Bryony (Bryonia) is a genus of plants of the family Cucurbitaceae (gourds). The only British species, the Common Bryony (Bryonia dioica), is a climbing plant common in hedges, has cordate palmate leaves and axillary bunches of flowers, and red berries which are highly poisonous. The thick long fleshy root has acrid emetic and purgative properties, and has been used medicinally. Other species, one found in North America, are known. The so-called Black Bryony belongs to a different natural order, the Dioscoreaceae or yams. Research Bryony
The castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) or castor bean is a highly poisonous variable herb, shrub or tree (depending upon climate) of the family Euphorbiaceae, native to India and tropical Africa. It has large, reddish coloured leaves which are long-stalked, alternate and palmate with coarsely toothed segments. Terminating the stems are panicle-like inflorescences of green monoecious flowers, the stalked female flowers above the male flowers below, both without petals. The fruit is a spiny, greenish capsule with large, oval, shiny, bean-like, highly poisonous seeds with variable brownish mottling on a whitish background. Research Castor Oil Plant
Common Bryony (Bryonia dioica) is the only native British species of Bryony. It is a climbing plant found in hedges and has cordate palmate leaves and axillary bunches of flowers and red berries which are highly poisonous. The thick long fleshy root has acrid emetic and purgative properties and has been used medicinally. Research Common Bryony
The elk or moose, is a large deer (Alces alces) found in north Europe, Asia and Scandinavia.
The elk has a short compact body, standing about 1.8 metres in height at the shoulders, a thick neck, large clumsy head, and horns which flatten out almost from the base into a broad palmate form with numerous snags. In colour the elk is greyish brown, the limbs, sides of head, and coarse mane being, however, of a lighter hue. Their flesh resembles beef rather than venison. For the most they are inoffensive, and so exceedingly wary that they are approached only with difficulty. In America the Indians are the most skilful moose-hunters. The moose has a wide range in Canada, extending from the ArcticOcean and British Columbia to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; and it is found also in Maine. It feeds largely on the shoots of trees or shrubs, such as the willow and maple, and on bark, etc. Research Elk
Eriodendron is the wool-tree genus of plants of the natural order Malvaceae (the mallows). There are eight species natives of America, but one belongs to Asia and Africa. The species are noble plants, growing from 15 to 30 metres high, having palmate leaves, and red or white flowers. The woolly coat of the seeds of some of the species is used in different countries for stuffing cushions and similar purposes. Research Eriodendron
Forking larkspur (Delphinium consolida) or field larkspur as it is also known, is a highly poisonous annual or biennialherb of the family Ranunculaceae with a slender tap root and an erect, branched, leafy stem. The leaves are sessile, alternate and palmate with the segments finely divided. The flowers are blue and have a pronounced upward-curving spur which secrets nectar. The flowers are arranged in a terminal spike. The fruit is a follicle with flattened, black, pitted seeds. Research Forking Larkspur
Black Hellebore (Helleborus) or Christmas Rose is a genus of plants of the family Ranunculaceae, consisting of perennial low-growing plants with palmate or pedate leathery leaves, yellowish, greenish or white flowers having five conspicuous persistent sepals and eight to ten small tubular petals. Research Hellebore
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a tall deciduous tree of the family Hippocastanaceae native to south-eastern Europe, and introduced into Britain in the middle of the 16th century. The large, sticky brown buds open into large palmate leaves with five to seven leaflets. The flowers are yellowish white and are clustered in dense, erect panicles. The fruit is a green spiny capsule containing one or more hard brown seeds known as 'conkers'. Research Horse Chestnut
Papaya or pawpaw or papaw (Carica papaya) is a tropical American tree of the family Caricaceae with palmate leaves on an unbranched stem and an acrid milky juice which has the property of tenderizing meat. The fruit is similar in appearance to a mango and has a pinkish-orange flesh containing a mass of dark grey seeds, and is much esteemed for eating. Research Papaya
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Bryony
