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diff --git a/78958-0.txt b/78958-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de7e267 --- /dev/null +++ b/78958-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4823 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78958 *** + + + U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. + + BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY—BULLETIN NO. 107. + + B. T. GALLOWAY, _Chief of Bureau_. + + + + + AMERICAN ROOT DRUGS. + + + BY + + ALICE HENKEL, + ASSISTANT, DRUG-PLANT INVESTIGATIONS. + + + ISSUED OCTOBER 25, 1907. + +[Illustration] + + WASHINGTON: + + GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. + + 1907. + + + + + BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. + + + _Pathologist and Physiologist, and Chief of Bureau_, Beverly T. + Galloway. + _Pathologist and Physiologist, and Assistant Chief of Bureau_, Albert + F. Woods. + _Laboratory of Plant Pathology_, Erwin F. Smith, Pathologist in + Charge. + _Investigations of Diseases of Fruits_, Merton B. Waite, Pathologist + in Charge. + _Laboratory of Forest Pathology_, Haven Metcalf, Pathologist in + Charge. + _Plant Life History Investigations_, Walter T. Swingle, Physiologist + in Charge. + _Cotton and Tobacco Breeding Investigations_, Archibald D. Shamel, + Physiologist in Charge. + _Corn Investigations_, Charles P. Hartley, Physiologist in Charge. + _Alkali and Drought Resistant Plant Breeding Investigations_, Thomas + H. Kearney, Physiologist in Charge. + _Soil Bacteriology and Water Purification Investigations_, Karl F. + Kellerman, Physiologist in Charge. + _Bionomic Investigations of Tropical and Subtropical Plants_, Orator + F. Cook, Bionomist in Charge. + _Drug and Poisonous Plant Investigations and Tea Culture + Investigations_, Rodney H. True, Physiologist in Charge. + _Physical Laboratory_, Lyman J. Briggs, Physicist in Charge. + _Crop Technology Investigations_, Nathan A. Cobb, Expert in Charge. + _Taxonomic Investigations_, Frederick V. Coville, Botanist in Charge. + _Farm Management Investigations_, William J. Spillman, Agriculturist + in Charge. + _Grain Investigations_, Mark A. Carleton, Cerealist in Charge. + _Arlington Experimental Farm_, Lee C. Corbett, Horticulturist in + Charge. + _Sugar-Beet Investigations_, Charles O. Townsend, Pathologist in + Charge. + _Western Agricultural Extension Investigations_, Carl S. Scofield, + Agriculturist in Charge. + _Dry Land Agriculture Investigations_, E. Channing Chilcott, + Agriculturist in Charge. + _Pomological Collections_, Gustavus B. Brackett, Pomologist in Charge. + _Field Investigations in Pomology_, William A. Taylor and G. Harold + Powell, Pomologists in Charge. + _Experimental Gardens and Grounds_, Edward M. Byrnes, Superintendent. + _Vegetable Testing Gardens_, William W. Tracy, sr., Superintendent. + _Seed and Plant Introduction_, David Fairchild, Agricultural Explorer + in Charge. + _Forage Crop Investigations_, Charles V. Piper, Agrostologist in + Charge. + _Seed Laboratory_, Edgar Brown, Botanist in Charge. + _Grain Standardization_, John D. Shanahan, Expert in Charge. + _Subtropical Laboratory and Garden, Miami, Fla._, Ernst A. Bessey, + Pathologist in Charge. + _Plant Introduction Garden, Chico, Cal._, August Mayer, Expert in + Charge. + _South Texas Garden, Brownsville, Tex._, Edward C. Green, Pomologist + in Charge. + _Cotton Culture Farms_, Seaman A. Knapp, Lake Charles, La., Special + Agent in Charge. + + + _Editor_, J. E. Rockwell. + _Chief Clerk_, James E. Jones. + + + DRUG-PLANT INVESTIGATIONS. + + SCIENTIFIC STAFF. + + Rodney H. True, _Physiologist in Charge_. + W. W. Stockberger, Frank Rabak, _Experts_. + Alice Henkel, _Assistant_. + G. Fred Klugh, T. B. Young, S. C. Hood, _Scientific Assistants_. + + + + + LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. + + + U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, + BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, + OFFICE OF THE CHIEF, + _Washington, D. C., April 16, 1907_. + +SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith and to recommend for +publication as Bulletin No. 107 of the series of this Bureau the +accompanying manuscript, entitled “American Root Drugs.” This paper was +prepared by Miss Alice Henkel, Assistant in Drug-Plant Investigations, +and has been submitted by the Physiologist in charge with a view to its +publication. + +The fifty drugs described include all the “official” roots found in this +country, besides such “nonofficial” drugs as are most frequently quoted +in drug catalogues. + +There is a steady demand for information concerning the medicinal plants +of this country, and this bulletin on American root drugs has been +prepared as a first installment on the subject. It is intended as a +guide and reference book for farmers, drug collectors, druggists, +students, and others who may be interested in one way or another in the +collection or study of our medicinal flora. + + Respectfully, + B. T. GALLOWAY, + _Chief of Bureau_. + + Hon. JAMES WILSON, + _Secretary of Agriculture_. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + Page. + Introduction 9 + The Collection of root drugs 10 + Plants furnishing root drugs 11 + Male-fern (_Dryopteris filix-mas_ and _D. marginalis_) 11 + Couch-grass (_Agropyron repens_) 12 + Wild turnip (_Arisaema triphyllum_) 13 + Skunk-cabbage (_Spathyema foetida_) 15 + Sweet-flag (_Acorus calamus_) 16 + Chamaelirium, or Helonias (_Chamaelirium luteum_) 17 + American hellebore (_Veratrum viride_) 18 + Aletris (_Aletris farinosa_) 19 + Bethroot (_Trillium erectum_) 20 + Wild yam (_Dioscorea villosa_) 21 + Blue flag (_Iris versicolor_) 22 + Lady’s-slipper (_Cypripedium hirsutum_ and _C. parviflorum_) 23 + Crawley-root (_Corallorhiza odontorhiza_) 24 + Canada snakeroot (_Asarum canadense_) 25 + Serpentaria (_Aristolochia serpentaria_ and _A. reticulata_) 26 + Yellow dock (_Rumex crispus_) 27 + Pokeweed (_Phytolacca decandra_) 29 + Soapwort (_Saponaria officinalis_) 31 + Goldenseal (_Hydrastis canadensis_) 31 + Goldthread (_Coptis trifolia_) 34 + Black cohosh (_Cimicifuga racemosa_) 35 + Oregon grape (_Berberis aquifolium_) 36 + Blue cohosh (_Caulophyllum thalictroides_) 37 + Twinleaf (_Jeffersonia diphylla_) 38 + May-apple (_Podophyllum peltatum_) 39 + Canada moonseed (_Menispermum canadense_) 40 + Bloodroot (_Sanguinaria canadensis_) 40 + Hydrangea (_Hydrangea arborescens_) 41 + Indian-physic (_Porteranthus trifoliatus_) 42 + Wild indigo (_Baptisia tinctoria_) 43 + Crane’s-bill (_Geranium maculatum_) 44 + Seneca snakeroot (_Polygala senega_) 45 + Stillingia (_Stillingia sylvatica_) 47 + Wild sarsaparilla (_Aralia nudicaulis_) 48 + Ginseng (_Panax quinquefolium_) 49 + Water-eryngo (_Eryngium yuccifolium_) 50 + American angelica (_Angelica atropurpurea_) 51 + Yellow jasmine or jessamine (_Gelsemium sempervirens_) 51 + Pinkroot (_Spigelia marilandica_) 52 + American colombo (_Frasera carolinensis_) 53 + Black Indian hemp (_Apocynum cannabinum_) 55 + Pleurisy-root (_Asclepias tuberosa_) 56 + Comfrey (_Symphytum officinale_) 57 + Stoneroot (_Collinsonia canadensis_) 58 + Culver’s-root (_Veronica virginica_) 59 + Dandelion (_Taraxacum officinale_) 60 + Queen-of-the-meadow (_Eupatorium purpureum_) 61 + Elecampane (_Inula helenium_) 62 + Echinacea (_Brauneria angustifolia_) 63 + Burdock (_Arctium lappa_) 64 + Explanation of plates 68 + Index 69 + + + + + ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + PLATES. + Page. + PLATE I. Fig. 1.—Marginal-fruited shield-fern (_Dryopteris + marginalis_). Fig. 2.—Skunk-cabbage (_Spathyema + foetida_). Fig. 3.—Sweet-flag (_Acorus calamus_). Fig. + 4.—Bethroot (_Trillium erectum_). 68 + II. Fig. 1.—Chamaelirium (_Chamaelirium luteum_). Fig. + 2.—Aletris (_Aletris farinosa_). Fig. 3.—Wild yam + (_Dioscorea villosa_). Fig. 4.—Blue flag (_Iris + versicolor_). 68 + III. Fig. 1.—Large yellow lady’s-slipper (_Cypripedium + hirsutum_). Fig. 2.—Canada snakeroot (_Asarum + canadense_). Fig. 3.—Virginia serpentaria + (_Aristolochia serpentaria_). Fig. 4.—Soapwort + (_Saponaria officinalis_). 68 + IV. Fig. 1.—Oregon grape (_Berberis aquifolium_). Fig. + 2.—Blue cohosh (_Caulophyllum thalictroides_). Fig. + 3.—Canada moonseed (_Menispermum canadense_). Fig. + 4.—Hydrangea (_Hydrangea arborescens_). 68 + V. Fig. 1.—Indian-physic (_Porteranthus trifoliatus_). Fig. + 2.—Wild sarsaparilla (_Aralia nudicaulis_). Fig. + 3.—Ginseng (_Panax quinquefolium_). Fig. + 4.—Water-eryngo (_Eryngium yuccifolium_). 68 + VI. Fig. 1.—American angelica (_Angelica atropurpurea_). + Fig. 2.—Pinkroot (_Spigelia marilandica_). Fig. + 3.—Pleurisy-root (_Asclepias tuberosa_). Fig. + 4.—Comfrey (_Symphytum officinale_). 68 + VII. Fig. 1.—Stoneroot (_Collinsonia canadensis_). Fig. + 2.—Queen-of-the-meadow (_Eupatorium purpureum_). Fig. + 3.—Elecampane (_Inula helenium_). Fig. 4.—Echinacea + (_Brauneria angustifolia_). 68 + + + TEXT FIGURES. + + FIG. 1. Couch-grass (_Agropyron repens_) 13 + 2. Wild turnip (_Arisaema triphyllum_) 14 + 3. American hellebore (_Veratrum viride_) 19 + 4. Crawley-root (_Corallorhiza odontorhiza_) 25 + 5. Yellow dock (_Rumex crispus_), first year’s growth 27 + 6. Broad-leaved dock (_Rumex obtusifolius_), leaf, fruiting + spike, and root 28 + 7. Pokeweed (_Phytolacca decandra_), flowering and fruiting + branch 30 + 8. Pokeweed root 30 + 9. Goldenseal (_Hydrastis canadensis_), flowering plant and + fruit 32 + 10. Goldenseal rootstock 33 + 11. Goldthread (_Coptis trifolia_) 34 + 12. Black cohosh (_Cimicifuga racemosa_), leaves, flowering + spikes, and rootstock 35 + 13. Twinleaf (_Jeffersonia diphylla_), plant and seed + capsule 38 + 14. May-apple (_Podophyllum peltatum_), upper portion of + plant with flower, and rootstock 39 + 15. Bloodroot (_Sanguinaria canadensis_), flowering plant + with rootstock 41 + 16. Wild indigo (_Baptisia tinctoria_), branch showing + flowers and seed pods 43 + 17. Crane’s-bill (_Geranium maculatum_), flowering plant, + showing also seed pods and rootstock 45 + 18. Seneca snakeroot (_Polygala senega_), flowering plant + with root 46 + 19. Stillingia (_Stillingia sylvatica_), upper portion of + plant and part of spike showing male flowers 47 + 20. Yellow jasmine (_Gelsemium sempervirens_) 52 + 21. American colombo (_Frasera carolinensis_), leaves, + flowers, and seed pods 54 + 22. Black Indian hemp (_Apocynum cannabinum_), flowering + portion, pods, and rootstock 55 + 23. Culver’s-root (_Veronica virginica_), flowering top and + rootstock 59 + 24. Dandelion (_Taraxacum officinale_) 61 + 25. Burdock (_Arctium lappa_), flowering branch and root 64 + + B. P. I.—283. + + + + + AMERICAN ROOT DRUGS. + + + + + INTRODUCTION. + + +More than half of the root drugs recognized in the Eighth Decennial +Revision of the United States Pharmacopœia occur in this country, some +native and not growing elsewhere and others introduced. All of the +official root drugs found in the United States have been included in +this bulletin, as well as such native and introduced “nonofficial” roots +(those not at present recognized in the United States Pharmacopœia) as +seemed to be most generally quoted in the trade lists of the country, +the total number of root drugs described being 50. While the most +important root drugs thus given are limited to 50, there are included +under each of these, wherever required, brief descriptions of related +species. It would be impossible to include within the limits of this +paper all of the root drugs that are used in this country, but the aim +has been to give information concerning those which seem to be the most +important commercially, according to the numerous drug lists that have +been consulted. + +All of the root drugs herein mentioned occur in quantities sufficient +for commercial purposes, but the roots of many of the species that also +occur in other countries are nevertheless largely imported. + +In speaking of “root drugs” in this paper only those are included of +which the underground portion is found in commerce, whether in the form +of root, rootstock, bulb, or corm, excluding the roots that are used +solely for their bark or for their gums or resins. + +Except in the botanical descriptions, the term “roots” is generally +used, regardless of the fact that the part under consideration may be a +rootstock, root, or bulb. In this the commercial practice is followed, +which makes no distinction as to the form of the underground portion as +classified by botanists, but catalogues them all under the general term +“roots.” + +The medicinal uses are referred to in only the briefest and most general +manner, for it is clearly not within the province of a publication of +this character to go into details regarding these matters. The +statements made are based on the information contained in various +dispensatories and other works relating to materia medica. + +The illustrations are for the most part made from a collection of +photographs taken from nature by C. L. Lochman. A few have been taken +from various publications, mention of which is made under the +illustrations in question. + + + + + THE COLLECTION OF ROOT DRUGS. + + +Generally speaking, the roots of annual plants should be dug just before +flowering, and those of biennial or perennial plants late in autumn or +early in spring, the object being to collect them at a period when there +is a cessation of growth; for besides shrinking more and weighing less +if collected during the growing season, they are also deficient in +medicinal properties. Very frequently a drug is of inferior quality +simply because the collector has neglected to gather it in the proper +season. + +It is unfortunate that so much confusion exists with regard to the +common names of American plants. The common name of a plant in one +locality may be the same as that of an entirely different plant in +another locality, and on account of this confusion the collector is not +always sure of the identity of the plant he is collecting, nor the drug +dealer as to what he will receive, unless a sample is submitted to him. +If more care were exercised in this respect it would mean a saving of +time and money to both collector and dealer. + +Another important matter that the collector sometimes overlooks is the +proper cleaning and drying of the roots. To insure a good market for his +crude drugs the collector should be certain not only that he has the +right plant, but that it is collected at the proper season of the year, +and that he has a clean and thoroughly dried article. + +After the roots have been dug they should be freed from dirt and all +foreign particles, such as stones and bits of other plants. If the +adherent soil can not be removed by shaking the roots, they may, in most +instances, be washed in clean water, after which they should be +carefully dried. In some cases the roots are sliced or split when green +in order to facilitate drying, and wherever this is necessary it will be +indicated under the descriptions of the different plants. + +For the purpose of drying, the roots should be spread out in thin layers +on racks or shelves, or on clean, well-ventilated barn floors or lofts, +exposed to light and air but not direct sunlight, and turned +occasionally each day until thoroughly dry. If the roots are dried out +of doors, they should be placed under shelter at night or upon the +approach of damp or rainy weather. Thoroughly dried roots snap readily +when bent, and it requires from three to six weeks to cure roots, +depending upon the weather conditions and the character of the roots. + +Burlap or gunny sacks, or dry, clean barrels may be used for packing the +roots for shipment. + +The collector should always communicate with the dealers concerning the +drugs to be disposed of, sending them a representative sample, plainly +marked as to contents, with the name and address of the sender, and +stating how large a quantity can be furnished. + +The prices per pound mentioned in this bulletin will serve to give the +collector an idea as to what he may expect to receive from dealers, but, +as with other commodities, depending for their prices upon supply and +demand, fluctuations are likely to occur from year to year. An increased +demand or a shortage will send prices upward and stimulate collection, +which in turn may result in glutting the market, and a decline in prices +naturally follows. It is possible, therefore, to give only an +approximate range of prices. + + + + + PLANTS FURNISHING ROOT DRUGS. + + +Under each plant will be found synonyms and pharmacopœial name, if any, +the common names, habitat, range, descriptions of the plant and root, +and information concerning collection, prices, and uses, while in the +case of goldenseal and ginseng the methods of culture are included. + + + MALE-FERN. + + (1) _Dryopteris filix-mas_ (L.) Schott and (2) _Dryopteris marginalis_ + (L.) A. Gray. + +_Synonyms._—(1) _Aspidium filix-mas_ Sw. (2) _Aspidium marginale_ Sw. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Aspidium. + +_Other common names._—(1) Male shield-fern, sweet brake, knotty brake, +basket-fern, bear’s-paw root; (2) marginal-fruited shield-fern, +evergreen wood-fern. + +_Habitat and range._—These ferns are found in rocky woods, the male +shield-fern inhabiting the region from Canada westward to the Rocky +Mountains and Arizona. It is widely distributed also through Europe, +northern Asia, northern Africa, and South America. The marginal-fruited +shield-fern (Pl. I, fig. 1), one of our most common ferns, occurs from +Canada southward to Alabama and Arkansas. + +_Description of plants._—Both of these species are tall, handsome ferns, +the long, erect fronds, or leaves, arising from a chaffy, scaly base, +and consisting of numerous crowded stemless leaflets, which are +variously divided and notched. There is but little difference between +these two species. The male shield-fern is perhaps a trifle stouter, the +leaves growing about 3 feet in length and having a bright-green color, +whereas the marginal-fruited shield-fern has lighter green leaves, about +2½ feet in length, and is of more slender appearance. The principal +difference, however, is found in the arrangement of the “sori,” or +“fruit dots.” These are the very small, round, tawny dots that are found +on the backs of fern leaves, and in the male shield-fern these will be +found arranged in short rows near the midrib, while in the +marginal-fruited shield-fern, as this name indicates, the fruit dots are +placed on the margins of the fronds. Both plants are perennials and +members of the fern family (Polypodiaceæ). + +_Description of the rootstock._—These ferns have stout ascending or +erect chaffy rootstocks, or rhizomes (Pl. I, fig. 1) as they are +technically known. As taken from the ground the rootstock is from 6 to +12 inches in length and 1 to 2 inches thick, covered with closely +overlapping, brown, slightly curved stipe bases or leaf bases and soft, +brown, chaffy scales. The inside of the rootstock is pale green. As +found in the stores, however, male-fern with the stipe bases and roots +removed measures about 3 to 6 inches in length and about one-half to 1 +inch in thickness, rough where the stipe bases have been removed, brown +outside, pale green and rather spongy inside. + +The stipe bases remain green for a very long period, and these small, +claw-shaped, furrowed portions, or “fingers” as they are called, form a +large proportion of the drug found on the American market and, in fact, +are said to have largely superseded the rootstock. Male-fern has a +disagreeable odor, and the taste is described as bitter-sweet, +astringent, acrid, and nauseous. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The best time for collecting male-fern +root is from July to September. The root should be carefully cleaned, +but not washed, dried out of doors in the shade as quickly as possible, +and shipped to druggists at once. The United States Pharmacopœia directs +that “the chaff, together with the dead portions of the rhizome and +stipes, should be removed, and only such portions used as have retained +their internal green color.” + +Great care is necessary in the preservation of this drug in order to +prevent it from deteriorating. If kept too long, its activity will be +impaired, and it is said that it will retain its qualities much longer +if it is not peeled until required for use. The unreliability sometimes +attributed to this drug can in most instances be traced to the presence +of the rootstocks of other ferns with which it is often adulterated, or +it will be found to be due to improper storing or to the length of time +that it has been kept. + +The prices paid for male-fern root range from 5 to 10 cents a pound. + +Male-fern, official in the United States Pharmacopœia, has been used +since the remotest times as a remedy for worms. Grave results are +sometimes caused by overdoses. + + + COUCH-GRASS. + + _Agropyron repens_ (L.) Beauv. + +_Synonym._—_Triticum repens_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Triticum. + +_Other common names._—Dog-grass, quick-grass, quack-grass, quitch-grass, +quake-grass, scutch-grass, twitch-grass, witch-grass, wheat-grass, +creeping wheat-grass, devil’s-grass, durfa-grass, Durfee-grass, +Dutch-grass, Fin’s-grass, Chandler’s-grass. + +_Habitat and range._—Like many of our weeds, couch-grass was introduced +from Europe, and is now one of the worst pests the farmer has to contend +with, taking possession of cultivated ground and crowding out valuable +crops. It occurs most abundantly from Maine to Maryland, westward to +Minnesota and Missouri, and is spreading on farms on the Pacific slope, +but is rather sparingly distributed in the South. + +_Description of plant._—Couch-grass is rather coarse, 1 to 3 feet high, +and when in flower very much resembles rye or beardless wheat (fig. 1). +Several round, smooth, hollow stems, thickened at the joints, are +produced from the long, creeping, jointed rootstock. The stems bear 5 to +7 leaves from 3 to 12 inches long, rough on the upper surface and smooth +beneath, while the long, cleft leaf sheaths are smooth. The solitary +terminal flowering heads or spikes are compressed, and consist of two +rows of spikelets on a wavy and flattened axis. These heads are produced +from July to September. Couch-grass belongs to the grass family +(Poaceæ). + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.—Couch-grass (_Agropyron repens_).] + +_Description of rootstock._—The pale-yellow, smooth rootstock is long, +tough, and jointed, creeping along underneath the ground and pushing in +every direction. As found in the stores, it consists of short, angular +pieces, from one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch long, of a shining +straw color, and hollow. These pieces are odorless, but have a somewhat +sweetish taste. