60 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
avoided. This last plant, also known as may-apple is very 
common in the Middle States. In early spring it sends up 
from its vigorous creeping rootstocks, a series of bud-crowded 
stems. Those that are to bear flowers have two leaves, be- 
tween which is the spherical flower-bud, which as it prepares 
to open, droops and hides under the umbrella-like foliage. The 
barren stems bear but one peltate leaf, ample and handsome. 
The snow-white, waxy flower is large and showy. It is suc- 
ceeded by a juicy sub-acid berry, which gray speaks of as 
being "eaten by pigs and boys." 
The bloodroot as its name implies {Sangiiinaria in Latin 
also), has a murky, gory-looking fluid in its rootstocks. It is 
acrid and used to some extent in medicine; not dangerous 
probably. 
Buckthorn is a very common shrub or small tree in New 
England. It bears clusters of black cathartic berries violently 
purgative. No plant of the Legitminose at the East, seems 
actively poisonous, but on the plains of Indian Territory, 
Kansas, Nebraska, etc., grows an Astragalus, the ''Loco" or 
"crazy plant", very dangerous to cattle and horses. The 
wild senna (Cassia Marilandica) , can be used much as is the 
officinal drug senna. The two little sensitive plants, C. 
chamaecrista and C. nictitans, probably have similar qualities. 
As regards the Rosaceae, we would suggest that it is not 
safe for everybody to eat too much of the leaves and bark of 
wild cherry. It is hydrocyanic acid which imparts the toxic 
quality to this plant and to the leaves of laurel or Kalmia. 
We must now speak of a group of plants which contain 
many poisons, as well as many edible plants and condiments. 
It is the parsley family or Umbelliferae, known, as a rule, by 
their umbrella-like flower-clusters of white, yellow, or lavender 
blossoms and by their peculiar fruits. It is by their fruits, 
indeed, that they are distinguished from each other. The 
edible plants of the family are parsley, parsnip, celery, con- 
