The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-14
POISONOUS FLOWERS
ARE DISCUSSED BY
COMMISSIONER AGRICUL-
TURE w. A. McRAE


Writing to the Orlando Reporter
Star, Commissioner of Agriculture
McRae says:
Anent the communication in your
, issue of September End, headed cole
ander is Poisonous" allow me to say
that while instances of poisoning from
Iplants are not daily events but
when they do occur the victims suf-
fer and so it is we'll enough to "be
wise" to the fact that we have, besides
the Oleander, other forms Of poisonous
vegetation.
Since the days of ancient Greece
when Socrates paid the OATH penalty
by drinking wine poisoned with hem
lock or wild parsnip, poisonous plants
have been known. There are danger
Ious growths few in comparison, with
the vast number of use full plants, but
as they exist and prove most annoy
ling at times, if not dangerous and
fatal, they should be known and rec
ognized.
OF the most deadly plants in Flori-
da and the South, two kinds should
be noted in particular, the poison
mushrooms and the water hemlock
I(cicuta curtissi. The last mentioned
is member of the parsnip family 1t
has rank smell and is usually found
in wet locations.
There are two other dangerous
plants to be avoided, species of the
Shumac genus, Rhus Taxicadendron
and Rhus Floridana-poison ivy or
poison oak. This is we'll known
vine, quite common in most of the for
ests Of the South. It is poisonous to
the touch Of many persons, while
others seem to be immune from its
irritation. Sugar of lead-a poison IL
taken internally-dissolved in alcohol
until no more will dissolve If literally
applied to the poisoned parts will ef-
feet cure.
Flowers of the jonquil, white hya.
cinth and snowdrop all possess a pois-
onous nature, the narcissus and ole.
ander, in both of which the leaves and
flowers are dangerous while the bark
or the catalpa tree is mischevous. The
lobelias are all dangerous. The lady
slipper poisons some persons in the
same manner as does the poison ivy.
Lilies of the valley should not be
chewed. Red poppies are full of OPT
am, and the autumn crocus, if the
blossoms are chewed are liable to
cause vomiting and purging.
Parents should caution their chill.
dren against touching any wild plant
in the woods and wet places that has
an umbrella shaped top that looks like
the garden parsnip-it may be the
water hemlock and very dangerous.
Wild mushrooms should be avoided.
Persons interested in this family of
plants, found in Florida. and manv
other states can get a free bulletin on
the subject of mushrooms from the
U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Washington, d. C.
Ihere are in Florida as in all other
parts of the United States, certain
weeds and plants that make people
sheeze, the so called hay fever plants.
Pollen from these plants wind borne.
is responsible for this affliction II 10 !
pelieved among other charges against
Johnson grass,-Sorghum Halapense
that it is responsible for this trouble
IN the spring. The Spring Amarath
or careless weed-Amaranthus Spin.
osus-is a midsummer cause wb;,e
the common rag weed-Ambrosia Art.
misiaefolio, is the offender in the fall
several of the dock-Rusuex family
are also offenders. These weed.
grow in the country as we'll as in tbe
twon. They can be kept in subiection
III the town. One man with a svtbe
can very we'll cover a town in keen.
ing down these weeds. The dav 10
coming when cities looking to the com.
tort OF their own people, as we'll as |
visitors. will pass ordinances looking
10 the destruction of hay fever weeds
at least during their pollen producing
season. Orlando might set a good er.
ample in this respect. The johnson
grass dock, and rag weed are neren.
mails These sneeze producer. arc
no. poisonous as those noted above.
II IS estimated that a million or more |,
people in this country are subjects of
hay fever. VI
Yours truly,
w. A. MRAR