670 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Fig. 380. Mountain laurel (.Kalmia latifolia). 

 a, flowering spray, one-third natural size; ver- 

 tical section of flower showing peculiar attach- 

 ment of stamens, natural size, c, fruiting cap- 

 sules, natural size. Very poisonous. (Ches- 

 nut, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



Fig. 381. Mountain Laurel {Kalmia latifolia). 1, section of 

 flower bud showing anthers lodged in the pockets of the corolla; 

 2, expanded flower showing anthers in pockets; 3, sectional view. 

 (Gray.) 



meddling with K. angustifolia because of its poisonous nature; disregarding the advice, he ate 

 several leaves in the presence of the farmer, without, however, convincing the latter, notwith- 

 standing no ill effects were experienced. That persons have been poisoned seriously by eating 

 the flesh of partridges in winter cannot be denied; that these birds may have fed upon kalmia 

 buds and berries is also probable, but that their flesh is thus rendered poisonous does not seem 

 as yet fully established. Some experimenters have reported effects produced in their own 

 persons by strong decoctions of the leaves, similar to those of partridge poisoning; others quite 

 as worthy of credence have failed to observe any sensible effect from them. Taking these 

 contradictory statements in connection with the negative results of the chemical analyses thus 

 far made, one may reasonably conclude either that the poisonous character of these plants 

 has been greatly exaggerated, or that the energy of the poison, whatever it may be, is great ly 

 influenced by the personal idiosyncrasy of the individual experimented with. 



