts; calyx teeth obsolete; petals obovate with apex turned in; the outer 

 flowers often dilated; fruit oblong, flattened with 5 primary ribs, secondary ribs 

 4 winged, each bearing a row of prickles. About 25 species of wide distribution. 



9. Daucus Carota L. Wild Carrot 



Biennial or annual bristly herbs and conical tap root ; lower leaves 2-3 times 

 pinnate, segments dentate lobed or pinnatifid, bracts of the involucre of linear 

 divisions; flowers white or pinkish. 



Distribution. Native to Europe. Common in fields and waste places in 

 the north to the Pacific coast. It is the original of the cultivated carrot. 



Injurious properties. The fruit often clings to wool, making it of inferior 

 quality. The leaves of the plant cause vesication. This is especially true when 



