8 OUR POISONOUS PLANTS. 
and I have as yet experienced no consequent suffering. The pois- 
onous property of these plants appears to reside in the resinous 
juice, and may be removed by boiling and evaporation. Upon 
exposure to the air the juice blackens and forms an indelible ink. 
The ‘Ranunculacew, or crowfoot family, form a very suspicious 
order of plants; those which are not absolutely poisonous having 
generally an acrid or bitter juice. Ranunculus acris is especially 
caustic, and when fresh is avoided by cattle. Drying appears to 
Fig. 3. 
f Poison Dogwood (Rhus venenata). 
— remove the poison. This is the tallest of our buttercups, with 
leaves “* three divided ; the divisions all sessile and three cleft or 
ted, their segments cut into lanceolate or linear crowded lobes.” 
en taken epr, some of the buttercups will produce dan- 
this is an accident not very liable to happen, 
stering tendency would cause them to be — | 
swallowing. a 
haye occurred when persons have atari root 
a n SoN in "n TRET ee 
