Evening star., 1949-07-31

llC ICl III pOlSOllOuo PldAJo AL
variably causes most people to
think first OF poison ivy. although
it is only one of many plants poi
sonous to the touch. or II eaten
may cause severe pain or even
death.
The common holly Is seldom
thought of as a dangerous plant,
and yet both the foliage and the
fruits are poisonous when eaten,
not that any one is likely to eat the
spiny leaves. The leaves of one
species. lex paraguayensis. are the
source of mate which you may
have heard of as Paraguay tea.
The common yew CTaxus) is
poisonous If eaten-both the foli-
age and the fruits. Perhaps it is
fortunate that they seldom pro-
duce berries. It is the nutlike
center of the fruits that contains
the poison. which probably ex-
plains why we have not heard of
more cases of poisoning by this
popular shrub.
Plants Poisonous to the Touch.
The plants which are poisonous
to the touch are more widely
known than those that are poi
sonous when eaten. Many garden
ers have heard that the juice from
a daffodil plant is irritating. Ac-
tually some individuals have suf-
fered acutely from "daffodil" poi
soning. Other commonly grown
plants which produce similar irri-
tating or more serious results are j:
Primroses. the yellow lady slipper
and snow on the mountain" !"
which is a distant cousin to the
poinsettia. All are known to pro-
duce rashes If not other forms of
poisoning.
Add to this list a few weeds
such as poison sumac. cow
parsnip. some of the nettles and
dog-fennel. Strange to say they
are not poisonous to all people.
Many of us seem to be immune to
one or more Of the so-called poi
sonous plants. For years I han
died poison ivy without discom-
fort, but no longer. Now I wash
my hands with good strong
kitchen soap after each contact.
Perhaps for many the same prac-
tice might be followed with bene-
ficial results after contact with
the plants listed above.
Don't Eat These.
The following plants are poi
sonous in varying degree If eaten !:
Baneberry (Actaea alba and
rubra)-Occasionally grown in
wildflower and rock gardens. Ber-
ries poisonous. may be fatal. :.
Bittersweet (Solanum dulca-
mara)-Do not confuse with the
orange-fruited bittersweet-Celas-
trus scandens. Both are climbers
and both are common to the East.
Solanum dulcamara has violet
flowers which are followed by red
berries - poisonous - sometimes
fatal.
Boxwood (BuxuS sempervirenS)
part of plant, if eaten. is
reported to be poisonous.
Castor oil bean (Ricinus COM
munis)-The beans are danger
ously poisonous-2 or 3, II eaten,
are likely to be fatal.
Wild blackberry Prunus sero-
tina)-Only the withered leaves
are dangerous.
Christmas rose (Helleborous
niger-The entire plant is poi
Sonous.
Daphne Daphne mezereum) -
Berries fatal (seldom fruits in this
area).
Deadly nightshade (Solanum
nigrum)-Berries are poisonous,
when green. There are
cultivated forms of this plant
grown for their useful fruit. Ap-
cooking destroys poison.
Dogwood (Cornus)-Fruits are
poisonous to some people.
English ivy (Hedra helix)-
Fruits poisonous under some con-
ditions.
False hellebore (Veratrum vir-
ide)-The entire plant poisonous,
the roots likely to be fatal. This
plant is often used in waterside
plants for foliage effect.
.Foxglove Digitalis purpurea)-
The leaves If eaten are likely to
be fatal.
Holly Ulex spp.)-Leaves and
fruits are poisonous to some.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema
triphylla) "A wildflower with irri-
tating and astringent roots.
Jerusalem cherry (Solanum
.;zAA::*..