The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-07-21
POISON IN PLANTS.
Pretty Vines Which Should bo Avoided
Danger from Red Berries Fatal
Jimson- Points Whore tho
Poison Lurks

In this locality there are few plants
To be positively dreaded. In general,
children and their elders can frolic
among the fields and groves TO their
hearts content and fear no evil con.
sequence; at the same time it is well to
know what they should guard them
selves against.
The leading poisonous plant is that
commonly known rs the poison-vinc,
poison oak or poison-ivy. 1t is a very
graceful climber, and sometimes lesioons
tree trunks and old fences. At dis.
tance 1t strongly resembles the beauti-
lul Nirginia-crceper, which is sometimes
blamed for sins not OF its own. But
the two need never be confounded. -
The poison-vinc bears its leaves in clus-
tiers of ihrecS-ihe Nirginia.creeper in
clusters of fves. With this simple rule
in mind one is always safe. But the
poison vine, dreaded As it universally
is, is not equally poisonous to every
body. Some persons break out ipto i
rash if even the wind from il blows
upon them; Others can 60 among it
and handle il with impunity. As 4
rule, light person is instantly affected
by it, while dark one may escape un-
harmed.
The poison-vine belongs to the sumac
family. Other members of this family
are also poisonous, TIE most virulent
being the white or lowland sumac some-
times called poison-eldcr. This is rarely
found in our ncighborhood, but when
once seen may be recognized by its
resemblance to the well-known red
sumac, and by the circumstance OF its
growing in marshes. The red sumac,
however, against which some hold 4
strong prejudice, is not poisonous
Like the white, it is low, spreading
bush with leaves remotely resembling
ferns and with singular, pyramid shaped
blossoms, the clusters of course, being
red, the other white. Red sumac gen.
orally inhabiis dry, sandy hills. 1t is,
perhaps, more easily recognized in the
Autumn than earlier, on account of its
beautiful red leaves, so effective in dec
oration.
Another very noxious Swamp.plant is
the poison hcmlock. This is a large,
coarse plant, somewhat resembling pars-
nips or wild carrots in bloom. II bears
white umbrcls, or umbrella shaped bios
SONS. Some plants are poisonous only
when eaten, not when merely touched /;
but it is much safer TO let any suspicious
plant alone.
As a rule, any lily.like plant is safe.
But there is one notable exception 10
this, in the case OF white hellcborc. =
This may be found in some low, damp,
woody, situations. Its bright green
stems are rather tall and spreading, its
leaves are broad, long, bright green
and deeply vcined like those OF the
beautiful white day.lily plants Of our
gardens and il bears spike of dark
green blossoms about the size Of cent.
and these are in form perfect lilics.-
The plant is sometimes called Indian
poke, and it does bear slight rcsemb-
lance TO the better known poke weed
in its leaves. at least.
Children are especially attracted by
red berries. But unless they know cx
actly to what plant the red berries be.
long they had better not touch them,
for though there are many innocent
| ones, there are others that are not so.
The deadly nigh,shadc bears rcd Der.
ries which are easily mistaken for cur.
rants. II might bc well Ia remember
that these grow on coarse, scraggy
plant. The respectable berries, how
ever, are easily identified. The part.
ridgc-berry grows on dainty little
round-leavcd vine running over the
ground in high, rich woods. The tea.
berry is borne ON the summit Of tiny.
glossy -lcavcd plant. whose leaves them
selves are very fragrant. These two
are almost the only catablc red berries,
though if anybody wanted to chew the
scarlet fruit OF the rose, dogwood, OF
asparagus, no great harm would be
done.
Elderbcrrics, blackbcrrics, raspbcrrics
and the like are well known and safe.
There are any number Of blueberrics.
The catable ones are the hucklcbcrries,
whortleberrics, or those growing on
the various bushes of the Vaccinum
tribe, which may bc recognized as a
dclicate-leaved plant, bearing in june
clusters of dainty white blossoms, re.
sembling the bells Of the lily Of tho
valley. Some species Of dogwood and
the grcenbrier bear blue berries, which
are at least useless-but few will meddle
with them on account Of the height oi
the trees and the prickliness Of the
briars. Cranbcrries, which are allied
TO the huckbcrries, are safe, if sour,
though they are rel and not found in
this immediate neighborhood. Sheep
berries are very pleasant. They arc
almost black, grow in spreading clusters
and are the fruit Of the viburnum, OF
wild SNOWFALL tree. Pokebcrries are
to be regarded with suspicion, though
there is no objection, except on the
score Of cleanliness, to children stain.
ing their faces, with them, provided
they do not put them in their mouths.
ANY plapt bearing 4 blossom whici