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Couch-grass, which is official in the +United States Pharmacopœia, should be collected in spring, carefully +cleaned, and the rootlets removed. The rootstock (not the rootlets) is +then cut into short pieces, about two-fifths of an inch in length, for +which purpose an ordinary feed-cutting machine may be used, and +thoroughly dried. + +Couch-grass is usually destroyed by plowing up and burning, for if any +of the joints are permitted to remain in the soil new plants will be +produced. But, instead of burning, the rootstocks may be saved and +prepared for the drug market in the manner above stated. The prices +range from 3 to 5 cents a pound. At present couch-grass is collected +chiefly in Europe. + +A fluid extract is prepared from couch-grass, which is used in +affections of the kidney and bladder. + + + WILD TURNIP. + + _Arisaema triphyllum_ (L.) Torr. + +_Synonym._—_Arum triphyllum_ L. + +_Other common names._—Arum, three-leaved arum, Indian turnip, +jack-in-the-pulpit, wake-robin, wild pepper, dragon-turnip, brown +dragon, devil’s-ear, marsh-turnip, swamp-turnip, meadow-turnip, +pepper-turnip, starchwort, bog-onion, priest’s-pintle, lords-and-ladies. + +_Habitat and range._—Wild turnip inhabits moist woods from Canada to +Florida and westward to Kansas and Minnesota. + +_Description of plant._—Early in April the quaint green and brownish +purple hooded flowers of the wild turnip may be seen in the shady depths +of the woods. + +It is a perennial plant belonging to the arum family (Araceæ), and +reaches a height of from 10 inches to 3 feet. The leaves, of which there +are only one or two, unfold with the flowers; they are borne on long, +erect, sheathing stalks, and consist of three smooth, oval leaflets; the +latter are 3 to 6 inches long, and from 1½ to 3½ inches wide, net +veined, and with one vein running parallel with the margins. The +“flower” is curiously formed, somewhat like the calla lily, consisting +of what is known botanically as a spathe, within which is inclosed the +spadix. The spathe is an oval, leaflike part, the lower portion of +which, in the flower under consideration, is rolled together so as to +form a tube, while the upper, pointed part is usually bent forward, thus +forming a flap or hood over the tube-shaped part which contains the +spadix. (Fig. 2.) In fact it is very similar to the familiar flower of +the calla lily of the gardens, except that, instead of being white, the +wild turnip is either all green or striped with very dark purple, +sometimes seeming almost black, and in the calla lily the “flap” is +turned back, whereas in the wild turnip it is bent forward over the +tube. Inside of the spathe is the spadix, also green or purple, which is +club shaped, rounded at the summit, and narrowly contracted at the base, +where it is surrounded by either the male or female flowers or both, in +the latter case (the most infrequent) the male flowers being placed +below the female flowers. In autumn the fruit ripens in the form of a +bunch of bright scarlet, shining berries. The entire plant is acrid, but +the root more especially so. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.—Wild turnip (_Arisaema triphyllum_).] + +_Description of “root.”_—The underground portion of this plant is known +botanically as a “corm,” and is somewhat globular and shaped like a +turnip. The lower part of the corm is flat and wrinkled, while the upper +part is surrounded by coarse, wavy rootlets. The outside is brownish +gray and the inside white and mealy. It has no odor, but an intensely +acrid, burning taste, and to those who may have been induced in their +school days to taste of this root wild turnip will be familiar chiefly +on account of its never-to-be-forgotten acrid, indeed caustic, +properties. The dried article of commerce consists of round, white +slices, with brown edges, only slightly shrunken, and breaking with a +starchy fracture. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The partially dried corm is used in +medicine. It is dug in summer, transversely sliced, and dried. When +first dug it is intensely acrid, but drying and heat diminish the +acridity. It loses its acridity rapidly with age. Wild turnip brings +from 7 to 10 cents a pound. + +The corm of wild turnip, which was official in the United States +Pharmacopœia from 1820 to 1870, is used as a stimulant, diaphoretic, +expectorant, and irritant. + + + SKUNK-CABBAGE. + + _Spathyema foetida_ (L.) Raf. + +_Synonyms._—_Dracontium foetidum_ L.; _Symplocarpus foetidus_ Nutt. + +_Other common names._—Dracontium, skunkweed, polecat-weed, +swamp-cabbage, meadow-cabbage, collard, fetid hellebore, stinking poke, +pockweed. + +_Habitat and range._—Swamps and other wet places from Canada to Florida, +Iowa, and Minnesota abound with this ill-smelling herb. + +_Description of plant._—Most of the common names applied to this plant, +as well as the scientific names, are indicative of the most striking +characteristic of this early spring visitor, namely, the rank, +offensive, carrion odor that emanates from it. Skunk-cabbage is one of +the very earliest of our spring flowers, appearing in February or March, +but it is safe to say that it is not likely to suffer extermination at +the hands of the enthusiastic gatherer of spring flowers. In the +latitude of Washington skunk-cabbage has been known to be in flower in +December. + +It is a curious plant, with its hood-shaped, purplish striped flowers +appearing before the leaves. It belongs to the arum family (Araceæ) and +is a perennial. The “flower” is in the form of a thick, ovate, swollen +spathe, about 3 to 6 inches in height, the top pointed and curved +inward, spotted and striped with purple and yellowish green. The spathe +is not open like that of the wild turnip or calla lily, to which family +this plant also belongs, but the edges are rolled inward, completely +hiding the spadix. In this plant the spadix is not spikelike, as in the +wild turnip, but is generally somewhat globular, entirely covered with +the numerous, dull-purple flowers. (Pl. I, fig. 2.) After the fruit has +ripened the spadix will be found to have grown considerably, the spathe +meantime having decayed. + +The leaves, which appear after the flower, are numerous and very large, +about 1 to 3 feet in length and about 1 foot in width; they are thin in +texture, but prominently nerved with fleshy nerves, and are borne on +deeply channeled stems. + +_Description of rootstock._—Skunk-cabbage has a thick, straight, reddish +brown rootstock, from 3 to 5 inches long, and about 2 inches in +diameter, and having a whorl of crowded fleshy roots (Pl. I, fig. 2) +which penetrate the soil to considerable depth. The dried article of +commerce consists of either the entire rootstock and roots, which are +dark brown and wrinkled on the outside, whitish and starchy within, or +of very much compressed, wrinkled, transverse slices. When bruised, the +root has the characteristic fetid odor of the plant and possesses a +sharp acrid taste, both of which become less the longer the root is +kept. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The rootstock of skunk-cabbage should be +collected early in spring, soon after the appearance of the flower, or +after the seeds have ripened, in August or September. It should be +carefully dried, either in its entire state or deprived of the roots and +cut into transverse slices. Skunk-cabbage loses its odor and acridity +with age, and should therefore not be kept longer than one season. The +range of prices is from 4 to 7 cents a pound. + +Skunk-cabbage, official from 1820 to 1880, is used in affections of the +respiratory organs, in nervous disorders, rheumatism, and dropsical +complaints. + + + SWEET-FLAG. + + _Acorus calamus_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Calamus. + +_Other common names._—Sweet cane, sweet grass, sweet myrtle, sweet rush, +sweet sedge, sweet segg, sweetroot, cinnamon-sedge, myrtle-flag, +myrtle-grass, myrtle-sedge, beewort. + +_Habitat and range._—This plant frequents wet and muddy places and +borders of streams from Nova Scotia to Minnesota, southward to Florida +and Texas, also occurring in Europe and Asia. It is usually partly +immersed in water, and is generally found in company with the cat-tail +and other water-loving species of flag. + +_Description of plant._—The swordlike leaves of the sweet-flag resemble +those of other flags so much that before the plant is in flower it is +difficult to recognize simply by the appearance of its leaves. The +leaves of the blue flag or “poison-flag,” as it has been called, are +very similar to those of the sweet-flag, and this resemblance often +leads to cases of poisoning among children who thus mistake one for the +other. However, as the leaves of the sweet-flag are fragrant, the odor +will be a means of recognizing it. Of course when the sweet-flag is in +flower the identification of the plant is easy. + +The sheathing leaves of this native perennial, which belongs to the arum +family (Araceæ), are from 2 to 6 feet in height and about 1 inch in +width; they are sharp pointed and have a ridged midrib running their +entire length. The flowering head, produced from the side of the stalk, +consists of a fleshy spike sometimes 3½ inches long and about one-half +inch in thickness, closely covered with very small greenish yellow +flowers, which appear from May to July. (Pl. 1, fig. 3.) + +_Description of rootstock._—The long, creeping rootstock of the +sweet-flag is thick and fleshy, somewhat spongy, and producing numerous +rootlets. (Pl. I, fig. 3.) The odor is very aromatic and agreeable, and +the taste pungent and bitter. The dried article, as found in the stores, +consists of entire or split pieces of various lengths, from 3 to 6 +inches, light brown on the outside with blackish spots, sharply wrinkled +lengthwise, the upper surface marked obliquely with dark leaf scars, and +the lower surface showing many small circular scars, which, at first +glance, give one the impression that the root is worm-eaten, but which +are the remains of rootlets that have been removed from the rootstock. +Internally the rootstock is whitish and of a spongy texture. The +aromatic odor and pungent, bitter taste are retained in the dried +article. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The United States Pharmacopœia directs +that the unpeeled rhizome, or rootstock, be used. It is collected either +in early spring or late in autumn. It is pulled or grubbed from the soft +earth, freed from adhering dirt, and the rootlets removed, as these are +not so aromatic and more bitter. The rootstock is then carefully dried, +sometimes by means of moderate heat. Sweet-flag deteriorates with age +and is subject to the attacks of worms. It loses about three-fourths of +its weight in drying. + +Some of the sweet-flag root found in commerce consists of handsome white +pieces. These usually come from Germany, and have been peeled before +drying, but they are not so strong and aromatic as the unpeeled roots. +Unpeeled sweet-flag root brings from 3 to 6 cents a pound. + +Sweet-flag is employed as an aromatic stimulant and tonic in feeble +digestion. The dried root is frequently chewed for the relief of +dyspepsia. + + + CHAMAELIRIUM, OR HELONIAS. + + _Chamaelirium luteum_ (L.) A. Gray. + +_Synonym._—_Helonias dioica_ Pursh. + +_Other common names._—Unicorn-root, false unicorn-root, blazingstar, +drooping starwort, starwort, devil’s-bit, unicorn’s-horn. + +In order to avoid the existing confusion of common names of this plant, +it is most desirable to use the scientific names Chamaelirium or +Helonias exclusively. Chamaelirium is the most recent botanical +designation and will be used throughout this article, but the synonym +Helonias is a name very frequently employed by the drug trade. The plant +with which it is so much confused, _Aletris farinosa_, will also be +designated throughout by its generic name, Aletris. + +_Habitat and range._—This native plant is found in open woods from +Massachusetts to Michigan, south to Florida and Arkansas. + +_Description of plant._—Chamaelirium and Aletris (_Aletris farinosa_) +have long been confused by drug collectors and others, owing undoubtedly +to the transposition of some of their similar common names, such as +“starwort” and “stargrass.” The plants can scarcely be said to resemble +each other, however, except perhaps in their general habit of growth. +(See Pl. II, figs. 1 and 2.) + +The male and female flowers of Chamaelirium are borne on separate +plants, and in this respect are entirely different from Aletris; neither +do the flowers resemble those of Aletris. + +Chamaelirium is an erect, somewhat fleshy herb, perennial, and belongs +to the bunchflower family (Melanthiaceæ). The male plant grows to a +height of from 1½ to 2½ feet, and the female plant is sometimes 4 feet +tall and is also more leafy. + +The plants have both basal and stem leaves, whereas Aletris has only the +basal leaves. The basal leaves of Chamaelirium are broad and blunt at +the top, narrowing toward the base into a long stem; they are sometimes +so much broadened at the top that they may be characterized as spoon +shaped, and are from 2 to 8 inches long and from one-half to 1½ inches +wide. The stem leaves are lance shaped and sharp pointed, on short stems +or stemless. (Pl. II, fig. 1.) + +The white starry flowers of Chamaelirium are produced from June to July, +those of the male plant being borne in nodding, graceful, plumelike +spikes 3 to 9 inches long (Pl. II, fig. 1) and those of the female plant +in erect spikes. The many-seeded capsule is oblong, opening by three +valves at the apex. + +Another species is now recognized, _Chamaelirium obovale_ Small, which +seems to differ chiefly in having larger flowers and obovoid capsules. + +_Description of rootstock._—The rootstock of Chamaelirium does not in +the least resemble that of Aletris, with which it is so generally +confused. It is from one-half to 2 inches in length, generally curved +upward at one end in the form of a horn (whence the common name, +“unicorn”) and having the appearance of having been bitten off. (Pl. II, +fig. 1.) It is of a dark-brown color, with fine transverse wrinkles, +rough, on the upper surface showing a few stem scars, and giving off +from all sides numerous brown fibrous rootlets. The more recent rootlets +have a soft outer covering, which in the older rootlets has worn away, +leaving the fine but tough and woody whitish center. The rootlets +penetrate to the central part of the rootstock, and this serves as a +distinguishing character from Aletris, as a transverse section of +Chamaelirium very plainly shows these fibers extending some distance +within the rootstock. Furthermore, the rootstock of Chamaelirium +exhibits a number of small holes wherever these rootlets have broken +off, giving it the appearance of having become “wormy.” It is hard and +horny within and has a peculiar odor and a very bitter, disagreeable +taste, whereas Aletris is not at all bitter. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Chamaelirium should be collected in +autumn. The prices paid to collectors may be said to range from about 30 +to 45 cents a pound. In the fall of 1906 a scarcity of this root was +reported. As already indicated, Chamaelirium and Aletris are often +gathered and mistaken for each other by collectors, but, as will be seen +from the preceding description, there is really no excuse for such +error. + +From the confusion that has existed properties peculiar to the one plant +have also been attributed to the other, but it seems now generally +agreed that Chamaelirium is of use especially as a tonic in derangements +of women. + + + AMERICAN HELLEBORE. + + _Veratrum viride_ Ait. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Veratrum. + +_Other common names._—True veratrum, green veratrum, American veratrum, +green hellebore, swamp-hellebore, big hellebore, false hellebore, +bear-corn, bugbane, bugwort, devil’s-bite, earth-gall, Indian poke, +itchweed, tickleweed, duckretter. + +_Habitat and range._—American hellebore is native in rich wet woods, +swamps, and wet meadows, its range extending from Canada, Alaska, and +Minnesota south to Georgia. + +_Description of plant._—Early in spring, usually in company with the +skunk-cabbage, the large, bright-green leaves of American hellebore make +their way through the soil, their straight, erect leaf spears forming a +conspicuous feature of the yet scanty spring vegetation. Later in the +season a stout and erect leafy stem is sent up, sometimes growing as +tall as 6 feet. It is solid and round, pale green, very leafy, and +closely surrounded by the sheathing bases of the leaves, unbranched +except in the flowering head. The leaves are hairy, prominently nerved, +folded or pleated like a fan. They have no stems, but their bases +encircle or sheathe the main stalk, and are very large, especially the +lower ones, which are from 6 to 12 inches in length, from 3 to 6 inches +in width, and broadly oval. As they approach the top of the plant the +leaves become narrower. The flowers, which appear from May to July, are +greenish yellow and numerous, and are borne in rather open clusters. +American hellebore belongs to the bunchflower family (Melanthiaceæ) and +is a perennial. + +This species is a very near relative of the European white hellebore +(_Veratrum album_ L.), and in fact has by some been regarded as +identical with it, or at least as a variety of it. It is taller than _V. +album_ and has narrower leaves and greener flowers. Both species are +official in the United States Pharmacopœia. + +_Description of rootstock._—The fresh rootstock of American hellebore is +ovoid or obconical, upright, thick, and fleshy, the upper part of it +arranged in layers, the lower part of it more solid, and producing +numerous whitish roots from all sides. In the fresh state it has a +rather strong, disagreeable odor. As found in commerce, American +hellebore rootstock is sometimes entire, but more generally sliced, and +is of a light-brown or dark-brown color externally and internally +yellowish white; the roots, which are from 4 to 8 inches long, have a +shriveled appearance, and are brown or yellowish. There is no odor to +the dried rootstock, but when powdered it causes violent sneezing. The +rootstock, which has a bitter and very acrid taste, is poisonous. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—American hellebore should be dug in +autumn after the leaves have died, and washed and carefully dried, +either in the whole state or sliced in various ways. It deteriorates +with age, and should therefore not be kept longer than a year. + +The adulterations sometimes met with are the rootstocks of related +plants, and the skunk-cabbage is also occasionally found mixed with it, +but this is probably unintentional, as the two plants usually grow close +together. + +Collectors of American hellebore root receive from about 3 to 10 cents a +pound. + +American hellebore, official in the United States Pharmacopœia, is an +acrid, narcotic poison, and has emetic, diaphoretic, and sedative +properties. + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.—American hellebore (_Veratrum viride_).] + + + ALETRIS. + + _Aletris farinosa_ L. + +_Other common names._—Stargrass, blazingstar, mealy starwort, starwort, +unicorn-root, true unicorn-root, unicorn-plant, unicorn’s-horn, +colicroot, devil’s-bit, ague-grass, agueroot, aloe-root, crow-corn, +huskwort. + +A glance at these common names will show many that have been applied to +other plants, especially to Chamaelirium, with which Aletris is so much +confused. In order to guard against this confusion as much as possible, +it is best not to use the common names of this plant at all, referring +to it only by its generic name, Aletris. + +_Habitat and range._—Aletris occurs in dry, generally sandy soil, from +Maine to Minnesota, Florida, and Tennessee. + +_Description of plant._—As stated under Chamaelirium, this plant is +often confused with the former by collectors and others, although there +seems to be no good reason why this should be so. The plants do not +resemble each other except in habit of growth (see Pl. II, figs. 1 and +2), and the trouble undoubtedly arose from a confusion of the somewhat +similar common names of the plants, as, for instance, “stargrass” and +“starwort.” + +Aletris may be at once distinguished by the grasslike leaves, which +spread out on the ground in the form of a star, and by the slender +spikes of rough, mealy flowers. + +This native perennial, belonging to the lily family (Liliaceæ), is an +erect, slender herb, 1½ to 3 feet tall, with basal leaves only. These +leaves are grasslike, from 2 to 6 inches long, and have a yellowish +green or willowgreen color. As already stated, they surround the base of +the stem in the form of a star. Instead of stem leaves, there are very +small, leaflike bracts placed at some distance apart on the stem. From +May to July the erect flowering spike, from 4 to 12 inches long, is +produced, bearing white, urn-shaped flowers, sometimes tinged with +yellow at the apex, and having a rough, wrinkled and mealy appearance. +(Pl. II, fig. 2.) The seed capsule is ovoid, opening by three valves, +and containing many seeds. When the flowers in the spike are still in +bud, there is a suggestion of resemblance to the female spike of +Chamaelirium with its fruit half formed. + +Several other species are recognized by botanists, namely, _Aletris +aurea_ Walt., _A. lutea_ Small, and _A. obovata_ Nash, but aside from +the flowers, which in _aurea_ and _lutea_ are yellow, and slight +variations in form, such as a more contracted perianth, the differences +are not so pronounced that the plants would require a detailed +description here. They have undoubtedly been collected with _Aletris +farinosa_ for years, and are sufficiently like it to be readily +recognized. + +_Description of rootstock._—Not only have the plants of Aletris and +Chamaelirium been confused, but the rootstocks as well. There is, +however, no resemblance between them. + +Aletris has a horizontal rootstock from one-half to 1½ inches in length, +rough and scaly, and almost completely hidden by the fibrous roots and +remains of the basal leaves. Upon close examination the scars of former +leaf stems may be seen along the upper surface. The rootlets are from 2 +to 10 inches in length, those of recent growth whitish and covered with +several layers of epidermis which gradually peel off, and the older +rootlets of the rootstock showing this epidermis already scaled off, +leaving only the hard, brown, woody center. The rootstock in commerce +almost invariably shows at one end a tuft of the remains of the basal +leaves, which do not lose their green color. It is grayish brown +outside, whitish within, and breaks with a mealy fracture. It has no +odor, and a starchy taste, followed by some acridity, _but no +bitterness_. