WILD FLOWERS WHITE AND GREENISH 
the one from which the ancient Greeks extracted 
the poisonous potions that were administered to their 
political prisoners and others of their day. The 
great Socrates, it is believed, died from a draught of 
this poison. The deadly qualities are contained in 
an aromatic, oily fluid, found chiefly in the roots, but 
also in every part of the plant. The underground 
parts are most dangerous, and both men and cattle 
are poisoned annually through eating its roots, or by 
drinking water in which its roots may have been 
crushed. No chemical antidote for this poison is 
known, and it produces violent deaths. It is a stout, 
smooth, erect, and slender branching perennial, grow- 
ing from three to six feet high. The hollow stalk 
is usually marked with purple lines, and the root has 
several oblong, fleshy tubers. The compound leaf 
is twice or thrice divided, and the long pointed, lance- 
shaped divisions are coarsely and sharply toothed. 
The veinings seem to end in the notches. The leaves 
are smooth, dark green, and are set on regular stems. 
The numerous, insignificant, whitish flowers are 
loosely arranged in a large, spreading wheel of small, 
flat-topped umbels. It is found from June to August in 
swamps and low grounds, from New Mexico and 
Florida, northward to Minnesota and Manitoba. 
COW PARSNIP. MASTER=WORT 
Heracléum lanatum. Carrot Family. 
Linnzus made no mistake when he dedicated this 
tall, strikingly bold, and giant-like perennial to 
281 
