676 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Few of the members of this order are weedy, or at least they are not 

 troublesome. The honey wort (Lysimachia Nummularia) has escaped from 

 gardens into damp ground and occasionally some species of the loosestrifes, are 

 troublesome as weeds. Several members of this family are cultivated for orna- 

 mental purposes, among which are the cowslips or primroses and cyclamens. 

 Native species of Steironema, like S. lanceolatum, and Lysimachia, are pretty 

 ornamental plants. One of the prettiest of the native species in the northern 



Fig. 387. Long and short-styled flowers of 

 Primula, a and b styles; c pollen grains, and 

 d papillae of short-styled flower. Modified by 

 C. M. King, after Strasburger. 



states is the American cowslip (Dodecatheon Meadia), which is stemless and 

 has a 6-parted reflexed corolla and exserted stamens. The true primroses 

 (Primula) are frequently cultivated, the P. sinensis and P. obconica in green- 

 houses. The English cowslip, P. vulgaris, is an interesting European plant, and 

 is also found in high altitudes in North America. The beautiful P. Parry i, of 

 the Rocky Mountains, is abundant along brooks and in moist meadows at high 

 altitudes, and is one of the prettiest of the Rocky Mountain plants. The root- 

 stock has a strong odor of musk and is said to be somewhat poisonous. The 

 leaves of P. obconica are poisonous to the touch, being similar in effects to the 

 poison ivy, although not so strong. The European cyclamen is a commonly 

 cultivated plant in greenhouses. The pimpernel or poor man's weather-glass 

 (Anagallis arvensis) is common in sandy soil and occasionally somewhat weedy. 

 It is native to Europe. In Primula and cyclamen is found cyclamin, C 05 H 40 O 10 , 

 with which primulin is supposed to be identified. 



Anagallis, L. 



Herbs with alternate, sessile, or short-petioled whorled leaves; flowers sol- 

 itary, on axillary peduncles; calyx 5-parted; corolla wheel-shaped, deeply 5- 

 parted; longer than the calyx; stamens 5; filaments bearded; capsule globose, 

 circumscissile, many-seeded; seeds minute, flat on the back. About 15 species, 

 mostly in the old world. 



Anagallis arvensis, L. 



Annual; leaves ovate, or oval, membranous, sessile, or somewhat clasping; 

 calyx-lobe keeled, shorter than the obovate corolla-segments, fringed with 

 minute stalked glands; flowers scarlet or white, usually with a darker center; 

 capsule smooth. 



Distribution. Newfoundland to Minnesota, Mexico, and on the Pacific 

 Coast. Naturalized from Europe. 