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Aletris should be collected in autumn, +and there is no reason why collectors should make the common mistake of +confusing Aletris with Chamaelirium. By comparing the description of +Aletris with that of Chamaelirium, it will be seen that there is +scarcely any resemblance. Aletris ranges from 30 to 40 cents a pound. + +As indicated under Chamaelirium, the medicinal properties have also been +considered the same in both plants, but Aletris is now regarded of value +chiefly in digestive troubles. Aletris was official in the United States +Pharmacopœia from 1820 to 1870. + + + BETHROOT. + + _Trillium erectum_ L. + +_Other common names._—Trillium, red trillium, purple trillium, +ill-scented trillium, birthroot, birthwort, bathwort, bathflower, red +wake-robin, purple wake-robin, ill-scented wake-robin, red-benjamin, +bumblebee-root, daffydown-dilly, dishcloth, Indian balm, Indian +shamrock, nosebleed, squawflower, squawroot, wood-lily, true-love, +orange-blossom. Many of these names are applied also to other species of +Trillium. + +_Habitat and range._—Bethroot is a native plant growing in rich soil in +damp, shady woods from Canada south to Tennessee and Missouri. + +_Description of plant._—This plant is a perennial belonging to the +lily-of-the-valley family (Convallariaceæ). It is a low growing plant, +from about 8 to 16 inches in height, with a rather stout stem, having +three leaves arranged in a whorl near the top. These leaves are broadly +ovate, almost circular in outline, sharp pointed at the apex and +narrowed at the base, 3 to 7 inches long and about as wide, and +practically stemless. + +Not only the leaves of this plant, but the flowers and parts of the +flowers are arranged in threes, and this feature will serve to identify +the plant. (Pl. I, fig. 4.) The solitary terminal flower of bethroot has +three sepals and three petals, both more or less lance shaped and +spreading, the former greenish, and the petals, which are 1¼ inches long +and one-half inch wide, are sometimes dark purple, pink, greenish, or +white. The flower has an unpleasant odor. It appears from April to June +and is followed later in the season by an oval, reddish berry. + +Various other species of Trillium are used in medicine, possessing +properties similar to those of the species under consideration. These +are also very similar in appearance to _Trillium erectum_. + +_Description of root._—Bethroot (Pl. I, fig. 4), as found in the stores, +is short and thick, of a light-brown color externally, whitish or +yellowish inside, somewhat globular or oblong in shape, and covered all +around with numerous palebrown, shriveled rootlets. The top of the root +generally shows a succession of fine circles or rings, and usually bears +the remains of stem bases. + +The root has a slight odor, and is at first sweetish and astringent, +followed by a bitter and acrid taste. When chewed it causes a flow of +saliva. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Bethroot is generally collected toward +the close of summer. The price ranges from 7 to 10 cents a pound. + +It was much esteemed as a remedy among the Indians and early settlers. +Its present use is that of an astringent, tonic, and alterative, and +also that of an expectorant. + + + WILD YAM. + + _Dioscorea villosa_ L. + +_Other common names._—Dioscorea, colicroot, rheumatism-root, +devil’s-bones. + +_Habitat and range._—Wild yam grows in moist thickets, trailing over +adjacent shrubs and bushes, its range extending from Rhode Island to +Minnesota, south to Florida and Texas. It is most common in the central +and southern portions of the United States. + +_Description of plant._—This native perennial vine is similar to and +belongs to the same family as the well-known cinnamon vine of the +gardens—namely, the yam family (Dioscoreaceæ). It attains a length of +about 15 feet, the stem smooth, the leaves heart shaped and 2 to 6 +inches long by 1 to 4 inches wide. + +The leaves, which are borne on long, slender stems, are thin, green, and +smooth on the upper surface, paler and rather thickly hairy on the under +surface. The small greenish yellow flowers are produced from June to +July, the male flowers borne in drooping clusters about 3 to 6 inches +long, and the female flowers in drooping spikelike heads. The fruit, +which is in the form of a dry, membranous, 3-winged, yellowish green +capsule, ripens about September and remains on the vine for some time +during the winter. (Pl. II, fig. 3.) + +Growing farther south than the species above mentioned is a variety for +which the name _glabra_ has been suggested. + +According to C. G. Lloyd (King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. I, 1898), +there is a variety of _Dioscorea villosa_ the root of which first made +its appearance among the true yam roots of commerce, and which was so +different in form that it was rejected as an adulteration. The plant, +however, from which the false root was derived was found upon +investigation to be almost identical with the true yam, except that the +leaves were perfectly smooth, lacking the hairiness on the under surface +of the leaf which is characteristic of the true wild yam. The false +variety also differs in its habit of growth, not growing in dense clumps +like the true wild yam, but generally isolated. The root of the variety, +however, is quite distinct from that of the true wild yam, being much +more knotty. Lloyd states further that the hairiness or lack of +hairiness on the under side of the leaf is a certain indication as to +the form of the root. + +Lloyd, recognizing the necessity of classifying these two yam roots of +commerce, has designated the smooth-leaved variety as _Dioscorea +villosa_ var. _glabra_. + +_Description of rootstocks._—The rootstock of the true wild yam (Pl. II, +fig. 3) runs horizontally underneath the surface of the ground. As found +in commerce, it consists of very hard pieces, 6 inches and sometimes 2 +feet in length, but only about one-fourth or one-half of an inch in +diameter, twisted, covered with a thin brown bark, whitish within, and +showing stem scars almost an inch apart on the upper surface, small +protuberances on the sides, and numerous rather wiry rootlets on the +lower surface. + +The false wild yam, on the other hand, has a much heavier, rough, knotty +rootstock, with thick branches from 1 inch to 3 inches long, the upper +surface covered with crowded stem scars and the lower side furnished +with stout wiry rootlets. Within it is similar to the true yam root. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The roots are generally collected in +autumn, and bring from 2½ to 4 cents a pound. Wild yam is said to +possess expectorant properties and to promote perspiration, and in large +doses proving emetic. It has been employed in bilious colic, and by the +negroes in the South in the treatment of muscular rheumatism. + + + BLUE FLAG. + + _Iris versicolor_ L. + +_Other common names._—Iris, flag-lily, liver-lily, snake-lily, +poison-flag, water-flag, American fleur-de-lis or flower-de-luce. + +_Habitat and range._—Blue flag delights in wet, swampy localities, +making its home in marshes, thickets, and wet meadows from Newfoundland +to Manitoba, south to Florida and Arkansas. + +_Description of plant._—The flowers of all of the species belonging to +this genus are similar, and are readily recognized by their rather +peculiar form, the three outer segments or parts reflexed or turned back +and the three inner segments standing erect. + +Blue flag is about 2 to 3 feet in height, with an erect stem sometimes +branched near the top, and sword-shaped leaves which are shorter than +the stem, from one-half to 1 inch in width, showing a slight grayish +“bloom,” and sheathing at the base. This plant is a perennial belonging +to the iris family (Iridaceæ), and is a native of this country. June is +generally regarded as the month for the flowering of the blue flag, +although it may be said to be in flower from May to July, depending on +the locality. The flowers are large and very handsome, each stem bearing +from two to six or more. They consist of six segments or parts, the +three outer ones turned back and the three inner ones erect and much +smaller. (Pl. II, fig. 4.) The flowers are usually purplish blue, the +“claw,” or narrow base of the segments, variegated with yellow, green, +or white and marked with purple veins. + +All of the species belonging to this genus are more or less variegated +in color; hence the name “iris,” meaning “rainbow,” and the specific +name “versicolor,” meaning “various colors.” The name “poison-flag” has +been applied to it on account of the poisonous effect it has produced in +children, who, owing to the close resemblance of the plants before +reaching the flowering stage, sometimes mistake it for sweet-flag. + +The seed capsule is oblong, about 1½ inches long, and contains numerous +seeds. + +_Description of rootstock._—Blue flag has a thick, fleshy, horizontal +rootstock, branched, and producing long fibrous roots. (Pl. II, fig. 4.) +It resembles sweet-flag (Calamus), and has been mistaken for it. The +sections of the rootstock of blue flag, however, are flattened above and +rounded below; the scars of the leaf sheaths are in the form of rings, +whereas in sweet-flag the rootstock is cylindrical and the scars left by +the leaf sheaths are obliquely transverse. Furthermore, there is a +difference in the arrangement of the roots on the rootstock, the scars +left by the roots in blue flag being close together generally nearer the +larger end, while in sweet-flag the disposition of the roots along the +rootstock is quite regular. Blue flag is grayish brown on the outside +when dried, and sweet-flag is light brown or fawn colored. Blue flag has +no well-marked odor, and the taste is acrid and nauseous, and in +sweet-flag there is a pleasant odor and bitter, pungent taste. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Blue flag is collected in autumn, and +usually brings from about 7 to 10 cents a pound. Great scarcity of blue +flag root was reported from the producing districts in the autumn of +1906. It is an old remedy, the Indians esteeming it highly in stomach +troubles, and it is said that it was sometimes cultivated by them in +near-by ponds on account of its medicinal value. It has also been used +as a domestic remedy, and is regarded as an alterative, diuretic, and +purgative. It was official in the United States Pharmacopœia of 1890. + + + LADY’S-SLIPPER. + + (1) _Cypripedium hirsutum_ Mill. and (2) _Cypripedium parviflorum_ + Salisb. + +_Synonym._—(1) _Cypripedium pubescens_ Willd. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Cypripedium. + +_Other common names._—(1) Large yellow lady’s-slipper, yellow +lady’s-slipper, yellow moccasin-flower, Venus’-shoe, Venus’-cup, yellow +Indian-shoe, American valerian, nerve-root, male nervine, yellow +Noah’s-ark, yellows, monkey-flower, umbil-root, yellow umbil; (2) small +yellow lady’s-slipper. + +_Habitat and range._—Both of these native species frequent bogs and wet +places in deep shady woods and thickets. The large yellow lady’s-slipper +may be found from Nova Scotia south to Alabama and west to Nebraska and +Missouri. The range for the small yellow lady’s-slipper extends from +Newfoundland south along the mountains to Georgia, and west to Missouri, +Washington, and British Columbia. + +_Description of plants._—The orchid family (Orchidaceæ), to which the +lady’s-slippers belong, boasts of many beautiful, showy, and curious +species, and the lady’s-slipper is no exception. There are several other +plants to which the name lady’s-slipper has been applied, but one glance +at the peculiar structure of the flowers in the species under +consideration, as shown in the illustration (Pl. III, fig. 1), will +enable anyone to recognize them as soon as seen. + +The particular species of lady’s-slipper under consideration in this +article do not differ very materially from each other. Both are +perennials, growing from 1 to about 2 feet in height, with rather large +leaves and with yellow flowers more or less marked with purple, the main +difference being that in _hirsutum_ the flower is larger and pale +yellow, while in _parviflorum_ the flower is small, bright yellow, and +perhaps more prominently striped and spotted with purple. The stem, +leaves, and inside of corolla or lip are somewhat hairy in the large +yellow lady’s-slipper, but not in the small yellow lady’s-slipper. These +hairs are said to be irritating to some people, in whom they cause an +eruption of the skin. + +The leaves of the lady’s-slipper vary in size from 2 to 6 inches in +length and from 1 to 3 inches in width, and are broadly oval or +elliptic, sharp pointed, with numerous parallel veins, and sheathing at +the base, somewhat hairy in the large lady’s-slipper. The solitary +terminal flower, which appears from May to June, is very showy and +curiously formed, the lip being the most prominent part. This lip looks +like an inflated bag (1 to 2 inches long in the large lady’s-slipper), +pale yellow or bright yellow in color, variously striped and blotched +with purple. The other parts of the flower are greenish or yellowish, +with purple stripes, and the petals are usually twisted. + +_Description of rootstock._—The rootstock is of horizontal growth, +crooked, fleshy, and with numerous wavy, fibrous roots. (Pl. III, fig. +1.) As found in commerce, the rootstocks are from 1 to 4 inches in +length, about an eighth of an inch in thickness, dark brown, the upper +surface showing numerous round cup-shaped scars, the remains of former +annual stems, and the lower surface thickly covered with wavy, wiry, and +brittle roots, the latter breaking off with a short, white fracture. The +odor is rather heavy and disagreeable, and the taste is described as +sweetish, bitter, and somewhat pungent. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Both rootstock and roots are used, and +these should be collected in autumn, freed from dirt, and carefully +dried in the shade. These beautiful plants are becoming rare in many +localities. Sometimes such high-priced drugs as goldenseal and senega +are found mixed with the lady’s-slipper, but as these are more expensive +than the lady’s-slipper, it is not likely that they are included with +fraudulent intent, and they can be readily distinguished. The prices +paid to collectors of this root range from 32 to 35 cents a pound. + +The principal use of lady’s-slipper, which is official in the United +States Pharmacopœia, is as an antispasmodic and nerve tonic, and it has +been used for the same purposes as valerian. + + + CRAWLEY-ROOT. + + _Corallorhiza odontorhiza_ (Willd.) Nutt. + +_Other common names._—Corallorhiza, crawley, coralroot, small coralroot, +small-flowered coralroot, late coralroot, dragon’s-claw, chickentoe, +turkey-claw, feverroot. + +_Habitat and range._—Rich, shady woods having an abundance of leaf mold +produce this curious little plant. It may be found in such situations +from Maine to Florida, westward to Michigan and Missouri. + +_Description of plant._—This peculiar native perennial, belonging to the +orchid family (Orchidaceæ), is unlike most other plants, being leafless, +and instead of a green stem it has a purplish brown, sheathed scape, +somewhat swollen or bulbous at the base and bearing a clustered head of +purplish flowers 2 to 4 inches long. It does not grow much taller than +about a foot in height. (Fig. 4.) + +The flowers, 6 to 20 in a head, appear from July to September, and +consist of lance-shaped sepals and petals striped with purple and a +broad, whitish, oval lip, generally marked with purple and narrowed at +the base. The seed capsule is large, oblong, or somewhat globular. + +_Description of rootstock._—The rootstock of this plant is also curious, +resembling in its formation a piece of coral (fig. 4), on account of +which it is known by the name “coralroot.” The other common names, such +as chickentoe, turkey-claw, etc., all have reference to the form of the +rootstock. As found in commerce, crawley-root consists of small, +dark-brown wrinkled pieces, the larger ones branched like coral. The +taste at first is sweetish, becoming afterwards slightly bitter. It has +a peculiar odor when fresh, but when dry it is without odor. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Crawley-root should be collected in July +or August. The price ranges from 20 to 50 cents a pound. Other species +of Corallorhiza are sometimes collected and are said to probably possess +similar properties. This root is said to be very effective for promoting +perspiration, and it is also used as a sedative and in fever. + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.—Crawley-root (_Corallorhiza odontorhiza_). After +Torrey’s Flora of New York.] + + + CANADA SNAKEROOT. + + _Asarum canadense_ L. + +_Other common names._—Asarum, wild ginger, Indian ginger, Vermont +snakeroot, heart-snakeroot, southern snakeroot, black snakeroot, +colt’s-foot snakeroot, black snakeweed, broad-leaved asarabacca, false +colt’s-foot, cat’s-foot, colicroot. + +_Habitat and range._—This inconspicuous little plant frequents rich +woods or rich soil along roadsides from Canada south to North Carolina +and Kansas. + +_Description of plant._—Canada snakeroot is a small, apparently stemless +perennial, not more than 6 to 12 inches in height, and belongs to the +birthwort family (Aristolochiaceæ). It usually has but two leaves, which +are borne on slender, finely hairy stems; they are kidney shaped or +heart shaped, thin, dark green above and paler green on the lower +surface, strongly veined, and from 4 to 7 inches broad. + +The solitary bell-shaped flower is of an unassuming dull brown or +brownish purple, and this modest color, together with its position on +the plant, renders it so inconspicuous as to escape the notice of the +casual observer. It droops from a short, slender stalk produced between +the two leaf stems and is almost hidden under the two leaves, growing so +close to the ground that it is sometimes buried beneath old leaves, and +sometimes the soil must be removed before the flower can be seen. It is +bell shaped, woolly, the inside darker in color than the outside and of +a satiny texture. The fruit which follows is in the form of a leathery +6-celled capsule. (Pl. III, fig. 2.) + +_Description of rootstock._—Canada snakeroot has a creeping, yellowish +rootstock, slightly jointed, with thin rootlets produced from joints +which occur about every half inch or so. (Pl. III, fig. 2.) In the drug +trade the rootstock is usually found in pieces a few inches in length +and about one-eighth of an inch in diameter. These are four-angled, +crooked, brownish and wrinkled on the outside, whitish inside and +showing a large central pith, hard and brittle, and breaking with a +short fracture. The odor is fragrant and the taste spicy and aromatic, +and has been said to be intermediate between ginger and serpentaria. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The aromatic root of Canada snakeroot is +collected in autumn, and the price ranges from 10 to 15 cents a pound. +It was reported as very scarce in the latter part of the summer of 1906. +Canada snakeroot, which was official in the United States Pharmacopœia +from 1820 to 1880, is used as an aromatic, diaphoretic, and carminative. + + + SERPENTARIA. + + (1) _Aristolochia serpentaria_ L. and (2) _Aristolochia reticulata_ + Nutt. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Serpentaria. + +_Other common names._—(1) Virginia serpentaria, Virginia snakeroot, +serpentary, snakeweed, pelican-flower, snagrel, sangrel, sangree-root; +(2) Texas serpentaria, Texas snakeroot, Red River snakeroot. + +_Habitat and range._—Virginia serpentaria is found in rich woods from +Connecticut to Michigan and southward, principally along the +Alleghenies, and Texas serpentaria occurs in the Southwestern States, +growing along river banks from Arkansas to Louisiana. + +_Description of Virginia serpentaria._—About midsummer the queerly +shaped flowers of this native perennial are produced. They are very +similar to those of the better known “Dutchman’s-pipe,” another species +of this genus, which is quite extensively grown as an ornamental vine +for covering porches and trellises. Virginia serpentaria and Texas +serpentaria both belong to the birthwort family (Aristolochiaceæ). The +Virginia serpentaria is nearly erect, the slender, wavy stem sparingly +branched near the base, and usually growing to about a foot in height, +sometimes, however, even reaching 3 feet. The leaves are thin, ovate, +ovate lance shaped or oblong lance shaped, and usually heart shaped at +the base; they are about 2½ inches long and about 1 or 1½ inches in +width. The flowers are produced from near the base of the plant, similar +to its near relative, the Canada snakeroot. They are solitary and +terminal, borne on slender, scaly branches, dull brownish purple in +color, and of a somewhat leathery texture; the calyx tube is curiously +bent or contorted in the shape of the letter S. The fruit is a roundish +6-celled capsule, about half an inch in diameter, and containing +numerous seeds. (Pl. III, fig. 3.) + +_Description of Texas serpentaria._—This species has a very wavy stem, +with oval, heart-shaped, clasping leaves, which are rather thick and +strongly reticulated or marked with a network of veins; hence the +specific name _reticulata_. The entire plant is hairy, with numerous +long, coarse hairs. The small, densely hairy purplish flowers are also +produced from the base of the plant. + +_Description of rootstocks._—Serpentaria has a short rootstock with many +thin, branching, fibrous roots. (Pl. III, fig. 3.) In the dried state it +is thin and bent, the short remains of stems showing on the upper +surface and the under surface having numerous thin roots about 4 inches +in length, all of a dull yellowish brown color, internally white. It has +a very agreeable aromatic odor, somewhat like camphor, and the taste is +described as warm, bitterish, and camphoraceous. + +The Texas serpentaria has a larger rootstock, with fewer roots less +interlaced than the Virginia serpentaria. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The roots of serpentaria are collected +in autumn. Various other roots are sometimes mixed with serpentaria, but +as they are mostly high-priced drugs, such as goldenseal, pinkroot, +senega, and ginseng, their presence in a lot of serpentaria is probably +accidental, due simply to proximity of growth of these plants. +Abscess-root (_Polemonium reptans_ L.) is another root with which +serpentaria is often adulterated. It is very similar to serpentaria, +except that it is nearly white. The price of serpentaria ranges from 35 +to 40 cents a pound. + +Serpentaria is used for its stimulant, tonic, and diaphoretic +properties. Both species are official in the United States Pharmacopœia. + + + YELLOW DOCK. + + _Rumex crispus_ L. + +_Other common names._—Rumex, curled dock, narrow dock, sour dock. (Fig. +5.) + +_Habitat and range._—This troublesome weed, introduced from Europe, is +now found throughout the United States, occurring in cultivated as well +as in waste ground, among rubbish heaps, and along roadsides. + +[Illustration: FIG. 5.—Yellow dock (_Rumex crispus_), first year’s +growth.] + +_Description of plant._—Yellow dock is a perennial plant belonging to +the buckwheat family (Polygonaceæ), and has a deep, spindle-shaped root, +from which arises an erect, angular, and furrowed stem, attaining a +height of from 2 to 4 feet. The stem is branched near the top and leafy, +bearing numerous long dense clusters formed by drooping groups of +inconspicuous green flowers placed in circles around the stem. The +flowers are produced from June to August, and the fruits which follow +are in the form of small triangular nuts, like the grain of buckwheat, +to which family the dock belongs. So long as the fruits are green and +immature they can scarcely be distinguished from the flowers, but as +they ripen the clusters take on a rusty-brown color. The leaves of the +yellow dock are lance shaped, acute, with the margins strongly waved and +crisped, the lower long-stalked leaves being blunt or heart shaped at +the base and from 6 to 8 inches in length, while those nearer the top +are narrower and shorter, only 3 to 6 inches in length, short stemmed or +stemless. + +[Illustration: FIG. 6.