IMPORTANT POISONOUS PLANTS 121 



Simarubaceae. 



Ailanthus glandulosa Desf. Tree-of-Heaven. 



This plant is occasionally spontaneous in the United States, southeastern 

 Iowa to Texas and eastward, where it is cultivated as an ornamental plant. 

 It is supposed to produce poisoning when people come in contact with it. The 

 odor of the flowers is very disagreeable. It is said also, according to Dr. Rusby, 

 that water coming in contact with the leaves is poisonous. 



Polygalaceae. 



Polygala Senega L. Seneca Snakeroot. 



The roots of this plant are used in medicine as an emetic. The plant is 

 common in eastern North America. Probably other species of the genus 

 Polygala are injurious. 



Meliaceae. 



Melia azedarach L. Chinese Umbrella Tree. 



This plant is commonly planted as an ornamental tree in the South and on 

 the Pacific Coast; it has long been regarded as poisonous in Europe. Prof. 

 Fawcett writes that it is so regarded in Florida and Chesnut reports that 

 hogs have been poisoned by eating the seeds. 



Buphorbiaceae. 



Croton capitatus Michx. Hogwort, Croton. 



Native to Southeastern Iowa and south. Many species of the genus contain 

 very active poisonous principles. While this plant has not been suspected, 

 the related species, C. texensis, is known to be poisonous. 

 Croton texensis (Klotzsch) Muell. Texas Croton. 



This plant is common from Western Nebraska to Colorado and South. 

 It is poisonous. The S. setigerus of California is used as a fish poison. 



Ricinus communis L. Castor-Oil Plant. 



It is widely cultivated asi an ornamental plant. The seeds contain a deadly 

 poisonous substance ricin. 



Euphorbia corollata L. Flowering Spurge. 



Widely distributed in the Mississippi Valley, upon sandy or gravelly soil. 

 Produces inflammation of the skin. 



Euphorbia Preslii Guss. Spurge. 



Widely distributed in meadows and fields. It has been sent to the writer as 

 supposedly poisonous to live stock. 



Euphorbia marginata Pursh. Snow-on-the-Mountain. 



The honey coming from the plant is poisonous. The milky juice produces 

 dermatitis. At one time the plant was used for branding cattle. 



Euphorbia lathyris L. Caper or Myrtle Spurge. 



Native to Europe, occasionally cultivated. The seeds of this plant are 

 poisonous. Euphorbia resinifera contains euphorbon. 



Euphorbia cyparissias h- Cypress Spurge. 



Frequently escaped from cultivation, especially near cemeteries. Poison- 

 ous to the skin, producing dermatitis. 



Probably we should add to this list other species like B. maculata which has 

 several times been suspected of being poisonous in the state of Iowa. B. 

 obtusata, common East of the Rockies, and B. heterophylla, known in the 

 East as painted leaf, and common from Central Iowa eastward to Florida and 



