PLANTS POISONOUS TO EAT 



193 



rains. Being hungry the trampers bite off a piece of the 

 root, and finding that it tastes good they continue to eat it. 

 Before long distressing symptoms appear, learhng within a 

 few hours to violent convulsions and perhaps death. The 

 plant of which they have eaten is probably the water hem- 



FiG. 179. — Water Hemlock (Clcula ntacnlaUi, Fiw^lvy Family-, Umhelliffrw). 

 Lower stem and roots, cut vertically, I. Flowering and fruiting 

 top. -i. Part of leaf, I. Fruit entire, l. Half of .same, cut across. 

 (Chesnut.) — Perennial herb 1-2 m. or more in height: roots spindle- 

 shaped, 3-7 cm. long; stem rigid, hollow, smooth; leaves smooth, 

 somewhat celery-like; flowers white; fruit iDCComing brown. Very 

 poisonous throughout. Nati^-e home, North America, in damp soil. 



lock (Fig. 179) one of our commonest swamp or brook.side 

 plants and one of the most deadl.y. Fatal cases like that 

 described occur almost every year especially among chil- 

 dren, and man}" cattle are poisoned Ijy eating various parts 

 of the plant. Sometimes poisoning results from drinking 