—Broad-leaved dock (_Rumex obtusifolius_), leaf, +fruiting spike, and root.] + +The broad-leaved dock (_Rumex obtusifolius_ L.) known also as bitter +dock, common dock, blunt-leaved dock, and butter-dock, is a very common +weed found in waste places from the New England States to Oregon and +south to Florida and Texas. It grows to about the same height as the +yellow dock, to which it bears a close resemblance, differing +principally in its more robust habit of growth. The stem is stouter than +in yellow dock, and the leaves, which likewise are wavy along the +margin, are much broader and longer. The green flowers appear from June +to August and are in rather long, open clusters, the groups rather loose +and far apart. (Fig. 6.) + +_Description of roots._—Yellow dock root is large and fleshy, usually +from 8 to 12 inches long, tapering or spindle shaped, with few or no +rootlets. When dry it is usually twisted and prominently wrinkled, the +rather thick, dark, reddish brown bark marked with small scars. The +inside of the root is whitish at first, becoming yellowish. The fracture +is short, but shows some splintery fibers. The root, as it occurs in +commerce, is either entire or occasionally split lengthwise. + +The darker colored root of the broad-leaved dock has a number of smaller +branches near the crown and more rootlets. (Fig. 6.) Dock roots have but +a very faint odor and a bitter, astringent taste. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The roots should be collected in late +summer or autumn, after the fruiting tops have turned brown, then +washed, either left entire or split lengthwise into halves or quarters, +and carefully dried. Yellow dock root ranges from 4 to 6 cents a pound. + +In the United States Pharmacopœia of 1890 “the roots of _Rumex crispus_ +and of some other species of Rumex” were official, and both of the +above-named species are used, but the yellow dock (_Rumex crispus_) is +the species most commonly employed in medicine. The docks are largely +used for purifying the blood and in the treatment of skin diseases. + +The young root leaves of both of the species mentioned are sometimes +used in spring as pot herbs. + + + POKEWEED. + + _Phytolacca decandra_ L.[1] + +_Synonym._—_Phytolacca americana_ L.[1] + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Phytolacca. + +_Other common names._—Poke, pigeon-berry, garget, scoke, pocan, coakum, +Virginian poke, inkberry, red inkberry, American nightshade, +cancer-jalap, redweed. + +_Habitat and range._—Pokeweed, a common, familiar, native weed, is found +in rich, moist soil along fence rows, fields, and uncultivated land from +the New England States to Minnesota south to Florida and Texas. + +_Description of plant._—In Europe, where pokeweed has become naturalized +from this country, it is regarded as an ornamental garden plant, and, +indeed, it is very showy and attractive with its reddish purple stems, +rich green foliage, and clusters of white flowers and dark-purple +berries. + +The stout, smooth stems, arising from a very large perennial root, +attain a height of from 3 to 9 feet, and are erect and branched, green +at first, then reddish. If a piece of the stem is examined, the pith +will be seen to be divided into disk-shaped parts with hollow spaces +between them. The smooth leaves are borne on short stems and are about 5 +inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide, ovate or ovate oblong, acute at the +apex, and the margins entire. The long-stalked clusters of whitish +flowers, which appear from July to September, are from 3 to 4 inches in +length, the flowers numerous and borne on reddish stems. In about two +months the berries will have matured and assumed a rich dark-purple +color. These smooth and shining purple berries are globular, flattened +at both ends, and contain black seeds embedded in a rich crimson juice. +(Fig. 7.) This plant belongs to the pokeweed family (Phytolaccaceæ). + +[Illustration: FIG. 7.—Pokeweed (_Phytolacca decandra_), flowering and +fruiting branch.] + +_Description of root._—Pokeweed has a very thick, long, fleshy root, +conical in shape and branched (fig. 8), very much resembling that of +horseradish, and poisonous. In commerce it usually occurs in transverse +or lengthwise slices, the outside a yellowish brown and finely wrinkled +lengthwise, and thickly encircled with lighter colored ridges. It breaks +with a fibrous fracture and is yellowish gray within. The transverse +slices show many concentric rings. There is a slight odor and the taste +is sweetish and acrid. The root when powdered causes sneezing. + +[Illustration: FIG. 8.—Pokeweed root.] + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root of the pokeweed, which is +official in the United States Pharmacopœia, is collected in the latter +part of autumn, thoroughly cleaned, cut into transverse or lengthwise +slices, and carefully dried. It brings from 2½ to 4 cents a pound. + +The root is used for its alterative properties in treating various +diseases of the skin and blood, and in certain cases in relieving pain +and allaying inflammation. It also acts upon the bowels and causes +vomiting. + +The berries when fully matured are also used in medicine. + +The young and tender shoots of the pokeweed are eaten in spring, like +asparagus, but bad results may follow if they are not thoroughly cooked +or if they are cut too close to the root. + + + SOAPWORT. + + _Saponaria officinalis_ L. + +_Other common names._—Saponaria, saponary, common soapwort, +bouncing-bet, soaproot, bruisewort, Boston pink, chimney-pink, +crow-soap, hedge-pink, oldmaid’s-pink, fuller’s-herb, lady-by-the-gate, +London-pride, latherwort, mock-gilliflower, scourwort, sheepweed, +sweet-betty, wild sweet-william, woods-phlox, world’s-wonder. + +_Habitat and range._—By one or another of its many common names this +plant, naturalized from Europe, is known almost everywhere, occurring +along roadsides and in waste places. + +_Description of plant._—Soapwort is a rather pretty herbaceous +perennial, 1 to 2 feet high, and belonging to the pink family +(Silenaceæ). Its smooth, stout, and erect stem is leafy and only +sparingly branched, the leaves ovate, 2 to 3 inches long, smooth, +prominently ribbed, and pointed at the apex. The bright-looking, crowded +clusters of pink (or in shady localities whitish) flowers appear from +about June until far along in September. The five petals of the corolla +are furnished with long “claws,” or, in other words, they are narrowly +lengthened toward the base and inserted within the tubular and +pale-green calyx. The seed capsule is oblong and one-celled. (Pl. III, +fig. 4.) + +_Description of root._—Soapwort spreads by means of its stolons, or +underground runners. But the roots, which are rather long, are the parts +employed in medicine. These are cylindrical, tapering toward the apex, +more or less branched, and wrinkled lengthwise. (Pl. III, fig. 4.) The +whitish wood is covered with a brownish red, rather thick bark, and the +root breaks with a short, smooth fracture. It is at first sweetish, +bitter, and mucilaginous, followed by a persistently acrid taste, but it +has no odor. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—As already indicated, the roots, without +the runners, should be collected either in spring or autumn. With water +they form a lather, like soap, whence the common names soapwort, +soaproot, latherwort, etc., are derived. The price ranges from 5 to 10 +cents a pound. The roots are employed in medicine for their tonic, +alterative, and diaphoretic properties. The leaves are also used. + + + GOLDENSEAL. + + _Hydrastis canadensis_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Hydrastis. + +_Other common names._—Yellowroot, yellow puccoon, orange-root, yellow +Indian-paint, turmeric-root, Indian turmeric, Ohio curcuma, +ground-raspberry, eyeroot, eye-balm, yellow-eye, jaundice-root, +Indian-dye. + +_Habitat and range._—This native forest plant occurs in patches in high, +open woods, and usually on hillsides or bluffs affording natural +drainage, from southern New York to Minnesota and western Ontario, south +to Georgia and Missouri. + +Goldenseal is now becoming scarce throughout its range. Ohio, Indiana, +Kentucky, and West Virginia have been the greatest goldenseal-producing +States. + +_Description of plant._—Goldenseal is a perennial plant belonging to the +same family as the buttercup, namely, the crowfoot family +(Ranunculaceæ). It has a thick yellow rootstock, which sends up an erect +hairy stem about 1 foot in height, surrounded at the base by 2 or 3 +yellowish scales. The yellow color of the roots and scales extends up +the stem so far as it is covered by soil, while the portion of the stem +above ground has a purplish color. The stem, which has only two leaves, +seems to fork at the top, one branch bearing a large leaf and the other +a smaller one and a flower. A third leaf, which is much smaller than the +other two and stemless, is occasionally produced. The leaves are +palmately 5 to 9 lobed, the lobes broad, acute, sharply and unequally +toothed; they are prominently veined on the lower surface, and at +flowering time, when they are very much wrinkled, they are only +partially developed, but they continue to expand until they are from 6 +to 8 inches in diameter, becoming thinner in texture and smoother. The +upper leaf subtends or incloses the flower bud. The greenish white +flower appears about April or May, but it is of short duration, lasting +only five or six days. It is less than half an inch in diameter and, +instead of petals, has three small petal-like sepals, which fall away as +soon as the flower expands, leaving only the numerous stamens (as many +as 40 or 50), in the center of which are about a dozen pistils, which +finally develop into a round, fleshy, berry-like head which ripens in +July or August. The fruit when ripe turns a bright red and resembles a +large raspberry, whence the common name “ground-raspberry” is derived. +It contains from 10 to 20 small, black, shining, hard seeds. (Fig. 9.) + +[Illustration: FIG. 9.—Goldenseal (_Hydrastis canadensis_), flowering +plant and fruit.] + +_Description of rootstock._—The fresh rootstock of goldenseal, which has +a rank, nauseating odor, is bright yellow, both internally and +externally, with fibrous yellow rootlets produced from the sides. It is +from 1½ to 2½ inches in length, from one-fourth to three-fourths of an +inch in thickness, and contains a large amount of yellow juice. (Fig. +10.) + +In the dried state the rootstock is crooked, knotty, and wrinkled, from +1 to 2 inches in length, and from one-eighth to one-third of an inch in +diameter. It is of a dull-brown color on the outside and breaks with a +clean, short, resinous fracture, showing a lemon-yellow color inside. +After the rootstock has been kept for some time it will become greenish +yellow or brown internally and its quality impaired. The cup-like +depressions or stem scars on the upper surface of the rootstock resemble +the imprint of a seal, whence the most popular name of the plant, +goldenseal, is derived. The rootstock as found in commerce is almost +bare, the fibrous rootlets, which in drying become very wiry and +brittle, breaking off readily and leaving only small protuberances. + +[Illustration: FIG. 10.—Goldenseal rootstock.] + +The odor of the dried rootstock, while not so pronounced as in the fresh +material, is peculiar, narcotic, and disagreeable. The taste is +exceedingly bitter, and when the rootstock is chewed there is a +persistent acridity, which causes an abundant flow of saliva. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root should be collected in autumn +after the seeds have ripened, freed from soil, and carefully dried. +After a dry season goldenseal dies down soon after the fruit is mature, +so that it often happens that by the end of September not a trace of the +plant remains above ground; but if the season has been moist, the plant +sometimes persists to the beginning of winter. The price of goldenseal +ranges from $1 to $1.50 a pound. + +Goldenseal, which is official in the United States Pharmacopœia, is a +useful drug in digestive disorders and in certain catarrhal affections +of the mucous membranes, in the latter instance being administered both +internally and locally. + +_Cultivation._—Once so abundant in certain parts of the country, +especially in the Ohio Valley, goldenseal is now becoming scarce +throughout its range, and in consequence of the increased demand for the +root, both at home and abroad, its cultivation must sooner or later be +more generally undertaken in order to satisfy the needs of medicine. In +some parts of the country the cultivation of goldenseal is already under +way. + +The first thing to be considered in growing this plant is to furnish it, +as nearly as possible, the conditions to which it has been accustomed in +its native forest home. This calls for a well-drained soil, rich in +humus, and partially shaded. Goldenseal stands transplanting well, and +the easiest way to propagate it is to bring the plants in from the +forest and transplant them to a properly prepared location, or to +collect the rootstocks and to cut them into as many pieces as there are +buds, planting these pieces in a deep, loose, well-prepared soil, and +mulching, adding new mulch each year to renew the humus. With such a +soil the cultivation of goldenseal is simple, and it will be necessary +chiefly to keep down the weeds. + +The plants may be grown in rows 1 foot apart and 6 inches apart in the +row, or they may be grown in beds 4 to 8 feet wide, with walks between. +Artificial shade will be necessary, and this is supplied by the erection +of lath sheds. The time required to obtain a marketable crop is from two +to three years. + +Detailed information regarding the experiments made by the Department +will be found in another publication.[2] + + + GOLDTHREAD. + + _Coptis trifolia_ (L.) Salisb. + +_Other common names._—Coptis, cankerroot, mouthroot, yellowroot. + +_Habitat and range._—This pretty little perennial is native in damp, +mossy woods and bogs from Canada and Alaska south to Maryland and +Minnesota. It is most common in the New England States, northern New +York and Michigan, and in Canada, where it frequents the dark sphagnum +swamps, cold bogs, and the shade of dense forests of cedars, pines, and +other evergreens. + +_Description of plant._—Anyone familiar with this attractive little +plant will agree that it is well named. The roots of goldthread, running +not far beneath the surface of the ground, are indeed like so many +tangled threads of gold. The plant in the general appearance of its +leaves and flowers very closely resembles the strawberry plant. It is of +low growth, only 3 to 6 inches in height, and belongs to the crowfoot +family (Ranunculaceæ). The leaves are all basal, and are borne on long, +slender stems; they are evergreen, dark green and shining on the upper +surface and lighter green beneath, divided into three parts, which are +prominently veined and toothed. A single small, white, star-shaped +flower is borne at the ends of the flowering stalks, appearing from May +to August. (Fig. 11.) The 5 to 7 sepals or lobes of the calyx are white +and like petals, and the petals of the corolla, 5 to 7 in number, are +smaller, club shaped, and yellow at the base. The seed pods are stalked, +oblong, compressed, spreading, tipped with the persistent style, and +containing small black seeds. + +[Illustration: FIG. 11.—Goldthread (_Coptis trifolia_). After Lloyd’s +Drugs and Medicines of North America.] + +_Description of root._—Goldthread has a long, slender, creeping root, +which is much branched and frequently matted. (Fig. 11.) The color of +these roots is a bright golden yellow. As found in the stores, +goldthread consists usually of tangled masses of these golden-yellow +roots, mixed with the leaves and stems of the plant, but the root is the +part prescribed for use. The root is bitter and has no odor. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The time for collecting goldthread is in +autumn. After removing the covering of dead leaves and moss, the +creeping yellow roots of goldthread will be seen very close to the +surface of the ground, from which they can be very easily pulled. They +should, of course, be carefully dried. As already stated, although the +roots and rootlets are the parts to be used, the commercial article is +freely mixed with the leaves and stems of the plant. Evidences of the +pine-woods home of this plant, in the form of pine needles and bits of +moss, are often seen in the goldthread received for market. Goldthread +brings from 60 to 70 cents a pound. + +The Indians and early white settlers used this little root as a remedy +for various forms of ulcerated and sore mouth, and it is still used as a +wash or gargle for affections of this sort. It is also employed as a +bitter tonic. + +Goldthread was official in the United States Pharmacopœia from 1820 to +1880. + + + BLACK COHOSH. + + _Cimicifuga racemosa_ (L.) Nutt. + +_Synonym._—_Actaea racemosa_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Cimicifuga. + +_Other common names._—Black snakeroot, bugbane, bugwort, +rattle-snakeroot, rattleroot, rattleweed, rattletop, richweed, +squawroot. + +_Habitat and range._—Although preferring the shade of rich woods, black +cohosh will grow occasionally in sunny situations in fence corners and +woodland pastures. It is most abundant in the Ohio Valley, but it occurs +from Maine to Wisconsin, south along the Allegheny Mountains to Georgia, +and westward to Missouri. + +_Description of plant._—Rising to a height of 3 to 8 feet, the showy, +delicate-flowered spikes of the black cohosh tower above most of the +other woodland flowers, making it a conspicuous plant in the woods and +one that can be easily recognized. + +[Illustration: FIG. 12.—Black cohosh (_Cimicifuga racemosa_), leaves, +flowering spikes, and rootstock.] + +Black cohosh is an indigenous perennial plant belonging to the same +family as the goldenseal, namely, the crowfoot family (Ranunculaceæ). +The tall stem, sometimes 8 feet in height, is rather slender and leafy, +the leaves consisting of three leaflets, which are again divided into +threes. The leaflets are about 2 inches long, ovate, sharp pointed at +the apex, thin and smooth, variously lobed, and the margins sharply +toothed. The graceful, spikelike terminal cluster of flowers, which is +produced from June to August, is from 6 inches to 2 feet in length. +(Fig. 12.) Attractive as these flower clusters are to the eye, they +generally do not prove attractive very long to those who may gather them +for their beauty, since the flowers emit an offensive odor, which +accounts for some of the common names applied to this plant, namely, +bugbane and bugwort, it having been thought that this odor was +efficacious in driving away bugs. The flowers do not all open at one +time, and thus there may be seen buds, blossoms, and seed pods on one +spike. The buds are white and globular, and as they expand in flower +there is practically nothing to the flower but very numerous white +stamens and the pistil, but the stamens spread out around the pistil in +such a manner as to give to the spike a somewhat feathery or fluffy +appearance which is very attractive. The seed pods are dry, thick and +leathery, ribbed, and about one-fourth of an inch long, with a small +beak at the end. The smooth brown seeds are inclosed within the pods in +two rows. Anyone going through the woods in winter may find the seed +pods, full of seeds, still clinging to the dry, dead stalk, and the +rattling of the seeds in the pods as the wind passes over them has given +rise to the common names rattle-snakeroot (not “rattlesnake”-root), +rattleweed, rattletop, and rattleroot. + +_Description of rootstock._—The rootstock (fig. 12) is large, +horizontal, and knotty or rough and irregular in appearance. The upper +surface of the rootstock is covered with numerous round scars and +stumps, the remains of former leaf stems, and on the fresh rootstocks +may be seen the young, pinkish white buds which are to furnish the next +season’s growth. From the lower part of the rootstock long, fleshy roots +are produced. The fresh rootstock is very dark reddish brown on the +outside, white within, showing a large central pith from which radiate +rays of a woody texture, and on breaking the larger roots also the woody +rays will be seen in the form of a cross. On drying, the rootstock +becomes hard and turns much darker, both internally and externally, but +the peculiar cross formation of the woody rays in both rootstock and +roots, being lighter in color, is plainly seen without the aid of a +magnifying glass. The roots in drying become wiry and brittle and break +off very readily. Black cohosh has a heavy odor and a bitter, acrid +taste. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root should be collected after the +fruit has ripened, usually in September. The price ranges from 2 to 3 +cents a pound. + +The Indians had long regarded black cohosh as a valuable medicinal +plant, not only for the treatment of snake bites, but it was also a very +popular remedy among their women, and it is to-day considered of value +as an alterative, emmenagogue, and sedative, and is recognized as +official in the United States Pharmacopœia. + + + OREGON GRAPE. + + _Berberis aquifolium_ Pursh. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Berberis. + +_Other common names._—Rocky Mountain grape, holly-leaved barberry, +California barberry, trailing Mahonia. + +_Habitat and range._—This shrub is native in woods in rich soil among +rocks from Colorado to the Pacific Ocean, but it is especially abundant +in Oregon and northern California. + +_Description of plant._—Oregon grape is a low-growing shrub, resembling +somewhat the familiar Christmas holly of the Eastern States, and, in +fact, was first designated as “mountain-holly” by members of the Lewis +and Clark expedition on their way through the western country. It +belongs to the barberry family (Berberidaceæ), and grows about 2 to 6 +feet in height, the branches sometimes trailing. The leaves consist of +from 5 to 9 leaflets, borne in pairs, with an odd leaflet at the summit. +They are from 2 to 3 inches long and about 1 inch wide, evergreen, +thick, leathery, oblong or oblong ovate in outline, smooth and shining +above, the margins provided with thorny spines or teeth. The numerous +small yellow flowers appear in April or May and are borne in erect, +clustered heads. The fruit consists of a cluster of blue or bluish +purple berries, having a pleasant taste, and each containing from three +to nine seeds. (Pl. IV, fig. 1.) + +_Other species._—While _Berberis aquifolium_ is generally designated as +the source of Oregon grape root, other species of Berberis are met with +in the market under the name grape root, and their use is sanctioned by +the United States Pharmacopœia. + +The species most commonly collected with _Berberis aquifolium_ is _B. +nervosa_ Pursh, which is also found in woods from California northward +to Oregon and Washington. This is 9 to 16 inches in height, with a +conspicuously jointed stem and 11 to 17 bright-green leaflets. + +Another species of Berberis, _B. pinnata_ Lag., attains a height of from +a few inches to 5 feet, with from 5 to 9, but sometimes more, leaflets, +which are shining above and paler beneath. This resembles _aquifolium_ +very closely and is often mistaken for it, but it is said that it has +not been used by the medical profession, unless in local practice.[3] +The root also is about the same size as that of _aquifolium_, while the +root of _nervosa_ is smaller. + +Some works speak of _Berberis repens_ Lindl. as another species often +collected with _aquifolium_, but in the latest botanical manuals no such +species is recognized, _B. repens_ being given simply as a synonym for +_B. aquifolium_. + +_Description of rootstock._—The rootstock and roots of Oregon grape are +more or less knotty, in irregular pieces of varying lengths, and about +an inch or less in diameter, with brownish bark and hard and tough +yellow wood, showing a small pith and narrow rays. Oregon grape root has +a very bitter taste and very slight odor. