SPERMATOPHYTA— RANUNCULACEAE 467 



a satisfactory trial of the permanganate of potassium as an antidote could be based; hence 

 no experiments were made in that line. 



Dr. B. Kennedy in the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, reports in 

 regard to the symptoms of poisoning from D. glaucum, as follows ; 



This dangerous, poisonous plant was seen quite frequently from Lincoln Valley to 

 Summit Soda Springs. It occurs usually in large patches by the side of creeks in the 

 valleys. Although sheep do not care for it, yet it is sometimes eaten by them. Sheepmen 

 do not consider it dangerous. Cattlemen, however, are afraid of it, and consider it very 

 poisonous. Mr. Ridinger of the Tehauntepec dairy, about eight miles from Webber Lake, 

 told us that cattle die after eating it, with the following symptoms: Trembling and shiver- 

 ing, succeeded by extreme weakness, which makes affected animals stagger and fall or lie 

 down. 



That Larkspur is poisonous, at least some species, appears from the experi- 

 ments carried on by Dr. Geo. H. Glover and C. Dwight Marsh : 



There can be no question but that the several species\ of larkspur growing native in 

 the mountainous districts of Colorado are a greater source of loss to the stockmen than all 

 other weeds combined. While the larkspur is confined to the mountainous regions, it 

 nevertheless holds true that in the aggregate mortality throughout the state from poisonous 

 plants larkspur takes second place only to loco. We have no statistics at hand whereby 

 we can estimate, with any degree of accuracy, the total loss, but judging from the reports 

 of other western states and from information received from most every section of the 

 state, it would seem that $40,000 annually is a conservative estimate. There are four 

 species of larkspur found growing abundantly in the middle and western portion of this 

 state, and one found growing sparingly in the eastern plains section. Other species have 

 been found in isolated places, but have not been especially accused of doing any harm, 

 and their toxicity has not been proved. The four species found in the greatest abundance 

 and named in the order of their importance, are purple larkspur. Delphinium Nelsonii, 

 Greene; tall larkspur. Delphinium elongatum, Rydb.; D. Geyeri, Greene, and D. Barbeyi, 

 Huth. These all have the same characteristic ilowers, and are found growing in the moun- 

 tains at altitudes from 5,000 to 11,000 feet. The D. Penardi, Huth, has a white flower 

 and may be seen growing adjacent to streams and in the arroyas on the plains as far east 

 as the state line. 



The Delphiniutn elongatum and D. Nelsonii are the only ones which contain 

 a sufBcient quantity of deleterious substance to produce poisoning. From all 

 accounts it seems probable that the plants are most poisonous in the spring 

 when they are fresh. When the poison has been absorbed into the system atropin 

 is an antidote. 



8. Actaea L. Baneberry 



Perennial herbs with 2 or 3 ternately-compound leaves ; sepals 4-5, petal-like, 

 soon falling ; petals 4-10, small, flat, spatulate, on slender claws ; stamens numer- 

 ous, free, with slender white filament; ovary solitary; stigma sessile; fruit a 

 berry; seeds compressed, smooth, horizontal. 



Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd. Red Baneberry 



A smooth perennial 1-3 feet high with biternately divided leaves, on long, 

 smooth petioles, leaflets ovate, sharply cut, and toothed. Calyx with 4 greenish 

 sepals; corolla 8-10 petals, white, shorter than the stamens; stamens numerous; 

 berries cherry red. 



Distribution. Eastern North America to Hudson Bay, and the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



Poisonous properties. Prof. Chesnut states that sheep are occasionally poi- 

 soned by eating the leaves of the closely related European species. These plants 

 are seldom, however, eaten. In its medical action Actaea is similar to Cimici- 

 fuga. It contains a resinous body which is neither acrid nor bitter, but accord- 



