10 



injury to children. The common horsechestnut (JEsculus Hippocas- 

 tanum L. ) has poisonous qualities in the large seeds, but is exceeded 

 in this by the red buckeye (JEsculus pavia L. ), a shrub occasionally 

 grown for ornament in the State. The bruised seeds of the latter are 

 placed in ponds to stupefy fish. The seeds of black cherry, fox- 

 glove, saffron and mullein are more or less poisonous. 



Flowers. — The following flowers have been proved, or at least are 

 suspected of being poisonous, thornapple, laurel, stagger bush, 

 elder, locust and lily of the valley, and may be most effective as such 

 through the toxic honey gathered from the blossoms. Many flowers 

 are offensive and sickening, as wistaria, but the list would be exten- 

 sive if it included all those that affected some persons unpleasantly. 

 The strawberry is a violent poison to a few individuals ! 



Wild Plants With Somewhat Poisonous Underground Parts. 



There are several plants, the fresh roots of which when eaten have 

 poisonous properties, as the Black Cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa L. ) 

 Baneberry (Actsea alba L.), and the red species (Actsea rubra Ait.) 

 Meadow Rue (Thalictrum Sp. ) ; Locust (Robinia viscosa Vent.) 

 Culver's Root (Leptandra Virginica L. ) ; Horse Gentian (Triosteum 

 perfoliatum L. ) ; Birthwort (Trillium erectum L. ) ; Dogbane (Apocy- 

 num cannabinum L. ) ; Man-of-the-ground (Ipomaia pandurata L. ) ; 

 False Ipecac (Euphorbia Ipecacuanhx L. ) ; Jack-in-the-pulpit or 

 Indian Turnip (Arisxma triphyllum L. ); Horseradish (Roripa 

 Armor acia Fries. ) ; Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis L. ) ; Man- 

 drake (Podophyllum peltatum L. ) ; Blue Flag (Iris versicolor L. ) 



All of the above are named by Dr. Rusby * as toxic, but not 

 especially dangerous because of the acridity or otherwise repugnant 

 taste, and ill results usually obtain only when children are overcome 

 by romantic notions or downright hunger. Those who have ex- 

 perienced the taste of the Indian turnip will realize that its acridity 

 is the best safeguard against its being a source of serious danger. 

 The list as above named is seen to be a long one, and parents should 

 make it emphatic that children are not to eat roots they may find 

 wild in fields and woods. 



The lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis L. ) is one of the garden 

 ornamental plants, the bulbs of which have a sweet taste and are 

 poisonous, and to the list may be added the tulip, crown imperial, 

 narcissus, saffron, snowdrop, and amaryllis, and the corms of 

 cyclamen and roots of violets. 



* " The Poisonous Plants of the Vicinity of New York City." 