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Oregon grape root is collected in autumn +and brings from 10 to 12 cents a pound. The bark should _not_ be removed +from the rootstocks, as the Pharmacopœia directs that such roots be +rejected. + +This root has long been used in domestic practice throughout the West as +a tonic and blood purifier, and is now official in the United States +Pharmacopœia. + +The berries are used in making preserves and cooling drinks. + + + BLUE COHOSH. + + _Caulophyllum thalictroides_ (L.) Michx. + +_Other common names._—Caulophyllum, pappoose-root, squawroot, +blueberry-root, blue ginseng, yellow ginseng. (Pl. IV, fig. 2.) + +_Habitat and range._—Blue cohosh is found in the deep rich loam of shady +woods from New Brunswick to South Carolina, westward to Nebraska, being +abundant especially throughout the Allegheny Mountain region. + +_Description of plant._—This member of the barberry family +(Berberidaceæ) is a perennial herb, 1 to 3 feet in height, and +indigenous to this country. It bears at the top one large, almost +stemless leaf, which is triternately compound—that is, the main leaf +stem divides into three stems, which again divide into threes, and each +division bears three leaflets. Sometimes there is a smaller leaf, but +similar to the other, at the base of the flowering branch. The leaflets +are thin in texture, oval, oblong, or obovate, and 3 to 5 lobed. + +In the early stage of its growth this plant is covered with a sort of +bluish green bloom, but it gradually loses this and becomes smooth. The +flowers are borne in a small terminal panicle or head, and are small and +greenish yellow. They appear from April to May, while the leaf is still +small. The globular seeds, which ripen about August, are borne on stout +stalks in membranous capsules and resemble dark-blue berries. + +_Description of rootstock._—The thick crooked rootstock of blue cohosh +is almost concealed by the mass of matted roots which surrounds it. +There are numerous cup-shaped scars and small branches on the upper +surface of the rootstock, while the lower surface gives off numerous +long, crooked, matted roots. Some of the scars are depressed below the +surface of the rootstock, while others are raised above it. The outside +is brownish and the inside tough and woody. Blue cohosh possesses a +slight odor and a sweetish, somewhat bitter and acrid taste. In the +powdered state it causes sneezing. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root is dug in the fall. Very often +the roots of goldenseal or twinleaf are found mixed with those of blue +cohosh. The price of blue cohosh root ranges from 2½ to 4 cents a pound. + +Blue cohosh, official in the United States Pharmacopœia for 1890, is +used as a demulcent, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, and diuretic. + + + TWINLEAF. + + _Jeffersonia diphylla_ (L.) Pers. + +_Other common names._—Jeffersonia, rheumatism-root, helmetpod, +ground-squirrel pea, yellowroot. + +_Habitat and range._—Twinleaf inhabits rich shady woods from New York to +Virginia and westward to Wisconsin. + +_Description of plant._—This native herbaceous perennial is only about 6 +to 8 inches in height when in flower. At the fruiting stage it is +frequently 18 inches in height. It is one of our early spring plants, +and its white flower, resembling that of bloodroot, is produced as early +as April. + +[Illustration: FIG. 13.—Twinleaf (_Jeffersonia diphylla_), plant and +seed capsule. (After Britton and Brown, Illustrated Flora.)] + +The long-stemmed, smooth leaves, produced in pairs and arising from the +base of the plant, are rather oddly formed. They are about 3 to 6 inches +long, 2 to 4 inches wide, heart shaped or kidney shaped, but parted +lengthwise into two lobes or divisions, really giving the appearance of +two leaves; hence the common name “twinleaf.” The flower with its eight +oblong, spreading white petals measures about 1 inch across, and is +borne at the summit of a slender stalk arising from the root. The +many-seeded capsule is about 1 inch long, leathery, somewhat pear +shaped, and opening halfway around near the top, the upper part forming +a sort of lid. (Fig. 13.) Twinleaf belongs to the barberry family +(Berberidaceæ). + +_Description of rootstock._—Twinleaf has a horizontal rootstock, with +many fibrous, much-matted roots, and is very similar to that of blue +cohosh, but not so long. It is thick, knotty, yellowish brown +externally, with a resinous bark, and internally yellowish. The inner +portion is nearly tasteless, but the bark has a bitter and acrid taste. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The rootstock is collected in autumn, +and is used as a diuretic, alterative, antispasmodic, and a stimulating +diaphoretic. Large doses are said to be emetic and smaller doses tonic +and expectorant. The price paid for twinleaf root ranges from about 5 to +7 cents a pound. + + + MAY-APPLE. + + _Podophyllum peltatum_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Podophyllum. + +_Other common names._—Mandrake, wild mandrake, American mandrake, wild +lemon, ground-lemon, hog-apple, devil’s-apple, Indian apple, +raccoon-berry, duck’s-foot, umbrella-plant, vegetable calomel. + +_Habitat and range._—The May-apple is an indigenous plant, found in low +woods, usually growing in patches, from western Quebec to Minnesota, +south to Florida and Texas. + +_Description of plant._—A patch of May-apple can be distinguished from +afar, the smooth, dark-green foliage and close and even stand making it +a conspicuous feature of the woodland vegetation. + +[Illustration: FIG. 14.—May-apple (_Podophyllum peltatum_), upper +portion of plant with flower, and rootstock.] + +May-apple is a perennial plant, and belongs to the barberry family +(Berberidaceæ). It is erect, and grows about 1 foot in height. The +leaves are only two in number, circular in outline, but with five to +seven deep lobes, the lobes 2 cleft, and toothed at the apex; they are +dark green above, the lower surface lighter green and somewhat hairy or +smooth, sometimes 1 foot in diameter, and borne on long leafstalks which +are fixed to the center of the leaf, giving it an umbrella-like +appearance. The waxy-white, solitary flower, sometimes 2 inches in +diameter, appears in May, nodding on its short stout stalk, generally +right between the two large umbrella-like leaves, which shade it and +hide it from view. (Fig. 14.) The fruit which follows is lemon shaped, +at first green, then yellow, about 2 inches in length, and edible, +although when eaten immoderately it is known to have produced bad +effects. + +In a patch of May-apple plants there are always a number of sterile or +flowerless stalks, which bear leaves similar to those of the flowering +plants. + +_Description of rootstock._—The horizontally creeping rootstock of +May-apple (fig. 14), when taken from the ground, is from 1 to 6 feet or +more in length, flexible, smooth, and round, dark brown on the outside +and whitish and fleshy within; at intervals of a few inches are +thickened joints, on the upper surface of which are round stem scars and +on the lower side a tuft of rather stout roots. Sometimes the rootstock +bears lateral branches. The dried rootstock, as it occurs in the stores, +is in irregular, somewhat cylindrical pieces, smooth or somewhat +wrinkled, yellowish brown or dark brown externally, whitish to pale +brown internally, breaking with a short, sharp fracture, the surface of +which is mealy. The odor is slight and the taste at first sweetish, +becoming very bitter and acrid. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The proper time for collecting the +rootstock is in the latter half of September or in October. The price +paid for May-apple root ranges from 3 to 6 cents a pound. + +May-apple root, which is recognized as official in the United States +Pharmacopœia, is an active cathartic, and was known as such to the +Indians. + + + CANADA MOONSEED. + + _Menispermum canadense_ L. + +_Other common names._—Menispermum, yellow parilla, Texas sarsaparilla, +yellow sarsaparilla, vine-maple. (Pl. IV, fig. 3.) + +_Habitat and range._—Canada moonseed is usually found along streams in +woods, climbing over bushes, its range extending from Canada to Georgia +and Arkansas. + +_Description of plant._—This native perennial woody climber reaches a +length of from 6 to 12 feet, the round, rather slender stem bearing very +broad, slender-stalked leaves. These leaves are from 4 to 8 inches wide, +smooth and green on the upper surface and paler beneath, roundish in +outline and entire, or sometimes lobed and resembling the leaves of some +of our maples, whence the common name “vine-maple” is probably derived. +The bases of the leaves are generally heart shaped and the apex pointed +or blunt. In July the loose clusters of small yellowish or greenish +white flowers are produced, followed in September by bunches of black +one-seeded fruit, covered with a “bloom” and very much resembling +grapes. Canada moonseed belongs to the moonseed family (Menispermaceæ). + +_Description of rootstock._—The rootstock and roots are employed in +medicine. In the stores it will be found in long, straight pieces, +sometimes 3 feet in length, only about one-fourth of an inch in +thickness, yellowish brown or grayish brown, finely wrinkled lengthwise, +and giving off fine, hairlike, branched, brownish roots from joints +which occur every inch or so. The inside shows a distinct white pith of +variable thickness and a yellowish white wood with broad, porous wood +rays, the whole breaking with a tough, woody fracture. It has +practically no odor, but a bitter taste. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Canada moonseed is collected in autumn, +and brings from 4 to 8 cents a pound. It is used as a tonic, alterative, +and diuretic, and was official in the United States Pharmacopœia for +1890. + + + BLOODROOT. + + _Sanguinaria canadensis_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Sanguinaria. + +_Other common names._—Redroot, red puccoon, red Indian-paint, +puccoon-root, coonroot, white puccoon, pauson, snakebite, sweet-slumber, +tetterwort, turmeric. + +_Habitat and range._—Bloodroot is found in rich, open woods from Canada +south to Florida and west to Arkansas and Nebraska. + +_Description of plant._—This indigenous plant is among the earliest of +our spring flowers, the waxy-white blossom, enfolded by the grayish +green leaf, usually making its appearance early in April. The stem and +root contain a blood-red juice. Bloodroot is a perennial, and belongs to +the same family as the opium poppy, the Papaveraceæ. Each bud on the +thick, horizontal rootstock produces but a single leaf and a flowering +scape, reaching about 6 inches in height (fig. 15). The plant is smooth, +and both stem and leaves, especially when young, present a grayish green +appearance, being covered with a “bloom” such as is found on some +fruits. The leaves are palmately 5 to 9 lobed, the lobes either cleft at +the apex or having a wavy margin, and are borne on leaf stems about 6 to +14 inches long. After the plants have ceased flowering the leaves, at +first only 3 inches long and 4 to 5 inches broad, continue to expand +until they are about 4 to 7 inches long and 6 to 12 inches broad. The +under side of the leaf is paler than the upper side and shows prominent +veins. The flower measures about 1 inch across, is white, rather waxlike +in appearance, with numerous golden-yellow stamens in the center. The +petals soon fall off, and the oblong, narrow seed pod develops, +attaining a length of about an inch. + +_Description of rootstock._—When dug out of the ground bloodroot is +rather thick, round, and fleshy, slightly curved at the ends, and +contains a quantity of blood-red juice. It is from 1 to 4 inches in +length, from ½ to 1 inch in thickness, externally reddish brown, +internally a bright-red blood color, and produces many thick, +orange-colored rootlets. (Fig. 15.) + +The rootstock shrinks considerably in drying, the outside turning dark +brown and the inside orange-red or yellowish with numerous small red +dots, and it breaks with a short, sharp fracture. It has but a slight +odor, and the taste is bitter and acrid and very persistent. The +powdered root causes sneezing. + +[Illustration: FIG. 15.—Bloodroot (_Sanguinaria canadensis_), flowering +plant with rootstock.] + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The rootstock should be collected in +autumn, after the leaves have died, and after curing it should be stored +in a dry place, as it rapidly deteriorates if allowed to become moist. +Age also impairs its activity. The price paid to collectors for this +root ranges from about 5 to 10 cents a pound. + +Bloodroot was well known to the American Indians, who used the red juice +as a dye for skins and baskets and for painting their faces and bodies. +It is official in the United States Pharmacopœia, and is used as a +tonic, alterative, stimulant, and emetic. + + + HYDRANGEA. + + _Hydrangea arborescens_ L. + +_Other common names._—Wild hydrangea, seven-barks. + +_Habitat and range._—Hydrangea frequents rocky river banks and ravines +from the southern part of New York to Florida, and westward to Iowa and +Missouri, being especially abundant in the valley of the Delaware and +southward. + +_Description of plant._—Hydrangea is an indigenous shrub, 5 to 6 feet or +more in height, with weak twigs, slender leaf stems and thin leaves. It +belongs to the hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceæ). The leaves are oval or +sometimes heart shaped, 3 to 6 inches long, sharply toothed, green on +both sides, the upper smooth and the lower sometimes hairy. The shrub is +in flower from June to July, producing loose, branching, terminal heads +of small, greenish white flowers, followed by membranous, usually +2-celled capsules, which contain numerous seeds. (Pl. IV, fig. 4.) +Sometimes hydrangea will flower a second time, early in fall. + +A peculiar characteristic of this shrub, and one that has given rise to +the common name “seven-barks,” is the peeling off of the stem bark, +which comes off in several successive layers of thin, different colored +bark. + +_Description of root._—The root is roughly branched and when first taken +from the ground is very juicy, but after drying it becomes hard. The +smooth white and tough wood is covered with a thin, pale-yellow or +light-brown bark, which readily scales off. The wood is tasteless, but +the bark has a pleasant aromatic taste, becoming somewhat pungent. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Hydrangea root is collected in autumn, +and as it becomes very tough after drying and difficult to bruise it is +best to cut the root in short transverse pieces while it is fresh and +still juicy and dry it in this way. The price ranges from 2 to 7 cents a +pound. + +Hydrangea has diuretic properties and is said to have been much used by +the Cherokees and early settlers in calculous complaints. + + + INDIAN-PHYSIC. + + _Porteranthus trifoliatus_ (L.) Britton. + +_Synonym._—_Gillenia trifoliata_ Moench. + +_Other common names._—Gillenia, bowman’s-root, false ipecac, western +dropwort, Indian-hippo. + +_Habitat and range._—Indian-physic is native in rich woods from New York +to Michigan, south to Georgia and Missouri. + +_Description of plant._—The reddish stems of this slender, graceful +perennial of the rose family (Rosaceæ) are about 2 to 3 feet high, +several erect and branched stems being produced from the same root. The +leaves are almost stemless and trifoliate; that is, composed of three +leaflets. They are ovate or lanceolate, 2 to 3 inches long, narrowed at +the base, smooth, and toothed. The nodding, white or pinkish flowers are +few, produced in loose terminal clusters from May to July. (Pl. V, fig. +1.) The five petals are long, narrowed or tapering toward the base, +white or pinkish, and inserted in the tubular, somewhat bell-shaped, +red-tinged calyx. The seed pods are slightly hairy. + +At the base of the leaf stems are small leaflike parts, called stipules, +which in this species are very small, linear, and entire. In the +following species, which is very similar to _trifoliatus_ and collected +with it, the stipules, however, are so much larger that they form a +prominent character, which has given rise to its specific name, +_stipulatus_. + +_Porteranthus stipulatus_ (Muhl.) Britton (Syn. _Gillenia stipulacea_ +Nutt.) is found in similar situations as _P. trifoliatus_, but generally +farther west, its range extending from western New York to Indiana and +Kansas, south to Alabama, Louisiana, and Indian Territory. The general +appearance of this plant is very similar to that of _P. trifoliatus_. It +grows to about the same height, but is generally more hairy, the +leaflets narrower and more deeply toothed, and the flowers perhaps a +trifle smaller. The stipules, however, will generally serve to +distinguish it. These are large, broad, ovate, acute at the apex, +sharply and deeply notched, and so much like leaves that but for their +position at the base of the leaf stems they might easily be mistaken for +them. + +With the exception of the name American ipecac applied to this plant, +the common names of _Porteranthus trifoliatus_ are also used for _P. +stipulatus_. The roots of both species are collected and used for the +same purposes. + +_Description of roots._—The root of _Porteranthus trifoliatus_ is thick +and knotty, with many smoothish, reddish brown rootlets (Pl. V, fig. 1), +the latter in drying becoming wrinkled lengthwise and showing a few +transverse fissures or breaks in the bark, and the interior white and +woody. There is practically no odor, and the woody portion is tasteless, +but the bark, which is readily separable, is bitter, increasing the flow +of saliva. + +_Porteranthus stipulatus_ has a larger, more knotty root, with rootlets +that are more wavy, constricted, or marked with numerous transverse +rings, and the bark fissured or breaking from the white woody portion at +frequent intervals. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The roots of both species are collected +in autumn. The price ranges from 2 to 4 cents a pound. + +Indian-physic or bowman’s root, as these names imply, was a popular +remedy with the Indians, who used it as an emetic. From them the white +settlers learned of its properties, and it is still used for its emetic +action. This drug was at one time official in the United States +Pharmacopœia, from 1820 to 1880. Its action is said to resemble that of +ipecac. + +[Illustration: FIG. 16.—Wild indigo (_Baptisia tinctoria_), branch +showing flowers and seed pods. (Modified from Barton’s Vegetable Materia +Medica.)] + + + WILD INDIGO. + + _Baptisia tinctoria_ (L.) R. Br. + +_Other common names._—Baptisia, indigo-weed, yellow indigo, American +indigo, yellow broom, indigo-broom, clover-broom, broom-clover, +horsefly-weed, shoofly, rattlebush. + +_Habitat and range._—This native herb grows on dry, poor land, and is +found from Maine to Minnesota, south to Florida and Louisiana. + +_Description of plant._—Many who have been brought up in the country +will recognize in the wild indigo the plant so frequently used by +farmers, especially in Virginia and Maryland, to keep flies away from +horses, bunches of it being fastened to the harness for this purpose. + +Wild indigo grows about 2 to 3 feet in height, and the cloverlike +blossoms and leaves will show at once that it belongs to the same family +as the common clover, namely, the pea family (Fabaceæ). It is an erect, +much-branched, very leafy plant, of compact growth, the 3-leaved, bluish +green foliage somewhat resembling clover leaves. The flowers, as already +stated, are like common clover flowers—that is, not like clover heads, +but the single flowers composing these; they are bright yellow, about +one-half inch in length, and are produced in numerous clusters which +appear from June to September. The seed pods, on stalks longer than the +calyx, are nearly globular or ovoid and are tipped with an awl-shaped +style. (Fig. 16.) + +Another species, said to possess properties similar to those of +_Baptisia tinctoria_, and substituted for it, is _B. alba_ R. Br., +called the white wild indigo. This plant has white flowers and is found +in the Southern States and on the plains of the Western States. + +_Description of root._—Wild indigo has a thick, knotty crown or head, +with several stem scars, and a round, fleshy root, sending out +cylindrical branches and rootlets almost 2 feet in length. The white +woody interior is covered with a thick, dark-brown bark, rather scaly or +dotted with small, wartlike excrescences. The root breaks with a tough, +fibrous fracture. There is a scarcely perceptible odor, and the taste, +which resides chiefly in the bark, is nauseous, bitter, and acrid. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root of wild indigo is collected in +autumn, and brings from 4 to 8 cents a pound. + +Large doses of wild indigo are emetic and cathartic and may prove +dangerous. It also has stimulant, astringent, and antiseptic properties, +and is used as a local application to sores, ulcers, etc. + +The herb is sometimes employed like the root, and the entire plant was +official from 1830 to 1840. + +In some sections the young tender shoots are used for greens, like those +of the pokeweed, but great care must be exercised to gather them before +they are too far advanced in growth, as otherwise bad results will +follow. + +A blue coloring matter has been prepared from the plant and used as a +substitute for indigo, to which, however, it is very much inferior. + + + CRANE’S-BILL. + + _Geranium maculatum_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Geranium. + +_Other common names._—Spotted crane’s-bill, wild crane’s-bill, +stork’s-bill, spotted geranium, wild geranium, alumroot, alumbloom, +chocolate-flower, crowfoot, dovefoot, old-maid’s-nightcap, shameface. + +_Habitat and range._—Crane’s-bill flourishes in low grounds and open +woods from Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Georgia and Missouri. + +_Description of plant._—This pretty perennial plant belongs to the +geranium family (Geraniaceæ), and will grow sometimes to a height of 2 +feet, but more generally it is only about a foot in height. The entire +plant is more or less covered with hairs, and is erect and usually +unbranched. The leaves are nearly circular or somewhat heart shaped in +outline, 3 to 6 inches wide, deeply parted into three or five parts, +each division again cleft and toothed. The basal leaves are borne on +long stems, while those above have shorter stems. The flowers, which +appear from April to June, are borne in a loose cluster; they are rose +purple, pale or violet purple in color, about 1 inch or 1½ inches wide, +the petals delicately veined and woolly at the base, and the sepals or +calyx lobes with a bristle-shaped point, soft-hairy, the margins having +a fringe of more bristly hairs. The fruit consists of a beaked capsule, +springing open elastically, and dividing into five cells, each cell +containing one seed. (Fig. 17.) + +_Description of rootstock._—When removed from the earth, the rootstock +of crane’s-bill (fig. 17) is about 2 to 4 inches long, thick, with +numerous branches bearing the young buds for next season’s growth, and +scars showing the remains of stems of previous years, brown outside, +white and fleshy internally, and with several stout roots. When dry, the +rootstock turns a darker brown, is finely wrinkled externally, and has a +rough, spiny appearance, caused by the shrinking of the buds and +branches and the numerous stem scars with which the root is studded. +Internally it is of a somewhat purplish color. Crane’s-bill root is +without odor and the taste is very astringent. + +[Illustration: FIG. 17.