88 POISONOUS PLANTS. 



The student will observe that the genera in each order of Lin- 

 naiis are arranged according 1 to their natural affinities ; thus com- 

 bining-, as far as may be, the advantages, both of a Natural and 

 an Artificial method. 



Tt has already been observed, that plants which agree in their 

 most essential external characters, agree also in their properties. 

 Of course certain qualities will be indicated by particular exter- 

 nal marks See page 80 St 91. Upon this principle are construct- 

 ed the following 



Mules to distinguish Poisonous Plants. 



1. Plants with glumes, as the grasses, never poisonous. They 

 belong mostly to Triandria 



2. Plants with 5 stamens and 1 pistil, Pentandria, Monogynia, 

 of a dark gloomy aspect andnauoeous smell, are narcotic and dan- 

 gerous. Kx. Thorn-apple, Datura ; Henbane, Hyo&eyamus ; To- 

 bacco, Nicotiana 



3. Plants of Pentandria Digynia, bearing umbels, are poisonous 

 if th,'y grow in wet soil and have a nauceous odour ; Kx. Hem- 

 lock, Conium ; Water parsnip, Slum ; Water-hemlock, Cicuta. 



Observation. The cicnta maculuta is an exception to a part of 

 the rule, being aromatic and still a deadly poison. It is on that 

 account the more dangerous. It has destroyed some children 

 lately, the root being mistaken and eaten by them for Angelica. 

 See I)r. Bigelow's Medical Botany. 



If they grow on dry soil and have an agreeable odour, they are 

 healthful aromatics, as Coriander, Carui, Fennel. 



4. Plants with stamens inserted on the calyx, whether they be 

 few, as in the Currant, or numerous, as in the class Icosar,dria t 

 have wholesome fruits, as Apple, Plum, Strawberry, Currant. 

 The other parts of the plant should be suspected. 



5 ^Plants with rir.gent corollas and naked seeds arc mostly 

 aromatic, and none of them poisonous, as Sweet Marjoram, Cat- 

 mint, Hyssop, Motherwort. They belong chiefly to Didynamia 

 Gymnospermia 



6. Plants with labiate corollas, and seeds in a seed-vessel, are, in 

 some instances, narcotic, as Fox-glove, Digitalis. They belong 

 to Didynnwia Jlngospermia, and have generally personate flowers. 



7. Plants of the 1.5th Class, Tetradynamia* having cruciform flow- 

 ers, rarely, if ever, poisonous, but are many of them used as food ; 

 :is Cabbage, Turnip, Radish, and Mustard 



8. Plants with butterfly shaped flowers, belonging mostly to 

 .'Diadelphia, very rarely poisonous ; many of them are used for food ; 

 as Pea and Bean. Wild Indigo, Podalyria tinctoria t is an excep- 

 tion, being 1 emetic and cathartic. 



9. Planis of the 19th Class, Syngenetia, having compound flow- 

 ers, are rarely poisonous ; as Sunflower, Dandelion and Thistle^ 



