THE TOOT-POISON OP NEW ZEALAND. 
373 
5. The Toot - or TW?^-plant is the Coriaria ruscifolia, L. (the C. sarmentosa, Forst.). 
The plant is variously designated by Maoris and settlers in different parts of the New 
Zealand islands ; and this of itself indicates how familiar it is, and how abundantly and 
widely distributed. The genus Coriaria is a small one, and, if not belonging to a sub¬ 
division of the Natural Order Ochnacece, probably represents a separate Order closely 
allied thereto and to the Rutacece. The most distinguished botanists, however, are at 
issue as to its precise place and alliances in the vegetable system. They are in similar 
dubiety as to the species of the genus, and the varieties of the species C. ruscifolia, L. 
In New Zealand there appear to be at least three Coriarias, which some botanists regard 
as mere varieties of C. ruscifolia , L., and others consider separate species. The writer 
had made, in July, 1862, an examination of all the species of the genus Coriaria con¬ 
tained in the Hookerian and Benthamian Collections at Kew, the result whereof was a 
strong conviction of the necessity for a critical revision of the whole genus, throughout 
all its species, wherever distributed. The writer considers the specific names of the Toot- 
plant (both ruscifolia and sarmentosa ) objectionable, as not truly applicable or descrip¬ 
tive ; and proposes the specific term C. tutu, the Maori name of the plant, as more con¬ 
venient to indicate the type of the species, leaving such terms as ruscifolia , thymifolia , 
and sarmentosa, to represent varieties or other species, as a subsequent critical examina¬ 
tion of the genus may render necessary or desirable. 
In contrast to, and in connection with the toxic action of C. ruscifolia, the writer may 
remark on the better-known poisonous properties of C. myrtifolia, familiar as an adulter¬ 
ant of senna, and on those of other species of the genus Coriaria .* He announces his 
belief that the whole genus Coriaria must be considered endowed with poisonous proper¬ 
ties, probably of the narcotico-irritant class, and that, as such (especially in reference to 
the extent and importance of the economic losses caused by such species as Toot), it is 
eminently deserving of thorough scientific investigation. 
Under this head he may point out the fact that— 
a. While certain animals seem to be themselves exempt from, or insusceptible to, the 
action of the poison, they may, by feeding upon certain species, or certain parts of some 
species of Coriaria, and thereby assimilating or secreting the contained poison in their 
tissues, communicate poisonous effects, or become poisons, to man or the lower animals, 
to which they (the animals first mentioned) have become articles of diet. He would 
cite a recent instance in connection with C. myrtifolia, in which several persons near 
Toulouse were poisoned by a dish of snails which had been fattened on its leaves and 
shoots. 
b. That Boyle in reference to the fruit of C. Nepalcnsis, Peschier, of Geneva, in regard 
to C. myrtifolia, and other authorities in regard to other species of Coriaria, have pub¬ 
lished instances of their harmless or even beneficial effects, under certain circumstances, 
on man or the lower animals. Such conflicting statements v T ould appear to indicate 
that there are peculiarities in the action of the poisonous principles of all the Coriarias, 
or discrepancies in the records of instances of the said action, which discrepancies or 
peculiarities demand reconciliation or explanation at the hands of competent scientific 
experts.— Proceedings of the British Association. 
* Coriaria myrtifolia is known in New Granada under the name of the “Ink-plant,” 
and the following letter respecting it, from Dr. Jameson, of Quito, was read recently at a 
meeting of the Linnean Society:—• 
“ I am anxious to have Dr. Hooker’s opinion of the £ Ink-plant.’ There is a tradition 
here respecting this vegetable-juice that merits attention. It happened, during the Spanish 
Administration, that a number of written documents, destined to the mother-country, were 
embarked in a vessel, and transmitted round the Cape. The voyage was unusually tempes¬ 
tuous, and the documents got wetted with salt water. Those written with common ink be¬ 
came nearly illegible, whereas those written with ‘ Chauchi ’ (the name of the juice) re¬ 
mained unaltered. A decree was thereupon issued that the Government communications 
should in future be written with the vegetable juice. ... I do not vouch for the correctness of 
this statement, but I have constantly heard it repeated from different sources. I generally 
use this ink in preference to the commercial article, as it is not so apt to corrode the steel 
pen. The present note is written with it, and has no admixture whatever, being only yester¬ 
day expressed from the fruit. When newly written, its colour is reddish, becoming black 
after a few hours.”— Ed. Pharm. Jourx. 