—Crane’s-bill (_Geranium maculatum_), flowering +plant, showing also seed pods and rootstock.] + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Crane’s-bill root depends for its +medicinal value on its astringent properties, and as its astringency is +due to the tannin content, the root should, of course, be collected at +that season of the year when it is richest in that constituent. +Experiments have proved that the yield of tannin in crane’s-bill is +greatest just before flowering, which is in April or May, according to +locality. It should, therefore, be collected just before the flowering +period, and not, as is commonly the case, in autumn. The price of this +root ranges from 4 to 8 cents a pound. + +Crane’s-bill root, which is official in the United States Pharmacopœia, +is used as a tonic and astringent. + + + SENECA SNAKEROOT. + + _Polygala senega_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Senega. + +_Other common names._—Senega snakeroot, Seneca-root, rattlesnake-root, +mountain-flax. + +_Habitat and range._—Rocky woods and hillsides are the favorite haunts +of this indigenous plant. It is found in such situations from New +Brunswick and western New England to Minnesota and the Canadian Rocky +Mountains, and south along the Allegheny Mountains to North Carolina and +Missouri. + +_Description of plant._—The perennial root of this useful little plant +sends up a number of smooth, slender, erect stems (as many as 15 to 20 +or more), sometimes slightly tinged with red, from 6 inches to a foot in +height, and generally unbranched. The leaves alternate on the stem, are +lance shaped or oblong lance shaped, thin in texture, 1 to 2 inches +long, and stemless. The flowering spikes are borne on the ends of the +stems and consist of rather crowded, small, greenish white, +insignificant flowers. The flowering period of Seneca snakeroot is from +May to June. The spike blossoms gradually, and when the lowermost +flowers have already fruited the upper part of the spike is still in +flower. The seed capsules are small and contain two black, somewhat +hairy seeds. (Fig. 18.) The short slender stalks supporting these seed +capsules have a tendency to break off from the main axis before the seed +is fully mature, leaving the spike in a rather ragged-looking condition, +and the yield of seed, therefore, is not very large. Seneca snakeroot +belongs to the milkwort family (Polygalaceæ). + +A form of Seneca snakeroot, growing mostly in the North-Central States +and distinguished by its taller stems and broader leaves, has been +called _Polygala senega_ var. _latifolia_. + +[Illustration: FIG. 18.—Seneca snakeroot (_Polygala senega_), flowering +plant with root.] + +_Description of root._—Seneca snakeroot (fig. 18) is described in the +United States Pharmacopœia as follows: “Somewhat cylindrical, tapering, +more or less flexuous, 3 to 15 cm. long and 2 to 8 mm. thick, bearing +several similar horizontal branches and a few rootlets; crown knotty +with numerous buds and short stem remnants; externally yellowish gray or +brownish yellow, longitudinally wrinkled, usually marked by a keel which +is more prominent in perfectly dry roots near the crown; fracture short, +wood light yellow, usually excentrically developed; odor slight, +nauseating; taste sweetish, afterwards acrid.” + +The Seneca snakeroots found in commerce vary greatly in size, that +obtained from the South, which is really the official drug, being +usually light colored and small. The principal supply of Seneca +snakeroot now comes from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and farther northward, +and this western Seneca snakeroot has a much larger, darker root, with a +crown or head sometimes measuring 2 or 3 inches across and the upper +part of the root very thick. It is also less twisted and not so +distinctly keeled. + +Seneca snakeroot is often much adulterated with the roots of other +species of Polygala and of other plants. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The time for collecting Seneca snakeroot +is in autumn. Labor conditions play a great part in the rise and fall of +prices for this drug. It is said that very little Seneca snakeroot has +been dug in the Northwest during 1906, due to the fact that the Indians +and others who usually engage in this work were so much in demand as +farm hands and railroad laborers, which paid them far better than the +digging of Seneca snakeroot. Collectors receive from about 55 to 70 +cents a pound for this root. + +This drug, first brought into prominence as a cure for snake bite among +the Indians, is now employed as an expectorant, emetic, and diuretic. It +is official in the Pharmacopœia of the United States. + + + STILLINGIA. + + _Stillingia sylvatica_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Stillingia. + +_Other common names._—Queen’s-delight, queen’s-root, silverleaf, +nettle-potato. + +_Habitat and range._—This plant is found in dry, sandy soil and in pine +barrens from Maryland to Florida west to Kansas and Texas. + +[Illustration: FIG. 19.—Stillingia (_Stillingia sylvatica_), upper +portion of plant and part of spike showing male flowers. (After Bentley +and Trimen, Medicinal Plants.)] + +_Description of plant._—Like most of the other members of the spurge +family (Euphorbiaceæ) stillingia also contains a milky juice. This +indigenous, herbaceous perennial is about 1 to 3 feet in height, bright +green and somewhat fleshy, with crowded leaves of a somewhat leathery +texture. The leaves are practically stemless and vary greatly in form, +from lance shaped, oblong, to oval and elliptical, round toothed or saw +toothed. The pale-yellow flowers, which appear from April to October, +are borne in a dense terminal spike and consist of two kinds, male and +female, the male flowers arranged in dense clusters around the upper +part of the stalk and the female flowers occurring at the base of the +spike. (Fig. 19.) The seeds are contained in a roundish 3-lobed capsule. + +_Description of root._—Stillingia consists of somewhat cylindrical or +slenderly spindle-shaped roots from 6 inches to a foot in length, +slightly branched, the yellowish white, porous wood covered with a +rather thick, reddish brown, wrinkled bark, the whole breaking with a +fibrous fracture. As found in commerce, stillingia is usually in short +transverse sections, the ends of the sections pinkish and fuzzy with +numerous fine, silky bast fibers, and the bark showing scattered +yellowish brown resin cells and milk ducts. It has a peculiar unpleasant +odor, and a bitter, acrid, and pungent taste. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Stillingia root is collected late in +autumn or early in spring, usually cut into short, transverse sections +and dried. The price ranges from 3 to 5 cents a pound. + +This root, which is official in the United States Pharmacopœia, has been +a popular drug in the South for more than a century, and is employed +principally as an alterative. + + + WILD SARSAPARILLA. + + _Aralia nudicaulis_ L. + +_Other common names._—False sarsaparilla, Virginian sarsaparilla, +American sarsaparilla, small spikenard, rabbit’s-root, shotbush, wild +licorice. + +_Habitat and range._—Wild sarsaparilla grows in rich, moist woods from +Newfoundland west to Manitoba and south to North Carolina and Missouri. + +_Description of plant._—This native herbaceous perennial, belonging to +the ginseng family (Araliaceæ), produces a single, long-stalked leaf and +flowering stalk from a very short stem, both surrounded or sheathed at +the base by thin, dry scales. The leafstalk is about 12 inches long, +divided at the top into three parts, each division bearing five oval, +toothed leaflets from 2 to 5 inches long, the veins on the lower surface +sometimes hairy. + +The naked flowering stalk bears three spreading clusters of small, +greenish flowers, each cluster consisting of from 12 to 30 flowers, +produced from May to June, followed later in the season by purplish +black roundish berries, about the size of the common elderberries. (Pl. +V, fig. 2.) + +_Description of rootstock._—Wild sarsaparilla rootstock has a very +fragrant, aromatic odor. Rabbits are said to be very fond of it, whence +one of the common names, “rabbit’s-root,” is derived. The rootstock is +rather long, horizontally creeping, somewhat twisted, and yellowish +brown on the outside. (Pl. V, fig. 2.) The taste is warm and aromatic. +The dried rootstock is brownish gray and wrinkled lengthwise on the +outside, about one-fourth of an inch in thickness, the inside whitish +with a spongy pith. The taste is sweetish and somewhat aromatic. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root of wild sarsaparilla is +collected in autumn, and brings from 5 to 8 cents a pound. + +This has long been a popular remedy, both among the Indians and in +domestic practice, and was official in the United States Pharmacopœia +from 1820 to 1880. Its use is that of an alterative, stimulant, and +diaphoretic, and in this it resembles the official sarsaparilla obtained +from tropical America. + +_Similar species._—The American spikenard (_Aralia racemosa_ L.), known +also as spignet, spiceberry, Indian-root, petty-morrel, life-of-man, and +old-man’s-root, is employed like _Aralia nudicaulis_. It is +distinguished from this by its taller, herbaceous habit, its +much-branched stem from 3 to 6 feet high, and very large leaves +consisting of thin, oval, heart-shaped, double saw-toothed leaflets. The +small greenish flowers are arranged in numerous clusters, instead of +only three as in _nudicaulis_, and also appear somewhat later, namely, +from July to August. The berries are roundish, reddish brown, or dark +purple. + +The rootstock is shorter than that of _nudicaulis_, and much thicker, +with prominent stem scars, and furnished with numerous, very long, +rather thick roots. The odor and taste are stronger than in +_nudicaulis_. It is also collected in autumn, and brings from 4 to 8 +cents a pound. + +The American spikenard occurs in similar situations as _nudicaulis_, but +its range extends somewhat farther south, Georgia being given as the +southern limit. + +The California spikenard (_Aralia californica_ Wats.) may be used for +the same purposes as the other species. The plant is larger than _Aralia +racemosa_, but otherwise is very much like it. The root is also larger +than that of _A. racemosa_. + + + GINSENG. + + _Panax quinquefolium_ L. + +_Other common names._—American ginseng, sang, red-berry, five-fingers. +(Pl. V, fig. 3.) + +_Habitat and range._— Ginseng is a native of this country, its favorite +haunts being the rich, moist soil in hardwood forests from Maine to +Minnesota southward to the mountains of northern Georgia and Arkansas. +For some years ginseng has been cultivated in small areas from central +New York to Missouri. + +_Description of plant._—Ginseng is an erect perennial plant growing from +8 to 15 inches in height, and bearing three leaves at the summit, each +leaf consisting of five thin, stalked, ovate leaflets, long pointed at +the apex, rounded or narrowed at the base, the margins toothed; the +three upper leaflets are largest and the two lower ones smaller. From 6 +to 20 greenish yellow flowers are produced in a cluster during July and +August, followed later in the season by bright crimson berries. It +belongs to the ginseng family (Araliaceæ). + +_Description of root._—Ginseng has a thick, spindle-shaped root, 2 to 3 +inches long or more, and about one-half to 1 inch in thickness, often +branched, the outside prominently marked with circles or wrinkles. (Pl. +V, fig. 3.) The spindle-shaped root is simple at first, but after the +second year it usually becomes forked or branched, and it is the +branched root, especially if it resembles the human form, that finds +particular favor in the eyes of the Chinese, who are the principal +consumers of this root. + +Ginseng root has a thick, pale yellowish white or brownish yellow bark, +prominently marked with transverse wrinkles, the whole root fleshy and +somewhat flexible. If properly dried, it is solid and firm. Ginseng has +a slight aromatic odor, and the taste is sweetish and mucilaginous. + +_Collection and uses._—The proper time for digging ginseng root is in +autumn, and it should be carefully washed, sorted, and dried. If +collected at any other season of the year, it will shrink more and not +have the fine plump appearance of the fall-dug root. + +The National Dispensatory contains an interesting item concerning the +collection of the root by the Indians. They gather the root only after +the fruit has ripened, and it is said that they bend down the stem of +ripened fruit before digging the root, covering the fruit with earth, +and thus providing for future propagation. The Indians claim that a +large percentage of the seeds treated in this way will germinate. + +Although once official in the United States Pharmacopœia, from 1840 to +1880, it is but little used medicinally in this country except by the +Chinese residents, most of the ginseng produced in this country being +exported to China. The Chinese regard ginseng root as a panacea. It is +on account of its commercial prominence that it is included in this +paper. + +_Cultivation._—There is probably no plant that has become better known, +at least by name, during the past ten years or more than ginseng. It has +been heralded from north to south and east to west as a money-making +crop. The prospective ginseng grower must not fail to bear in mind, +however, that financial returns are by no means immediate. Special +conditions and unusual care are required in ginseng cultivation, +diseases must be contended with, and a long period of waiting is in +store for him before he can realize on his crop. + +Either roots or seeds may be planted, and the best success with ginseng +is obtained by following as closely as possible the conditions of its +native habitat. Ginseng needs a deep, rich soil, and, being a plant +accustomed to the shade of forest trees, will require shade, which can +be supplied by the erection of lath sheds over the beds. A heavy mulch +of leaves or similar well-rotted vegetable material should be applied to +the beds in autumn. + +If roots are planted, they are set in rows about 8 inches apart and 8 +inches apart in the row. In this way a marketable product will be +obtained sooner than if grown from seed. The seed is sown in spring or +autumn in drills 6 inches apart and about 2 inches apart in the row. The +plants remain in the seed bed for two years and are then transplanted, +being set about 8 by 8 inches apart. It requires from five to seven +years to obtain a marketable crop from the seed. Seed intended for +sowing should not be allowed to dry out, as this is supposed to destroy +its vitality. + +_Price._—The price of wild ginseng roots ranges from $5 a pound upward. +The cultivated root generally brings a lower price than the wild root, +and southern ginseng roots are worth less than those from northern +localities. + +_Exports._—The exports of ginseng for the year ended June 30, 1906, +amounted to 160,949 pounds, valued at $1,175,844. + + + WATER-ERYNGO. + + _Eryngium yuccifolium_ Michx. + +_Synonym._—_Eryngium aquaticum_ L. + +_Other common names._—Eryngium, eryngo, button-snakeroot, +corn-snakeroot, rattlesnake-master, rattlesnake-weed, rattlesnake-flag. + +_Habitat and range._—Although sometimes occurring on dry land, +water-eryngo usually inhabits swamps and low, wet ground, from the pine +barrens of New Jersey westward to Minnesota and south to Texas and +Florida. + +_Description of plant._—The leaves of this plant are grasslike in form, +rigid, 1 to 2 feet long, and about one-half inch or a trifle more in +width; they are linear, with parallel veins, pointed, generally clasping +at the base, and the margins bristly with soft, slender spines. The +stout, furrowed stem reaches a height of from 2 to 6 feet, and is +generally unbranched except near the top. The insignificant whitish +flowers are borne in dense, ovate-globular, stout-stemmed heads, +appearing from June to September, and the seed heads that follow are +ovate and scaly. (Pl. V, fig. 4.) Water-eryngo belongs to the parsley +family (Apiaceæ) and is native in this country. + +_Description of rootstock._—The stout rootstock is very knotty, with +numerous short branches, and produces many thick, rather straight roots +(Pl. V, fig. 4), both rootstock and roots of a dark-brown color, the +latter wrinkled lengthwise. The inside of the rootstock is yellowish +white. Water-eryngo has a somewhat peculiar, slightly aromatic odor, and +a sweetish, mucilaginous taste at first, followed by some bitterness and +pungency. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root of this plant is collected in +autumn and brings from 5 to 10 cents a pound. + +Water-eryngo is an old remedy, and one of its early uses, as the several +common names indicate, was for the treatment of snake bites. It was +official in the United States Pharmacopœia from 1820 to 1860, and is +employed now as a diuretic and expectorant, and for promoting +perspiration. In large doses it acts as an emetic, and the root, when +chewed, excites a flow of saliva. It is said to resemble Seneca +snakeroot in action. + + + AMERICAN ANGELICA. + + _Angelica atropurpurea_ L. + +_Synonym._—_Archangelica atropurpurea_ Hoffm. + +_Other common names._—Angelica, purple-stemmed angelica, great angelica, +high angelica, purple angelica, masterwort. + +_Habitat and range._—American angelica is a native herb, common in +swamps and damp places from Labrador to Delaware and west to Minnesota. + +_Description of plant._—This strong-scented, tall, stout perennial +reaches a height of from 4 to 6 feet, with a smooth, dark-purple, hollow +stem 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The leaves are divided into three parts, +each of which is again divided into threes; the rather thin segments are +oval or ovate, somewhat acute, sharply toothed and sometimes deeply cut, +and about 2 inches long. The lower leaves sometimes measure 2 feet in +width, while the upper ones are smaller, but all have very broad +expanded stalks. The greenish white flowers are produced from June to +July in somewhat roundish, many-rayed umbels or heads, which sometimes +are 8 to 10 inches in diameter. The fruits are smooth, compressed, and +broadly oval. (Pl. VI, fig. 1.) American angelica belongs to the parsley +family (Apiaceæ). + +_Description of root._—American angelica root is branched, from 3 to 6 +inches long, and less than an inch in diameter. The outside is light +brownish gray, with deep furrows, and the inside nearly white, the whole +breaking with a short fracture and the thick bark showing fine resin +dots. It has an aromatic odor, and the taste at first is sweetish and +spicy, afterwards bitter. The fresh root is said to possess poisonous +properties. + +The root of the European or garden angelica (_Angelica officinalis_ +Moench) supplies much of the angelica root of commerce. This is native +in northern Europe and is very widely cultivated, especially in Germany, +for the root. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root is dug in autumn and carefully +dried. Care is also necessary in preserving the root, as it is very +liable to the attacks of insects. American angelica root ranges from 6 +to 10 cents a pound. + +American angelica root, which was official in the United States +Pharmacopœia from 1820 to 1860, is used as an aromatic, tonic, +stimulant, carminative, diuretic, and diaphoretic. In large doses it +acts as an emetic. + +The seeds are also employed medicinally. + + + YELLOW JASMINE OR JESSAMINE. + + _Gelsemium sempervirens_ (L.) Ait. f. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Gelsemium. + +_Other common names._—Carolina jasmine or jessamine, Carolina wild +woodbine, evening trumpet-flower. + +_Habitat and range._—Yellow jasmine is a plant native to the South, +found along banks of streams, in woods, lowlands, and thickets, +generally near the coast, from the eastern part of Virginia to Florida +and Texas, south to Mexico and Guatemala. + +_Description of plant._—This highly ornamental climbing or trailing +plant is abundantly met with in the woods of the Southern States, its +slender stems festooned over trees and fences and making its presence +known by the delightful perfume exhaled by its flowers, filling the air +with a fragrance that is almost overpowering wherever the yellow jasmine +is very abundant. + +The smooth shining stems of this beautiful vine sometimes reach a length +of 20 feet. The leaves are evergreen, lance shaped, entire, 1½ to 3 +inches long, rather narrow, borne on short stems, and generally +remaining on the vine during the winter. The flowers, which appear from +January to April, are bright yellow, about 1 to 1½ inches long, the +corolla funnel shaped. (Fig. 20.) They are very fragrant, but poisonous, +and it is stated that the eating of honey derived from jasmine flowers +has brought about fatal results. + +Yellow jasmine is a perennial, and belongs to a family that is noted for +its poisonous properties, namely, the Logania family (Loganiaceæ), which +numbers among its members such powerful poisonous agents as the +strychnine-producing tree. + +_Description of rootstock._—The rootstock of the yellow jasmine is +horizontal and runs near the surface of the ground, attaining great +length, 15 feet or more; it is branched, and here and there produces +fibrous rootlets. When freshly removed from the ground it is very +yellow, with a peculiar odor and bitter taste. For the drug trade it is +generally cut into pieces varying from 1 inch to 6 inches in length, and +when dried consists of cylindrical sections about 1 inch in thickness, +the roots, of course, thinner. The bark is thin, yellowish brown, with +fine silky bast fibers, and the wood is tough and pale yellow, breaking +with a splintery fracture and showing numerous fine rays radiating from +a small central pith. Yellow jasmine has a bitter taste and a pronounced +heavy odor. + +[Illustration: FIG. 20.