It is from the vegetable kingdom that most of the medicines in use are derived, but many of these, in improper doses, act as violent poisons; indeed, the most rapidly fatal of all poisons, prussic acid, was originally distilled from the Laurel-cherry, and strychnine, which is hardly less rapid, is the produce of the Nux vomica (Strychnos nux vomica).

The following is a list of the principal poisonous plants found growing wild in England:—

* 1. Monk's-hood (Aconitum Napellus).
Wolf's-bane (Aconitum lycactonum).

All parts of Monk's-hood and Wolf's-bane are extremely poisonous; theroot of Monk's-hood has often been mistaken for that of Horse-radish,of which an example is therefore given, to show that it is impossiblefor this mistake to be made, if the least attention be paid to theleaves, as they are totally dissimilar.

* Bryony (Bryonia dioica).

Bryony.

The whole of this plant is poisonous, and, as the berries are red andtempting, it is dangerous to trust children with them. The root islarge and succulent, and is known by the name of Mandrake; it is verypurgative and acrid.

* Green Hellebore (Heleborus viridus).
* Stinking Hellebore (Heleborus fœtidus).

Both poisonous in every part of the plants.

* Mezerium (Daphne mezerium).

Mezerium.

The bark of this plant is acrid and poisonous, producing a burningsensation in the throat if chewed, and blistering the skin if applied,for which purpose it was often formerly used medicinally.

* Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale).

Meadow Saffron.

The corm (root) and seeds of this plant are poisonous. Meadow Saffronis also called Colchicum, it is much used in medicine, and althougha good and useful one in small doses for gouty affections, yet inover-doses it produces violent purging and vomiting.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).

Foxglove.

This plant is very poisonous and dangerous, the leaves are the mostactive part. It is frequently used medicinally, but requires greatcare, as it lowers the action of the heart, the effect of many smalldoses accumulating and at last acting like one large one.

* Staves-acre (Delphinium Staphisagria).

Staves-Acre.

The Ranunculaceæ are, most of them, poisonous, and this order includesthe Larkspurs, of which the Staves-Acre is a species. The seeds are toa certain extent poisonous, and when ground into meal and mixed withflour have been often used by farmers to destroy vermin of variouskinds, such as rats, mice, beetles, &c.

Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna).

Deadly Nightshade.

The Deadly Nightshade is also called Belladonna. Both leaves andberries are a deadly poison. The berries have been mistaken for blackcurrants by children, as they much resemble them. There are severalspecies, of which the Solanum nigrum, or Common Nightshade, very muchresembles the "Deadly."

Woody Nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara).

Woody Nightshade.

This plant, also called Bitter-sweet, from its taste, produces thebright red berries so often seen in hedges, and which from theirpretty appearance frequently tempt children to eat them. They arepoisonous, but not so much so as the twigs of the plant, which arevery acrid and narcotic.

Hemlock (Conium maculatum).

Hemlock.

The Hemlock is an umbelliferous plant growing by road-sides andunder hedges, and flowers in June and July; it has been mistaken forParsley, but may be known by the stems being spotted with black; theleaves are of a dark green colour, the upper ones bi-pinnate and thelower ones large and standing on long channelled foot-stalks.

Thorn-Apple (Datura strammonium).

Thorn-Apple.

The Thorn-Apple is a native of America, but has become almostindigenous, and is frequently found growing in waste places. The wholeof the plant is poisonous, and is narcotic when smoked, like tobacco.It is an annual, bearing a funnel-shaped white flower, the fruit isa four-celled capsule covered with sharp spines or thorns, hence itsname.

Poppy, Red (Papaver Rhœas).
Poppy, White (Papaver somniferum).

White Poppy. Red Poppy.

The unripe capsules of both of these species of Poppy are narcotic andpoisonous, but chiefly those of the White Poppy, from which, the opiumof commerce is procured. The leaves are but very slightly narcotic,and the seeds not at all.

Henbane (Hyoscyamus Niger).

Henbane.

This plant is an indigenous annual growing in waste places, especiallyin chalky soil, bearing flowers in July, which are of a yellowishgreen colour and nauseous odour; the stalk, leaves, and indeed thewhole of the plant is covered with hairs. It is very narcotic, and ismuch used medicine; in over-doses it is poisonous.

Caper (Euphorbia Lathyris).

Caper.

The Caper is a biennial often found in gardens; the seeds are verypurgative, and to some persons poisonous. This plant bearing thename of Caper, many persons have erroneously thought the seeds tobe the ordinary "Capers" sold at shops for making "Caper-sauce."These, however, are the flower-buds of quite another plant, known as"Capparis spinosa."

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa).

Wild Lettuce.

The Wild Lettuce is a biennial plant flowering in July and August; itis found growing on the banks of ditches, and is sufficiently narcoticto be called poisonous. The dried juice has been used as a substitutefor opium, but by cultivation the narcotic property is nearly oraltogether lost.

Mushrooms, Toadstools, and Other Fungi.

The only kinds of Mushroom which can be eaten with safety are thecommon Mushroom (Agaricus campestris), the Champignon (Agaricusoreades), and the Morell (Marchella esculenta). Those which are ofvery bright colours, or have spots on the cap, those with thin caps,or those which are moist—have a film like a cobweb about the stalk,or have the stalk coming from one side of the cap—are poisonous.

Those marked (*) in the foregoing list are acrid poisons, and the remainder are narcotic.

OAKS.

Out of these three great families of plants, in their almost endless variety of size, form, and colour, it has pleased the Great Author of Nature to form all the vegetation which beautifies this earth, from the lofty Palm—which, from its grateful freshness and the beauty of its structure, seems almost as if possessed of more than vegetative life, to the Algæ, which form "the pool's green mantle"—from the gigantic and "storm-defying" Oak, with its green foliage spreading out far above, and throwing its welcome shade around, to defend from the sun's rays the gentle deer who pasture on the herbage beneath—to the grass and clover, and the sweet-smelling wild flowers at their feet—

"Daffodils

That come before the swallow dares, and take