=Poisonous Parts=: Chiefly the leaves and unripe fruits. The red berries (black berries of the black nightshade) can be poisonous if several are eaten. The plant contains =solanine=, =dulcamarin=, and similar principles which are related to the alkaloids of the deadly nightshade. Poisoning is characterized by burning in the throat, nausea, dizziness, dilation of eye pupils, convulsions, and general muscular weakness. =Antidote=: Call your doctor. Have patient vomit. Physicians treat for alkaloids, as in atropine poisoning. BLOODROOT [Illustration: Bloodroot _Sanguinaria canadensis--PAPAVERACEAE_] =Description=: Perennial, low-growing herbs which appear early in spring in shady, moist wooded areas. The many-petaled, white flower frequently develops first on a stalk wrapped with a single large-lobed leaf. The large underground stem (rhizome) and smaller roots of the bloodroot contain an orange to red juice from which the plant gets its name. This is poisonous. =Poisonous Parts=: The underground stems, roots, and their red contents. These contain several toxic alkaloids, chiefly =sanguinarine=, which irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, and stomach causing intense burning, nausea, and vomiting. If absorbed, the alkaloids can affect the nervous system, depress the heart, cause coma, and produce temporary paralysis. =Antidote=: Call your doctor. Have patient vomit, and then give warm milk. Physicians perform gastric lavage and treat irritated gastro-intestinal tract. In the event that much of the root material has been ingested and absorbed, measures should be taken to prevent circulatory collapse. CASTOR BEAN [Illustration: Castor bean, castor oil plant, palma Christi _Ricinus communis--EUPHORBIACEAE_] =Description=: There are many varieties of the castor bean plant growing in gardens and greenhouses. The plant is cultivated commercially in southern climates for the castor oil produced by the seeds. It grows to 8 feet or more in height with large showy palm like, dark green leaves on long stalks. Flowers are not very attractive but the clusters of soft spiny fruits which form in late summer and early fall, split open to yield very attractively marked shiny seeds. These possess variegated white to brown and black striations and are shaped somewhat like the tick insect. Because of the attractive appearance, they become playthings for children. =Poisonous Parts=: The beans or seeds contain the toxic substances =ricin= and =ricinine=. =Ricin= is exceedingly poisonous due to its irritant action which causes nausea, vomiting, intestinal cramps, stupor, and sometimes convulsions and circulatory collapse several hours after seeds are ingested. =Ricin= may produce hemolysis. =Antidote=: Call your doctor. Have patient vomit. Physicians perform gastric lavage and maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and employ symptomatic measures. CHRISTMAS ROSE [Illustration: Christmas rose, black hellebore