—Yellow jasmine (_Gelsemium sempervirens_).] + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root of yellow jasmine is usually +collected just after the plant has come into flower and is cut into +pieces from 1 to 6 inches long. It is often adulterated with portions of +the stems, but these can be distinguished by their thinness and dark +purplish color. The prices range from 3 to 5 cents a pound. + +Yellow jasmine, which is official in the United States Pharmacopœia, is +used for its powerful effect on the nervous system. + + + PINKROOT. + + _Spigelia marilandica_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Spigelia. + +_Other common names._—Carolina pinkroot, Carolina pink, Maryland pink, +Indian pink, starbloom, wormgrass, wormweed, American wormroot. + +_Habitat and range._—This pretty little plant is found in rich woods +from New Jersey to Florida, west to Texas and Wisconsin, but occurring +principally in the Southern States. It is fast disappearing, however, +from its native haunts. + +_Description of plant._—Pinkroot belongs to the same family as the +yellow jasmine, namely, the Logania family (Loganiaceæ), noted for its +poisonous species. It is a native perennial herb, with simple, erect +stem 6 inches to 1½ feet high, nearly smooth. The leaves are stemless, +generally ovate, pointed at the apex and rounded or narrowed at the +base; they are from 2 to 4 inches long, one-half to 2 inches wide, +smooth on the upper surface, and only slightly hairy on the veins on the +lower surface. The rather showy flowers are produced from May to July in +a terminal one-sided spike; they are from 1 to 2 inches in length, +somewhat tube shaped, narrowed below, slightly inflated toward the +center, and again narrowed or contracted toward the top, and terminating +in five lance-shaped lobes; the flowers are very showy, with their +brilliant coloring—bright scarlet on the outside, and the inside of the +tube and the lobes a bright yellow. The seed capsule is double, +consisting of two globular portions more or less united, and containing +numerous seeds. (Pl. VI, fig. 2.) + +_Description of rootstock._—The rootstock is rather small, from 1 to 2 +inches in length and about one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness. It is +somewhat crooked or bent, dark brown, with a roughened appearance of the +upper surface caused by cup-shaped scars, the remains of former annual +stems. The lower surface and the sides have numerous long, finely +branched, lighter colored roots, which are rather brittle. Pinkroot has +a pleasant, aromatic odor, and the taste is described as sweetish, +bitter, and pungent. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Pinkroot is collected after the +flowering period. It is said to be scarce, and was reported as becoming +scarce as long ago as 1830. The price paid to collectors ranges from 25 +to 40 cents a pound. + +The roots of other plants, notably those of the East Tennessee pinkroot +(_Ruellia ciliosa_ Pursh), are often found mixed with the true pinkroot, +and the _Ruellia ciliosa_ is even substituted for it. This adulteration +or substitution probably accounts for the inertness which has sometimes +been attributed to the true pinkroot and which has caused it to fall +into more or less disuse. It has long been known that the true pinkroot +was adulterated, but this adulteration was supposed to be caused by the +admixture of Carolina phlox (_Phlox carolina_ L., now known as _Phlox +ovata_ L.), but this is said now to be no part of the substitution.[4] + +The rootstock of _Ruellia ciliosa_ is larger and not as dark as that of +the Maryland pinkroot and has fewer and coarser roots, from which the +bark readily separates, leaving the whitish wood exposed. + +Pinkroot was long known by the Indians, and its properties were made +known to physicians by them. It is official in the United States +Pharmacopœia, and is used principally as an anthelmintic. + + + AMERICAN COLOMBO. + + _Frasera carolinensis_ Walt. + +_Synonym._—_Frasera walteri_ Michx. + +_Other common names._—Frasera, meadowpride, pyramid-flower, +pyramid-plant, Indian lettuce, yellow gentian, ground-centaury. + +_Habitat and range._—American colombo occurs in dry soil from the +western part of New York to Wisconsin, south to Georgia and Kentucky. + +_Description of plant._—During the first and second year of the growth +of this plant only the root leaves are produced. These are generally +somewhat rounded at the summit, narrowed toward the base, and larger +than the stem leaves, which develop in the third year. The leaves are +deep green and produced mostly in whorls of four, the stem leaves being +3 to 6 inches in length and oblong or lance shaped. In the third year +the stem is developed and the flowers are produced from June to August. +The stem is stout, erect, cylindrical, and 3 to 8 feet in height. The +flowers of American colombo are borne in large terminal, handsome +pyramidal clusters sometimes 2 feet in length, and are greenish yellow +or yellowish white, dotted with brown purple. They are slender stemmed, +about 1 inch across, with a wheelshaped, 4-parted corolla. The seeds are +contained in a much compressed capsule. (Fig. 21.) American colombo is +an indigenous perennial, and belongs to the gentian family +(Gentianaceæ). + +[Illustration: FIG 21.—American colombo (_Frasera carolinensis_), +leaves, flowers, and seed pods.] + +_Description of root._—The root is long, horizontal, spindle shaped, +yellow, and wrinkled. In the fresh state it is fleshy and quite heavy. +The American colombo root of commerce, formerly in transverse slices, +now generally occurs in lengthwise slices. The outside is yellowish or +pale orange and the inside spongy and pale yellow. The taste is bitter. +American colombo root resembles the official gentian root in taste and +odor, and the uses are also similar. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The proper time for collecting American +colombo root is in the autumn of the second year or in March or April of +the third year. It is generally cut into lengthwise slices before +drying. The price of American colombo root ranges from 3 to 5 cents a +pound. + +The dried root, which was official in the United States Pharmacopœia +from 1820 to 1880, is used as a simple tonic. In the fresh state the +root possesses emetic and cathartic properties. + + + BLACK INDIAN HEMP. + + _Apocynum cannabinum_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Apocynum. + +_Other common names._—Canadian hemp, American hemp, amy-root, +bowman’s-root, bitterroot, Indian-physic, rheumatism-weed, milkweed, +wild cotton, Choctaw-root. + +The name “Indian hemp” is often applied to this plant, but it should +never be used without the adjective “black.” “Indian hemp” is a name +that properly belongs to _Cannabis indica_, a true hemp plant, from +which the narcotic drug “hashish” is obtained. + +_Habitat and range._—Black Indian hemp is a native of this country, and +may be found in thickets and along the borders of old fields throughout +the United States. + +_Description of plant._—This is a common herbaceous perennial about 2 to +4 feet high, with erect or ascending branches, and, like most of the +plants belonging to the dogbane family (Apocynaceæ), contains a milky +juice. The short-stemmed opposite leaves are oblong, lance-shaped oblong +or ovate-oblong, about 2 to 6 inches long, usually sharp pointed, the +upper surface smooth and the lower sometimes hairy. The plant is in +flower from June to August and the small greenish white flowers are +borne in dense heads, followed later by the slender pods, which are +about 4 inches in length and pointed at the apex. (Fig. 22.) + +[Illustration: FIG. 22.—Black Indian hemp (_Apocynum cannabinum_), +flowering portion, pods, and rootstock. (After King’s American +Dispensatory.)] + +_Other species._—Considerable confusion seems to exist in regard to +which species yields the root which has proved of greatest value +medicinally. The Pharmacopœia directs that “the dried rhizome and roots +of _Apocynum cannabinum_ or of closely allied species of Apocynum” be +used. + +In the older botanical works and medical herbals only two species of +Apocynum were recognized, namely, _A. cannabinum_ L. and _A. +androsaemifolium_ L., although it was known that both of these were very +variable. In the newer botanical manuals both of these species still +hold good, but the different forms and variations are now recognized as +distinct species, those formerly referred to _cannabinum_ being +distinguished by the erect or nearly erect lobes of the corolla, and +those of the _androsaemifolium_ group being distinguished by the +spreading or recurved lobes of the corolla. + +Among the plants that were formerly collected as _Apocynum cannabinum_ +or varietal forms of it, and which are now considered as distinct +species, may be mentioned the following: + +Riverbank-dogbane (_A. album_ Greene), which frequents the banks of +rivers and similar moist locations from Maine to Wisconsin, Virginia, +and Missouri. This plant is perfectly smooth and has white flowers and +relatively smaller leaves than _A. cannabinum_. + +Velvet dogbane (_A. pubescens_ R. Br.), which is common from Virginia to +Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. The entire plant has a soft, hairy or +velvety appearance, which renders identification easy. According to the +latest edition of the National Standard Dispensatory it is not unlikely +that this is the plant that furnishes the drug that has been so +favorably reported upon. + +_Apocynum androsaemifolium_ is also gathered by drug collectors for +_Apocynum cannabinum_. Its root is likewise employed in medicine, but +its action is not the same as that of _cannabinum_, and it should +therefore not be substituted for it. It closely resembles _cannabinum_. + +_Description of rootstock._—The following description of the drug as +found in commerce is taken from the United States Pharmacopœia: “Of +varying length, 3 to 8 mm. thick, cylindrical or with a few angles +produced by drying, lightly wrinkled longitudinally, and usually more or +less fissured transversely; orange-brown, becoming gray-brown on +keeping; brittle; fracture sharply transverse, exhibiting a thin brown +layer of cork, the remainder of the bark nearly as thick as the radius +of the wood, white or sometimes pinkish, starchy, containing +laticiferous ducts; the wood yellowish, having several rings, finely +radiate and very coarsely porous; almost inodorous, the taste starchy, +afterwards becoming bitter and somewhat acrid.” + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root of black Indian hemp is +collected in autumn and brings from 8 to 10 cents a pound. + +It is official in the United States Pharmacopœia and has emetic, +cathartic, diaphoretic, expectorant, and diuretic properties, and on +account of the last-named action it is used in dropsical affections. + +The tough fibrous bark of the stalks of black Indian hemp was employed +by the Indians as a substitute for hemp in making twine, fishing nets, +etc. + + + PLEURISY-ROOT. + + _Asclepias tuberosa_ L. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Asclepias. + +_Other common names._—Butterfly-weed, Canada-root, Indian-posy, +orange-root, orange swallowwort, tuberroot, whiteroot, windroot, yellow +or orange milkweed. + +_Habitat and range._—Pleurisy-root flourishes in the open or in pine +woods, in dry sandy or gravelly soil, usually along the banks of +streams. Its range extends from Ontario and Maine to Minnesota, south to +Florida, Texas, and Arizona, but it is found in greatest abundance in +the South. + +_Description of plant._—This is a very showy and ornamental perennial +plant, indigenous to this country, and belonging to the milkweed family +(Asclepiadaceæ); it is erect and rather stiff in habit, but with +brilliant heads of bright orange-colored flowers that attract attention +from afar. + +The stems are rather stout, erect, hairy, about 1 to 2 feet in height, +sometimes branched near the top, and bearing a thick growth of leaves. +These are either stemless or borne on short stems, are somewhat rough to +the touch, 2 to 6 inches long, lance shaped or oblong, the apex either +sharp pointed or blunt, with a narrow, rounded, or heart-shaped base. +The flower heads, borne at the ends of the stem and branches, consist of +numerous, oddly shaped orange-colored flowers. The corolla is composed +of five segments, which are reflexed or turned back, and the crown has +five erect or spreading “hoods,” within each of which is a slender +incurved horn. The plant is in flower for some time, usually from June +to September, followed late in fall by pods, which are from 4 to 5 +inches long, green, tinged with red, finely hairy on the outside, and +containing the seeds with their long silky hairs. (Pl. VI, fig. 3.) +Unlike the other milkweeds, the pleurisy-root contains little or no +milky juice. + +_Description of root._—The root of this plant is large, white and +fleshy, spindle shaped, branching. (Pl. VI, fig. 3.) As found in +commerce it consists of lengthwise or crosswise pieces from 1 to 6 +inches in length and about three-fourths of an inch in thickness. It is +wrinkled lengthwise and also transversely and has a knotty head. The +thin bark is orange brown and the wood yellowish, with white rays. It +has no odor, and a somewhat bitter, acrid taste. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root, which is usually found rather +deep in the soil, is collected in autumn, cut into transverse or +lengthwise slices, and dried. The price ranges from 6 to 10 cents a +pound. + +Pleurisy-root was much esteemed by the Indians, has long been used in +domestic practice, and is official in the United States Pharmacopœia. It +is used in disordered digestion and in affections of the lungs, in the +last-named instance to promote expectoration, relieve pains in the +chest, and induce easier breathing. It is also useful in producing +perspiration. + +_Other species._—Besides the official pleurisy-root there are two other +species of Asclepias which are employed to some extent for the same +purposes, namely, the common milkweed and the swamp-milkweed. + +The common milkweed (_Asclepias syriaca_ L.) is a perennial, native in +fields and waste places from Canada to North Carolina and Kansas. It has +a stout, usually simple stem 3 to 5 feet in height and oblong or oval +leaves, smooth on the upper surface and densely hairy beneath. The +flowers, similar in form to those of _Asclepias tuberosa_, are pinkish +purple and appear from June to August, followed by erect pods 3 to 5 +inches long, wooly with matted hairs and covered with prickles and borne +on recurved stems. The plant contains an abundance of milky juice. + +The root of the common milkweed is from 1 to 6 feet long, cylindrical, +and finely wrinkled. The short branches and scars left by former stems +give the root a rough, knotty appearance. The bark is thick, grayish +brown, and the inside white, the root breaking with a short, splintery +fracture. Common milkweed root has a very bitter taste, but no odor. + +It is collected in autumn and cut into transverse slices before drying. +Common milkweed root ranges from 6 to 8 cents a pound. + +Swamp-milkweed (_Asclepias incarnata_ L.) is a native perennial herb +found in swamps from Canada to Tennessee and Kansas. The slender stem, +leafy to the top, is 1 to 2 feet in height, branched above, the leaves +lance shaped or oblong lance shaped. The flowers, also similar to those +of _tuberosa_, appear from July to September, and are flesh colored or +rose colored. The pods are 2 to 3½ inches long, erect, and very +sparingly hairy. + +The root of the swamp-milkweed, which is also collected in autumn, is +not quite an inch in length, hard and knotty, with several light-brown +rootlets. The tough white wood, which has a thick central pith, is +covered with a thin, yellowish brown bark. It is practically without +odor, and the taste, sweetish at first, finally becomes bitter. This +root brings about 3 cents a pound. + + + COMFREY. + + _Symphytum officinale_ L. + +_Other common names._—Symphytum, healing-herb, knitback, ass-ear, +backwort, blackwort, bruisewort, gum-plant, slippery-root. + +_Habitat and range._—Comfrey is naturalized from Europe, and occurs in +waste places from Newfoundland to Minnesota, south to Maryland. + +_Description of plant._—This coarse, rough, hairy perennial herb is from +2 to 3 feet high, erect and branched, with thick, rough leaves, the +lower ones ovate lance shaped, 3 to 10 inches long, pointed at the apex, +and narrowed at the base into margined stems. The uppermost leaves are +lance shaped, smaller, and stemless. Comfrey is in flower from June to +August, the purplish or dirty-white, tubular, bell-shaped flowers +numerous and borne in dense terminal clusters. (Pl. VI, fig. 4.) The +nutlets which follow are brown, shining, and somewhat wrinkled. Comfrey +belongs to the borage family (Boraginaceæ). + +_Description of root._—Comfrey has a large, deep, spindle-shaped root, +thick and fleshy at the top, white inside, and covered with a thin, +blackish brown bark. (Pl. VI, fig. 4.) The dried root is hard, black, +and very deeply and roughly wrinkled, breaking with a smooth, white, +waxy fracture. As it occurs in commerce it is in pieces ranging from +about an inch to several inches in length, only about one-fourth of an +inch in thickness, and usually considerably bent. It has a very +mucilaginous, somewhat sweetish and astringent taste, but no odor. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root is dug in autumn, or sometimes +in early spring. Comfrey root when first dug is very fleshy and juicy, +but about four-fifths of its weight is lost in drying. The price ranges +from 4 to 8 cents a pound. + +The mucilaginous character of comfrey root renders it useful in coughs +and diarrheal complaints. Its action is demulcent and slightly +astringent. + +The leaves are also used to some extent. + + + STONEROOT. + + _Collinsonia canadensis_ L. + +_Other common names._—Collinsonia, knobroot, knobgrass, knobweed, +knotroot, horse-balm, horseweed, richweed, richleaf, ox-balm, +citronella. + +_Habitat and range._—Stoneroot is found in moist, shady woods from Maine +to Wisconsin, south to Florida and Kansas. + +_Description of plant._—Like most of the other members of the mint +family (Menthaceæ), stoneroot is aromatic also, the fresh flowering +plant possessing a very pleasant, lemon-like odor. It is a tall, +perennial herb, growing as high as 5 feet. The stem is stout, erect, +branched, smooth, or the upper part hairy. + +The leaves are opposite, about 3 to 8 inches long, thin, ovate, pointed +at the apex, narrowed or sometimes heart shaped at the base, and +coarsely toothed; the lower leaves are largest and are borne on slender +stems, while the upper ones are smaller and almost stemless. Stoneroot +is in flower from July to October, producing large, loose, open terminal +panicles or heads of small, pale-yellow lemon-scented flowers. The +flowers have a funnel-shaped 2-lipped corolla, the lower lip larger, +pendent, and fringed, with two very much protruding stamens. (Pl. VII, +fig. 1.) + +_Description of root._—Even the fresh root of this plant is very hard. +It is horizontal, large, thick, and woody, and the upper side is rough +and knotty and branched irregularly. (Pl. VII, fig. 1.) The odor of the +root is rather disagreeable, and the taste pungent and spicy. In the +fresh state, as well as when dry, the root is extremely hard, whence the +common name “stoneroot.” The dried root is grayish brown externally, +irregularly knotty on the upper surface from the remains of branches and +the scars left by former stems, and the lower surface showing a few thin +roots. The inside of the root is hard and whitish. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Stoneroot, which is collected in autumn, +is employed for its tonic, astringent, diuretic, and diaphoretic +effects. The price of the root ranges from 2 to 3½ cents a pound. + +The leaves are used by country people as an application to bruises. + + + CULVER’S-ROOT. + + _Veronica virginica_ L.[5] + +_Synonym._—_Leptandra virginica_ (L.) Nutt.[5] + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Leptandra. + +_Other common names._—Culver’s-physic, blackroot, bowman’s-root, +Beaumont-root, Brinton-root, tall speedwell, tall veronica, physic-root, +whorlywort. + +_Habitat and range._—This common indigenous herb is found abundantly in +moist, rich woods, mountain valleys, meadows, and thickets from British +Columbia south to Alabama, Missouri, and Nebraska. + +[Illustration: FIG. 23.—Culver’s-root (_Veronica virginica_), flowering +top and rootstock.] + +_Description of plant._—Culver’s-root is a tall, slender-stemmed +perennial belonging to the figwort family (Scrophulariaceæ). It is from +3 to 7 feet in height, with the leaves arranged around the simple stems +in whorls of three to nine. The leaves are borne on very short stems, +are lance shaped, long pointed at the apex, narrowed at the base, and +sharply toothed, 3 to 6 inches in length, and 1 inch or less in width. +The white tube-shaped flowers, with two long protruding stamens, are +produced from June to September and are borne in several terminal, +densely crowded, slender, spikelike heads from 3 to 9 inches long. (Fig. +23.) The flowers, as stated, are usually white, though the color may +vary from a pink to bluish or purple, and on account of its graceful +spikes of pretty flowers it is often cultivated in gardens as an +ornamental plant. The fruits are small, oblong, compressed, many-seeded +capsules. + +_Description of rootstock._—After they are dried the rootstocks have a +grayish brown appearance on the outside, and the inside is hard and +yellowish, either with a hollow center or a brownish or purplish pith. +When broken the fracture is tough and woody. The rootstock measures from +4 to 6 inches in length, is rather thick and bent, with branches +resembling the main rootstock. The upper surface has a few stem scars, +and from the sides and underneath numerous coarse, brittle roots are +produced, which have the appearance of having been artificially inserted +into the rootstock. (Fig. 23.) Culver’s-root has a bitter and acrid +taste, but no odor. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The rootstock and roots should be +collected in the fall of the second year. When fresh these have a faint +odor, resembling somewhat that of almonds, which is lost in drying. The +bitter, acrid taste of Culver’s-root also becomes less the longer it is +kept, and it is said that it should be kept at least a year before being +used. The price paid to collectors ranges from 6 to 10 cents a pound. + +Culver’s-root, which is official in the United States Pharmacopœia, is +used as an alterative, cathartic, and in disorders of the liver. + + + DANDELION. + + _Taraxacum officinale_ Weber.[6] + +_Synonyms._—_Taraxacum taraxacum_ (L.) Karst.;[6] _Taraxacum +dens-leonis_ Desf. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Taraxacum. + +_Other common names._—Blow-ball, cankerwort, doon-head-clock, +fortune-teller, horse gowan, Irish daisy, yellow gowan, one-o’clock. +(Fig. 24.) + +_Habitat and range._—With the exception, possibly, of a few localities +in the South, the dandelion is at home almost everywhere in the United +States, being a familiar weed in meadows and waste places, and +especially in lawns. It has been naturalized in this country from Europe +and is distributed as a weed in all civilized parts of the world. + +_Description of plant._—It is hardly necessary to give a description of +the dandelion, as almost everyone is familiar with the coarsely toothed, +smooth, shining green leaves, the golden-yellow flowers which open in +the morning and only in fair weather, and the round, fluffy seed heads +of this only too plentiful weed of the lawns. In spring the young, +tender leaves are much sought after by the colored market women about +Washington, who collect them by the basketful and sell them for greens +or salad. + +Dandelion is a perennial belonging to the chicory family (Cichoriaceæ), +and is in flower practically throughout the year. The entire plant +contains a white milky juice. + +_Description of root._—The dandelion has a large, thick, and fleshy +taproot, sometimes measuring 20 inches in length. In commerce, dandelion +root is usually found in pieces 3 to 6 inches long, dark brown on the +outside and strongly wrinkled lengthwise. It breaks with a short +fracture and shows the thick whitish bark marked with circles of milk +ducts and a thin woody center, which is yellow and porous. It is +practically without odor and has a bitter taste. + +_Collection and uses._—Late in summer and in fall the milky juice +becomes thicker and the bitterness increases, and this is the time to +collect dandelion root. It should be carefully washed and thoroughly +dried. Dandelion roots lose considerably in drying, weighing less than +half as much as the fresh roots. The dried root should not be kept too +long, as drying diminishes its medicinal activity. It is official in the +United States Pharmacopœia. + +Dandelion is used as a tonic in diseases of the liver and in dyspepsia. + +[Illustration: FIG. 24.