32 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vo]. IV, No. 2 , 
The wild variety of Heliantluis animus still appears to the 
writer to be t/u’ nutating plant. For on certain cloudy days when 
nutation is very slight in such plants as H. maximiliani and Am- 
brosia trifida it is still ver}- decided in this species. 
Occasionally there are days in which all the factors favorable to 
nutation are at a maximum. Such days may be distinguished as 
special “ nutation days.” One of the most remarkable in the 
writer’s experience was August 5, 1903. The ground was moist 
but the sk}' was exceeding!}- clear. The sunlight was very 
intense during the entire da\-. Toward evening all the nutating 
plants in the fields and roadsides presented an appearance not 
soon to be forgotten. The various sunflowers, ragweeds, and 
amaranths were all nodding to the west at an angle of 90°, giving 
to the landscape a verj- peculiar and even unnatural appearance. 
In the account given above, fifteen species of nutating plants 
are named. There are probabh- scores of others in the United 
States which show a diurnal bending or nutation of the stem to a 
greater or less extent.- 
1. SCH.\FFNER, John H. Observations on the Nutation of Helianthus 
annuus. Bot. Gaz. 25 : 395-403. 1898. 
2. Kei.LErman, }V. a. Observations on the Nutation of Sunflowers. 
Trans. Kan. Acad. Sci. 12 : 140-15S. 1SS9-90. 
3. ScHAFFNER, John H. The Nutation of Helianthus. Bot. Gaz. 29 : 
197-200. 1900. 
4. Stevens, F. L. Nutation in Bidens and Other Genera. Bot. Gaz. 35 : 
363-366. 1903. 
POISONOUS AND OTHER INJURIOUS PLANTS OF 
OHIO. 
John H. Schaffner. 
(Continued from p. 19.) 
62. Urtica ttrens L. Small Nettle. Produces irritation of the 
skin. A severe case of poisoning is reported, caused by 
drinking a hot infusion of this plant. 
63. Urticastrum divaricatum (L. ) Ktz. Wood Nettle. (La- 
portea canadensis Gaud.) Injurious to the touch. 
64. Phoradendron flavescens ( Ph. ) Nutt. American Mistletoe. 
Berries poisonous when eaten bj’ children. 
65. Rumex acetosella L. Sheep Sorrel. Seeds said to poison 
horses and sheep. Leaves, when eaten in large quanti- 
ties, are poisonous. 
66. Fagopyrtim fagopyrum (L.) Karst. Buckwheat. Causes 
the formation of a rash on some persons, when eaten. 
Buckwheat straw is considered injurious. 
