212 MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



with fatal results. The berries of the nearly related black 

 nightshade (Fig. 198) and the bittersweet (Fig. 199) are 

 somewhat poisonous, and from their bright colors especially 

 liable to attract children. At Christmas, young children 

 sometimes suffer from eating the white lierries of the mistle- 

 toe (Figs. 200-202) used in decoration. Similar cases of 



Fig. 203. — Cliri.stmas Holly (Ih.r Aquifoliiiin, Holly Faiuilj-, Aqnijoliacm). 

 A, branch bcarinj^ lea\'ew aud stamiiiate flower?^. B, staminato flowor. 

 C, pistillate flower. Z>, i.)irttil, cut verticall>'. K, fruit. F, same, cut 

 across. G, seed. H, same, cut vertically. (Kroiifcld, Rcichcnbach.) — 

 Tree growing 12 m. tail, leaves e\-ergreen; flijwers whitish; fruit scarlet. 

 Native home, Eurasia. 



poisoning are recorded with regard to the scarlet berries of 

 the Christmas holly (Fig. 203). The tempting red pul]) 

 surrountling the poisonous seeds of the yew (Fig. 204) while 

 itself harmless has sometimes led children to eat the seeds, 

 with fatal results. Young childi-en are also lialile to eat the 

 pretty seeds of the castor-oil plant which is very commonly 

 planted for ornament. Tlu^si^ seeds are poisonous although, 



