744 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



The coffee plant is a small evergreen tree native to the tropical mountain 

 districts of Africa but now cultivated in all warm countries. It was introduced 

 into Arabia early in the 15th century or perhaps earlier. Brazil supplies a large 

 amount of coffee. Large amounts of coffee also come from Ceylon, Java and 

 the Celebes. It is also grown in Puerto Rico and Cuba. Its first introduction 

 is said to have occurred in the middle of the 16th century.- The Mocha coffee 

 comes from southwestern Arabia. 



The sweet-scented bedstraw (Galium trifloruw) is used in making an aro- 

 matic drink, especially in German communities in this country. It contains 

 coutnarin. In Europe the sweet woodruff (Asperula odorata} is used like 

 G. triflorum and when added to wine, the drink is known as "Mai-trunk." 



Cephalanthus L. Button Bush 



Shrubs or small trees; leaves opposite or verticillate; flowers in spherical 

 peduncled heads, white or yellow; calyx tube obpyramidal with 4 obtuse lobes; 

 corolla tubular 4-toothed; stamens 4, inserted on the throat of the corolla; 

 ovary 2-celled ,ovules solitary in each cavity; style thread-like, stigma capitate; 

 fruit dry obpyramidal 1-2 seeded. 



About 7 species native to America and Asia. 



Cephalanthus occidentalis L. Button Bush 



A shrub or small tree; leaves petioled ovate or lanceolate-oblong pointed, 

 opposite or whorled with small petioles; flowers borne in globular head; sessile 

 white; style longer than the corolla. 



Distribution. In swamps and low grounds from Canada to Minnesota, 

 Texas and Florida. 



Poisonous properties. The leaves contain a poisonous, bitter glucoside 

 cephalanthin C 20 H 34 O 6 . It has been used in medicine on account of its bitter 

 properties. 



CAPRIFOUACEAE Vent. Honeysuckle Family. 



Shrubs, trees or vines, or rarely herbs, with opposite leaves; stipules absent 

 or present; flowers perfect, mostly cymose; calyx adnate to the ovary, 3-5 

 toothed or 3-5 lobed; the gamopetalous corolla with a 5-lobed limb or 2- 

 lipped; stamens 4-5, inserted on the tube of the corolla and alternate with its 

 lobes; ovary 2-5 celled; style slender; stigma capitate; fruit a berry, drupe or 

 pod ; seeds with a membranous or hard coat. 



About 275 species. Generally found in the northern hemisphere. The 

 plants of this order are of small economic importance. Several are used in 

 medicine, as the feverwort (Triosteum perfoliatum). 



Many members of the order are used for ornamental purposes. The most 

 important are members of the genus Lonicera. Of the native species, the 

 trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is widely cultivated, also Sul- 

 livant's honeysuckle (L. Sullivantii), Fraser's honeysuckle, (L. flava), and 

 the western honeysuckle (L. involucrata}. Some of the Loniceras are pos- 

 sibly poisonous. Of the European and Asiatic species, the L. tatarica, L. 

 japonica, L. fragrantissima and L. Periclymenum are cultivated. The elders 

 (Sambucus canadensis and S. racemosa} are likewise cultivated in the North. 

 The former is often weedy. Several species of the snowberries, like the wolf- 

 berry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) and the snowberry proper ($\ racemosus) 

 are native to the northern states. The Indian currant (S. orbiculatus) is some- 

 times weedy in Iowa and Missouri. Suckers used in Arkansas for making 



