108 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



and several cases of poisoning from food that contained screenings of cockle 

 have been reported. When cockle is in flour, it is poisonous. Several cases 

 of poisoning from flour containing cockle are on record. Cockle is said to be 

 especially poisonous to poultry. Contains the substances saponin, sapogenin 

 and the alkaloid agrostemmin. 



Silene antirrhina L. Sleepy catchfly. 



Very widely distributed in th^ north. Said to be poisonous. 



Silene noctiflora L. 



Widely distributed in the north. Said to be poisonous. 



Widely distributed in northern states. Clover fields. Native to Europe, 

 probably also poisonous. 



Saponaria officinalis L. Bouncing Betty. 



This plant is said to be somewhat poisonous. Naturalized in the East. Ry 

 Mts. and Pacific Coast. 



Vaccaria vulgaris Host. Cow cockle. 



Common only in grain fields, seeds said to be poisonous, like corn cockle. 



Nymphaeaceae. 

 Nelumbo kitea Pers. The American Nelumbo. 



The root stock is used by the Indians for food. According to Schaffner 

 it is said to be used to destroy cockroaches. Roasting dispels the poisonous 

 principle. 



Ranunculaceae. 



Hydrastis canadensis L. Orange Root. Golden Seal. 



In northeastern Iowa and eastward. Contains the alkaloids hydrastinj ber- 

 berine, and xanthopuccine. Hydrastis causes severe ulceration and catarrhal in- 

 flammation. 



Caltha palustris L. Marsh marigold. 



The leaves of the marsh marigold are eaten, but the poisonous principle is 

 dissipated on boiling. Plant found on low grounds, especially in northern 

 states. The related species with whitish flower R. leptosepala of the Ry 

 Mts. must be regarded with suspicion. 



Actaea alba Mill. White baneberry. 



More or less poisonous, but generally not eaten by live stock. Found in 

 woods more or less widely distributed in northern states. 



Actaea rubra Willd. Red baneberry. 



Widely distributed in the state, but never abundant. Berries poisonous. 



Delphinium consolida L. Field Larkspur. 



Naturalized from Europe. Poisonous and fatal to cattle, frequently culti- 

 vated as an ornamental plant. It contains several poisonous alkaloids. The 

 alkaloids, delphinin, delphisin, delphinoidin and staphisagrin occur in D. Staphisa- 

 gria and may be looked for in some of our native larkspurs. 



Delphinium carolinianum Walt. Carolina Larkspur. 



Native to prairies, especially gravelly knolls. Reported as fatal to cattle. 



Delphinium exaltatum Ait. Tall Larkspur. 



Frequently cultivated, native to Europe. 



Delphinium tricorne Michx. 



Produces fascicled tuberous roots. Common in southern Iowa. Very poi- 

 sonous to cattle. "^ 



Delphinium hesperium Gray. Larkspur. 



