POISONOUS PLANTS 157 



Botanical Chapaeteps. — Groot tulp (greater tulp) reaches 

 about 2 feet, with long, very narrow, tapering leaves. The 

 root is a small round bulb. The flowers are pale yellow or 

 reddish, 1| inches in diameter, with orange-yellow stamens, 

 and six petals. The seeds are contained in long, compact, 

 pod-like structures (Walsh) . 



Klein tulp (lesser tulp) is 8 to 9 inches high, and has 

 six petals, more spread out than in groot tulp, whitish- 

 mauve in colour, with dark mauve spots on the upper 

 surface. The flowering stalk is light brown or brownish- 

 green (Walsh). 



Blauw tulp (blue tulp) reaches about 15 inches in height, 

 and has long, very narrow, flexible leaves, which clasp the 

 stem at the base. The flowers resemble those of klein tulp, 

 but are somewhat stouter, and blue in colour (Walsh). 



Poisoning. — The dangerous character of the tulps seems 

 established beyond all doubt, although little is known as to 

 the active principle. It is not unlikely that it resembles 

 the glucoside iridin found in other species of the Iridece. 



Bowhill * has described tulip-grass poisoning of horses in 

 South Africa, and remarks as the symptoms — Temperature, 

 102° F., rising to 104° P. ; pulse thready and strong ; loss 

 of appetite, dulness, and drooping of head and ears; the 

 mouth is burnt, there is some frothing, gritting of teeth, 

 and in some cases arching of neck, regurgitation of gas, 

 and attempted vomition ; the colic, slight at first, increases 

 rapidly in severity, and in about two hours there is well- 

 marked tympanites ; finally, there is coma, in some cases 

 convulsions, and death in five to ten hours. 



A. J. Williams + distinguishes subacute cases with tym- 

 panites and the usual symptoms of flatulent colic, and acute 

 cases, in which there is extreme tympanites, the animal 

 dashes about with staggering gait, pupils dilated, convulsive 

 twitchings, lips retracted, and symptoms of asphyxia. The 

 patient falls and dies immediately. 



The plant incriminated by Williams is described by him 

 as having a plant stalk about 6 inches long, a yellow 

 * Becord, 1900, p. 229. t Ib'i^; 1902, p. 421. 



