USDA Drug and Poisonous Plant Investigations Photograph Collection

The USDA Drug and Poisonous Plant Investigations Photograph Collection consists of black and white lantern slides of research projects conducted by the Drug and Poisonous Plant Investigations division of the Bureau of Plant Industry. Some of the slides feature images of medicinal plant gardens at various institutions across the United States. Other subjects include drug plant field plots at the USDA South Farm in Beltsville, Maryland; drug plant specimens; distribution charts of plant species; and a few color slides of paintings of drug plants. Images of poisonous plant research mainly depict effects of plant poisons on livestock. Most of these slides show livestock that have ingested toxic plants. Many include labels containing the scientific name of the plant, the animal type, animal number, and the date and time of photograph. Sequences of photos follow the course of a particular animal's reaction to a plant toxin. A few of the slides show poisonous plants in their native landscapes. Some images show charts, tables, and figures related to poisonous plant research.

Collection Hierarchy

  • USDA Drug and Poisonous Plant Investigations Photograph Collection