Poisonous Plants, 
61 
overripe plant. The small hairs in the heads of this clover 
are so constructed that they collect together and form large 
round felted balls in the digestive system of animals. Horses 
and sheep have thus often been killed after eating this clover. 
Quite recently a case occurred where in the stomach of a lamb 
as many as forty-nine of these hairballs were found.* 
A number of plants which cause minor troubles to animals 
are known and may be quoted by name. Paphanus raphani- 
strum L*. (Jointed Charlock), a weed in cornfields, and Sinapis 
arvensis L. (Charlock), are known to cause “blowing,” inflam- 
mation of the stomach, and flow of saliva, when eaten at 
the time the seeds begin to ripen, the “ oil of mustard ” 
contained in the seeds producing these injurious effects. 
The plants of the following list possess objectionable proper- 
ties ; they have been recorded to cause either a decrease in the 
yield of milk, or give a bitter or unpleasant odour to it and the 
butter made thereof. Some of them have been blamed for causing 
diarrhoea and haematuria, and some cases are recorded where 
premature calving resulted from eating “horse tail.” These 
plants must be included in a list of “certainly suspicious” 
plants, though their records are insufficiently accurate ; Galtha 
palustris L. (Marsh Marigold). Drosera rotundifolia L. 
(Sundew). Hedcra Helix L. (Ivy). Anthemis Cotula L. 
(Stinking Chamomile). Lactuca virosa L. (Wild Lettuce). 
Ligustrum vulgare L. (Privet). Rumex acetosa L. (Sorrel). 
Rumex Acetosella L. (Sheep Sorrel). Oxalis Acetosella L. 
(Wood Sorrel). Paris quadrifolia L. (Herb Paris). Iris 
Pseud-acorm L. and Iris fmtidissima L. (Flags). Oalanthus 
nivalis L. (Snowdrop). Gonvallaria majalis L. (Lily of 
the Valley). Allium vineale L. (Crow Garlic). Allium 
ursinum L. (Broad-leaved Garlic). Narthecium ossifragum 
Huds. (Bog Asphodel). Arum maculatum L. (Cuckoo pint). 
Equisetum arvense L., Equisetum palustre L. (Horse Tail), 
and Pteris aquilina L. (Bracken). 
In concluding the list of British species it is necessary to 
refer to a grass, probably the only British species of the 
Oraminece which is suspected to possess poisonous properties. 
Darnelgrass {Lolium temulentum L.) contains almost always 
in the seeds, immediately under the seed coat, masses of a 
fungus mycelium, which is said to have narcotic effects upon 
animals. Lolium perenne L. (Perennial Ryegrass), and Lolium 
italicum L. (Italian Ryegrass) on very rare occasions contain 
the same fungus. It is known that the darnelgrass seeds are 
’ A similar case has been brought quite recently to the writer’s notice, 
where a valuable colt had died after eating the berries of our common Hedge 
Hawthorn. The seeds and stems had formed a large ball in the stomach of the 
animal, hard as concrete, which no medicine would remove. 
