On Poisonous Plants

§. 9.

Poisonous plants, which occur everywhere in their growth—whether springing up spontaneously or through cultivation—are identified one way by the skilled Botanist A student of plant science, and in quite another way by the unrefined and unlearned man.

Since, therefore, in the vegetable kingdom some classes and entire natural orders contain either harmless plants or those that are noxious and highly poisonous, a well-educated Botanist will be able to easily distinguish edible and useful things from harmful remedies and poisons, not only by the external senses, but also from the affinity of the family and the specific qualities of the plant itself. Thus, he holds it very well known to himself that all Grasses original: "Gramina", in all their parts, provide the most healthful and most abundant nourishment for both plant-eating animals original: "phytivoris" and for man, the inhabitant of whatever climate; that in like manner the Legumes original: "Leguminosæ", plants of the diadelphous A Linnaean classification for plants with stamens united into two bundles, typically pea-like flowers class, nourish countless thousands of men and animals both by their stems, which are often climbing, and by their savory pods; that the tallest Palms provide a most pleasing and healthful food both from the pith of the trunk and from their numerous fruits; and that the beautiful trees and berry-bearing shrubs of the Icosandria Plants with twenty or more stamens attached to the calyx, such as roses or apples class, just as they take pride in a multitude of elegant flowers, so also they abound in many ways for the use of the animal kingdom with pome-bearing, berry-like, fleshy, and pulpy fruits. Where, therefore, he finds either a type of grass equipped with a hollow, jointed stalk and a naked seed; or a diadelphous plant with compound, tendril-bearing leaves, a butterfly-shaped flower, and a sword-shaped pod; or a palm with an undivided stem and terminal leaves; or an Icosandrous fruit, he never doubts its utility, nor does he hesitate in the least to enjoy it.