166 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
I know of several cases where persons who have handled celery have had a 
form of dermatitis. Some persons cannot eat celery because a rash forms. 
196. Cicuta maculata, L. Water hemlock. 
The roots of this plant are very poisonous. The plant is widely dis- 
tributed in the state, especially in low grounds in northern Iowa. The Euro- 
pean cowbane, C. virosa, contains the alkaloid coniine C 8 Hi 7 N, a substance 
which probably also occurs in our plant. 
197. Cicuta bulbifera, L. Bulb-bearing Hemlock. 
The roots of this, and the whole plant are supposed to be very poisonous. 
Occasionally found in swamps in northern Iowa. 
198. Sium cicutaefolium, Gmelin. Water Parsnip. 
Common in many parts of the state in low grounds. Said to be poisonous. 
199. Aethusa cynapium, L. FooTs Parsley. 
A poisonous herb native to Europe, with a disagreeable odor. Possibly 
occurs in a few places in the state. Contains the alkaloid synapine and an- 
other coniine like alkaloid. 
200. Angelica atropurpurea, L. Purple-stemmed Angelica. 
Found in low grounds in North and Northeastern Iowa. Possibly poison- 
ous. Cattle do not relish it. 
201. Tiedemannia rigida, Coult. & Rose. Cowbane. 
The roots are tuberous and poisonous. It grows in swamps. 
202. Pastinaca sativa, L. Parsnip. 
Persons are often poisoned by handling the plant, which causes inflamma- 
tion and vesication. Mr. F. C- Stewart, in a letter to the writer, made the fol- 
lowing statement: “Henry Van Dresser, a prominent lecturer on poultry in 
this state, New York, had a very serious injury to his face and eyes. His 
face became badly swollen and his eyes were in a terrible condition. It was 
feared at the time that they would be ruined, but the sight was not lost, al- 
though it was considerably impaired. The physician in charge diagnosed it as 
a case of poisoning, due probably to the flowers of wild parsnip. Very shortly 
before the trouble appeared Mr. Van Dresser had been mowing a large patch 
of wild parsnip which was in bloom. It was a hot day, so that he perspired 
profusely. He gathered bunches of the wild parsnip plants in his arms and 
carried them. This brought the plants in contact with his face. Both Mr. 
Van Dresser and the physician feel confident that the wild parsnip was the 
cause of the trouble. Another gentleman who had heard of this case told me 
that some years ago he lost a little girl with poisoning of a somewhat similar 
character, and it was attributed to the parsnip blossoms, among which the 
little girl had been playing immediately before the attack.” The roots are 
not poisonous. 
203. Heracleum lanatum, Michx. Cow-Parsnip. 
Supposedly poisonous, although the leaves of the fresh plant are eaten by 
the Indians. The species is widely distributed in the state, especially in rich 
woods. Contains the bitter principle heraclin C32H22O10. 
204. Daucus carota, L. Carrot. 
The carrot, like the parsnip, causes vesication. Dr. Schaffner says that 
persons handling the plant are often poisoned, especially when the plant is 
wet with dew. 