—Dandelion (_Taraxacum officinale_).] + +_Imports and prices._—Most of the dandelion root found on the market is +collected in central Europe. There has been an unusually large demand +for dandelion root during the season of 1907, and according to the +weekly records contained in the “Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter,” the +imports entered at the port of New York from January 1, 1907, to the end +of May amounted to about 47,000 pounds. The price ranges from 4 to 10 +cents a pound. + + + QUEEN-OF-THE-MEADOW. + + _Eupatorium purpureum_ L. + +_Other common names._—Gravelroot, Indian gravelroot, joe-pye-weed, +purple boneset, tall boneset, kidneyroot, king-of-the-meadow, +marsh-milkweed, motherwort, niggerweed, quillwort, slunkweed, +trumpetweed. + +_Habitat and range._—This common native perennial herb occurs in low +grounds and dry woods and meadows from Canada to Florida and Texas. + +_Description of plant._—The stout, erect, green or purple stem of this +plant grows from 3 to 10 feet in height, and is usually smooth, simple +or branched at the top. The thin, veiny leaves are 4 to 12 inches long, +1 to 3 inches wide, ovate or ovate lance shaped, sharp pointed, toothed, +and placed around the stem in whorls of three to six. While the upper +surface of the leaves is smooth, there is usually a slight hairiness +along the veins on the lower surface, otherwise smooth. Toward the +latter part of the summer and in early fall queen-of-the-meadow is in +flower, producing 5 to 15 flowered pink or purplish heads, all +aggregated in large compound clusters, which present a rather showy +appearance. (Pl. VII, fig. 2.) This plant belongs to the aster family +(Asteraceæ). + +Another species which is collected with this and for similar purposes, +and by some regarded as only a variety, is the spotted boneset or +spotted joe-pye-weed (_Eupatorium maculatum_ L.). This is very similar +to _E. purpureum_, but it does not grow so tall, is rough-hairy, and has +the stem spotted with purple. The thicker leaves are coarsely toothed +and in whorls of three to five, and the flower clusters are flattened at +the top rather than elongated as in _E. purpureum_. + +It is found in moist soil from New York to Kentucky, westward to Kansas, +New Mexico, Minnesota, and as far up as British Columbia. + +_Description of root._—Queen-of-the-meadow root, as it occurs in +commerce, is blackish and woody, furnished with numerous long dark-brown +fibers, which are furrowed or wrinkled lengthwise and whitish within. It +has a bitter, aromatic, and astringent taste. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root is collected in autumn and is +used for its astringent and diuretic properties. It was official in the +United States Pharmacopœia from 1820 to 1840. The price ranges from 2½ +to 4 cents a pound. + + + ELECAMPANE. + + _Inula helenium_ L. + +_Other common names._—Inula, inul, horseheal, elf-dock, elfwort, +horse-elder, scabwort, yellow starwort, velvet dock, wild sunflower. + +_Habitat and range._—This perennial herb has been naturalized from +Europe, and is found along roadsides and in fields and damp pastures +from Nova Scotia to North Carolina, westward to Missouri and Minnesota. +It is native also in Asia. + +_Description of plant._—When in flower elecampane resembles the +sunflower on a small scale. Like the sunflower, it is a member of the +aster family (Asteraceæ). It is a rough plant, growing from 3 to 6 feet +in height, but producing during the first year only root leaves, which +attain considerable size. In the following season the stout densely +hairy stem develops, attaining a height of from 3 to 6 feet. + +The leaves are broadly oblong in form, toothed, the upper surface rough +and the under side densely soft-hairy. The basal or root leaves are +borne on long stems, and are from 10 to 20 inches long and 4 to 8 inches +wide, while the upper leaves are smaller and stemless or clasping. + +About July to September the terminal flower heads are produced, either +singly or a few together. As already stated, these flower heads look +very much like small sunflowers, 2 to 4 inches broad, and consist of +long, narrow, yellow rays, 3 toothed at the apex, and the disk also is +yellow. (Pl. VII, fig. 3.) + +_Description of root._—Elecampane has a large, long, branching root, +pale yellow on the outside and whitish and fleshy within. (Pl. VII, fig. +3.) When dry the outside turns a grayish brown or dark brown, and is +generally finely wrinkled lengthwise. As found in commerce, elecampane +is usually in transverse or lengthwise slices, light yellow or grayish +and fleshy internally, dotted with numerous shining resin cells, and +with overlapping brown and wrinkled bark. These slices become flexible +in damp weather, and tough, but when they are dry they break with a +short fracture. The root has at first a strongly aromatic odor, which +has been described by some as resembling a violet odor, but this +diminishes in drying. The taste is aromatic, bitterish, and pungent. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The best time for collecting elecampane +is in the fall of the second year. If collected later than that the +roots are apt to be stringy and woody. Owing to the interlacing habit of +the rootlets, much dirt adheres to the root, but it should be well +cleaned, cut into transverse or lengthwise slices, and carefully dried +in the shade. Collectors receive from 3 to 5 cents a pound for this +root. + +Elecampane, which was official in the United States Pharmacopœia of +1890, is much used in affections of the respiratory organs, in digestive +and liver disorders, catarrhal discharges, and in skin diseases. + + + ECHINACEA. + + _Brauneria angustifolia_ (DC.) Heller. + +_Synonym._—_Echinacea angustifolia_ DC. + +_Other common names._—Pale-purple coneflower, Sampson-root, niggerhead +(in Kansas). + +_Habitat and range._—Echinacea is found in scattered patches in rich +prairie soil or sandy soil from Alabama to Texas and northwestward, +being most abundant in Kansas and Nebraska. Though not growing wild in +the Eastern States, it has succeeded well under cultivation in the +testing gardens of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C. + +_Description of plant._—This native herbaceous perennial, belonging to +the aster family (Asteraceæ), grows to a height of from 2 to 3 feet. It +sends up a rather stout bristly-hairy stem, bearing thick rough-hairy +leaves, which are broadly lance shaped or linear lance shaped, entire, 3 +to 8 inches long, narrowed at each end, and strongly three nerved. The +lower leaves have slender stems, but as they approach the top of the +plant the stems become shorter and some of the upper leaves are +stemless. + +The flower heads, appearing from July to October, are very pretty, and +the plant would do well as an ornamental in gardens. The flowers remain +on the plant for a long time, and the color varies from whitish rose to +pale purple. The heads consist of ray flowers and disk flowers, the +former constituting the “petals” surrounding the disk, and the disk +itself being composed of small, tubular, greenish yellow flowers. When +the flowers first appear the disk is flattened or really concave, but as +the flowering progresses it becomes conical in shape. The brown fruiting +heads are conical, chaffy, stiff, and wiry. (Pl. VII, fig. 4.) + +_Description of root._—Echinacea has a thick, blackish root (Pl. VII, +fig. 4), which in commerce occurs in cylindrical pieces of varying +length and thickness. The dried root is grayish brown on the outside, +the bark wrinkled lengthwise and sometimes spirally twisted. It breaks +with a short, weak fracture, showing yellow or greenish yellow wood +wedges, which give the impression that the wood is decayed. + +The odor is scarcely perceptible, and the taste is mildly aromatic, +afterwards becoming acrid and inducing a flow of saliva. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—The root of echinacea is collected in +autumn and brings from 20 to 30 cents a pound. It is said that echinacea +varies greatly in quality, due chiefly to the locality in which it +grows. According to J. U. Lloyd, the best quality comes from the prairie +lands of Nebraska, and that from marshy places is inferior. + +Echinacea is said to be an alterative, and to promote perspiration and +induce a flow of saliva. The Indians used the freshly scraped roots for +the cure of snake bites. + + + BURDOCK. + + _Arctium lappa_ L. + +_Synonym._—_Lappa major_ Gaertn. + +_Pharmacopœial name._—Lappa. + +_Other common names._—Cockle-button, cuckold-dock, beggar’s-buttons, +hurr-bur, stick-button, hardock, bardane. (Fig. 25.) + +_Habitat and range._—Burdock, one of our most common weeds, was +introduced from the Old World. It grows along roadsides, in fields, +pastures, and waste places, being very abundant in the Eastern and +Central States and in some scattered localities in the West. + +_Description of plant._—Farmers are only too well acquainted with this +coarse, unsightly weed. During the first year of its growth this plant, +which is a biennial belonging to the aster family (Asteraceæ), produces +only a rosette of large, thin leaves from a long tapering root. In the +second year a round, fleshy, and branched stem is produced, the plant +when full grown measuring from 3 to 7 feet in height. This stem is +branched, grooved, and hairy, bearing very large leaves, the lower ones +often measuring 18 inches in length. The leaves are placed alternately +on the stem, on long, solid, deeply furrowed leafstalks; they are thin +in texture, smooth on the upper surface, pale and woolly underneath; +usually heart shaped, but sometimes roundish or oval, with even, wavy, +or toothed margins. + +[Illustration: FIG. 25.—Burdock (_Arctium lappa_), flowering branch and +root.] + +The flowers are not produced until the second year, appearing from July +until frost. Burdock flowers are purple, in small, clustered heads armed +with hooked tips, and the spiny burs thus formed are a great pest, +attaching themselves to clothing and to the wool and hair of animals. +Burdock is a very prolific seed producer, one plant bearing as many as +400,000 seeds. + +_Description of root._—Burdock has a large, fleshy taproot (fig. 25), +which, when dry, becomes scaly and wrinkled lengthwise and has a +blackish brown or grayish brown color on the outside, hard, breaking +with a short, somewhat fleshy fracture, and showing the yellowish wood +with a whitish spongy center. Sometimes there is a small, white, silky +tuft at the top of the root, which is formed by the remains of the bases +of the leafstalks. The odor of the root is weak and unpleasant, the +taste mucilaginous, sweetish, and somewhat bitter. + +While the root is met with in commerce in its entire state, it is more +frequently in broken pieces or in lengthwise slices, the edges of which +are turned inward. The roots of other species of Arctium are also +employed. + +_Collection, prices, and uses._—Burdock root is official, and the United +States Pharmacopœia directs that it be collected from plants of the +first year’s growth, either of _Arctium lappa_ or of other species of +Arctium. As burdock has a rather large, fleshy root, it is difficult to +dry and is apt to become moldy, and for this reason it is better to +slice the root lengthwise, which will facilitate the drying process. The +price ranges from 5 to 10 cents a pound. The best root is said to come +from Belgium, where great care is exercised in its collection and +curing. + +Burdock root is used as an alterative in blood and skin diseases. The +seeds and fresh leaves are also used medicinally to a limited extent. + + + + + PLATES. + + + EXPLANATION OF PLATES. + + PLATE I. Fig. 1.—Marginal-fruited shield-fern (_Dryopteris + marginalis_), showing upper surface of leaf, the lower surface with + the “sori,” or “fruit dots,” arranged on the margins, and the erect, + chaffy rootstock. Fig. 2.—Skunk-cabbage (_Spathyema foetida_), showing + flowering plant with thick rootstock and whorl of crowded roots; + unfolded leaf and spathe laid open to show rounded spadix; also + seedling, and transverse section of rootstock. Fig. 3.—Sweet-flag + (_Acorus calamus_), showing swordlike leaves, flowering head produced + from the side of the stalk, and long, creeping rootstock. Fig. + 4.—Bethroot (_Trillium erectum_), showing leaves, various views of the + flower, and root. Arrangement of the different parts of the plant is + in threes. + + PLATE II. Fig. 1.—Chamaelirium (_Chamaelirium luteum_), showing the + male plant. Note the arrangement of the long-stemmed leaves along the + entire stem and the graceful spike of feathery flowers, as compared + with the grasslike basal leaves and the erect flowering spikes of + Aletris (fig. 2), with which it is often confused. The rootstock of + Chamaelirium, with the slightly curved upward end, is also shown. Fig. + 2.—Aletris (_Aletris farinosa_). Note the grasslike leaves at the base + of the stem and the erect spikes of urn-shaped flowers, as compared + with the arrangement of the leaves all along the stem and the drooping + plumelike spikes of Chamaelirium (fig. 1), with which Aletris is + frequently confused. The rootstock of Aletris, which is rough and + scaly and almost completely hidden by the fibrous roots, is, + unfortunately, not well shown in the illustration. Fig. 3.—Wild yam + (_Dioscorea villosa_), showing part of the vine, with its drooping + clusters of flowers and 3-winged seed capsules; also the long, + horizontal rootstock. Fig. 4.—Blue flag (_Iris versicolor_), showing + sword-shaped leaves, the flowers, and part of the rootstock. + + PLATE III. Fig. 1.—Large yellow lady’s-slipper (_Cypripedium + hirsutum_), showing plant with its broad, parallel-veined leaves, and + curious, baglike flower, and also rootstock with wavy roots. Fig. + 2.—Canada snakeroot (_Asarum canadense_), showing, to the right, the + flowering plant, and to the left the fruiting plant, together with the + creeping rootstocks. Fig. 3.—Virginia serpentaria (_Aristolochia + serpentaria_), plant showing seed capsules and rootstock. Fig. + 4.—Soapwort (_Saponaria officinalis_), showing the upper flowering + portion and seed pods; also the runners and roots. + + PLATE IV. Fig. 1.—Oregon grape (_Berberis aquifolium_), showing a + branch with the leathery, holly-like leaves, and clusters of berries. + Fig. 2.—Blue cohosh (_Caulophyllum thalictroides_), showing upper + portion of the plant, with flowering head. Fig. 3.—Canada moonseed + (_Menispermum canadense_), showing a portion of the vine in flower. + Fig. 4.—Hydrangea (_Hydrangea arborescens_), showing a flowering and + fruiting branch. + + PLATE V. Fig. 1.—Indian-physic (_Porteranthus trifoliatus_), showing + upper flowering portion, and base of stem with root. Fig. 2.—Wild + sarsaparilla (_Aralia nudicaulis_), showing flowering plant with + rootstock, and to the left a fruiting head. Fig. 3.—Ginseng (_Panax + quinquefolium_), showing the upper portion in flower, and the root. + Fig. 4.—Water-eryngo (_Eryngium yuccifolium_), showing the long, + grasslike leaves, stout-stemmed flowering heads, and rootstock. + + PLATE VI. Fig. 1.—American angelica (_Angelica atropurpurea_), showing + leaves, fruiting head, and to the right a portion of the stem with + broad, expanded leafstalk. Fig. 2.—Pinkroot (_Spigelia marilandica_), + showing flowering top and seed capsules. Fig. 3.—Pleurisy-root + (_Asclepias tuberosa_), showing flowering top, pods with escaping + hairy seeds, and root. Fig. 4.—Comfrey (_Symphytum officinale_), + showing the thick, rough leaves, the clusters of flowers, lower + portion of plant with root, and sections of root. + + PLATE VII. Fig. 1.—Stoneroot (_Collinsonia canadensis_), showing + flowering top and base of stem with root. Fig. 2.—Queen-of-the-meadow + (_Eupatorium purpureum_), showing leaves and flowers. Fig. + 3.—Elecampane (_Inula helenium_), showing leaves, flowers, and root. + Fig. 4.—Echinacea (_Brauneria angustifolia_), showing flowering plant. + + + PLATE I. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.—MARGINAL-FRUITED SHIELD-FERN (DRYOPTERIS +MARGINALIS).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.—SKUNK-CABBAGE (SPATHYEMA FOETIDA).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.—SWEET-FLAG (ACORUS CALAMUS).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.—BETHROOT (TRILLIUM ERECTUM).] + + + PLATE II. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.—CHAMAELIRIUM (CHAMAELIRIUM LUTEUM).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.—ALETRIS (ALETRIS FARINOSA).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.—WILD YAM (DIOSCOREA VILLOSA).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.—BLUE FLAG (IRIS VERSICOLOR).] + + + PLATE III. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.—LARGE YELLOW LADY’S-SLIPPER (CYPRIPEDIUM +HIRSUTUM).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.—CANADA SNAKEROOT (ASARUM CANADENSE).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.—VIRGINIA SERPENTARIA (ARISTOLOCHIA SERPENTARIA).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.—SOAPWORT (SAPONARIA OFFICINALIS).] + + + PLATE IV. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.—OREGON GRAPE (BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.—BLUE COHOSH (CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDES).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.—CANADA MOONSEED (MENISPERMUM CANADENSE).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.—HYDRANGEA (HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS).] + + + PLATE V. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.—INDIAN-PHYSIC (PORTERANTHUS TRIFOLIATUS).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.—WILD SARSAPARILLA (ARALIA NUDICAULIS).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.—GINSENG (PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.—WATER-ERYNGO (ERYNGIUM YUCCIFOLIUM).] + + + PLATE VI. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.—AMERICAN ANGELICA (ANGELICA ATROPURPUREA).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.—PINKROOT (SPIGELIA MARILANDICA).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.—PLEURISY-ROOT (ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.—COMFREY (SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE).] + + + PLATE VII. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.—STONEROOT (COLLINSONIA CANADENSIS).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.—QUEEN-OF-THE-MEADOW (EUPATORIUM PURPUREUM).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.—ELECAMPANE (INULA HELENIUM).] + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.—ECHINACEA (BRAUNERIA ANGUSTIFOLIA).] + + + + + INDEX. + + + Acorus calamus. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + + Actaea racemosa. _See_ Cohosh, black, 35–36 + + Agropyron repens. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Ague-grass. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + root. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + + Aletris, A. aurea, A. farinosa, A. lutea, and A. obovata. _See_ + Aletris, description, 19–20 + description, 19–20 + _See also under_ Chamaelirium. + + Aloe-root. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + + Alumbloom. _See_ Crane’s-bill, 44–45 + root. _See_ Crane’s-bill, 44–45 + + Amy-root. _See_ Indian hemp, black, 55–56 + + Angelica, American, description, 51 + atropurpurea and A. officinalis, European, garden, great, high, + purple, and purple-stemmed. _See_ Angelica, American, 51 + + Apocynum, A. album, A. androsaemifolium, A. cannabinum, and A. + pubescens. _See_ Indian hemp, black, 55–56 + + Apple, devil’s, hog, and Indian. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + May, description, 39–40 + + Aralia californica, A. nudicaulis, and A. racemosa. _See_ Sarsaparilla, + wild, 48–49 + + Archangelica atropurpurea. _See_ Angelica, American, 51 + + Arctium lappa. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + + Arisaema triphyllum. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Aristolochia reticulata and A. serpentaria. _See_ Serpentaria, 26–27 + + Arum, three-leaved, and A. triphyllum. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Asarabacca, broad-leaved. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, 25–26 + + Asarum and A. canadense. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, 25–26 + + Asclepias, A. incarnata, A. syriaca, and A. tuberosa. _See_ + Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + + Aspidium, A. filix-mas, and A. marginale. _See_ Male-fern, 11–12 + + Ass-ear. _See_ Comfrey, 57–58 + + + Backwort. _See_ Comfrey, 57–58 + + Balm, horse, and ox. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + Indian. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Baptisia, B. alba, and B. tinctoria. _See_ Indigo, wild, 43–44 + + Barberry, California, and holly-leaved. _See_ Oregon grape, 36–37 + + Bardane. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + + Basket-fern. _See_ Male-fern, 11–12 + + Bathflower. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + wort. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Bear-corn. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + + Bear’s-paw root. _See_ Male-fern, 11–12 + + Beaumont-root. _See_ Culver’s-root, 59–60 + + Beewort. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + + Beggar’s-buttons. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + + Berberis, B. aquifolium, B. nervosa, B. pinnata, and B. repens. _See_ + Oregon grape, 36–37 + + Bethroot, description, 20–21 + + Birthroot. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + wort. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Bitterroot. _See_ Indian hemp, black, 55–56 + + Blackroot. _See_ Culver’s-root, 59–60 + wort. _See_ Comfrey, 57–58 + + Blazingstar. _See_ Chamaelirium and Aletris, 17–18, 19–20 + + Bloodroot, description, 40–41 + + Blow-ball. _See_ Dandelion, 60–61 + + Blueberry-root. _See_ Cohosh, blue, 37–38 + + Bog-onion. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Boneset, purple, spotted, and tall. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + Bouncing-bet. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Bowman’s-root. _See_ Indian-physic; Indian hemp, black; and + Culver’s-root, 42–43, 55–56, 59–60 + + Brake, knotty, and sweet. _See_ Male-fern, 11–12 + + Brauneria augustifolia. _See_ Echinacea, 63 + + Brinton-root. _See_ Culver’s-root, 59–60 + + Broom, clover, indigo, and yellow. _See_ Indigo, wild, 43–44 + + Brown dragon. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Bruisewort. _See_ Soapwort and Comfrey, 31, 57–58 + + Bugbane. _See_ Hellebore, American, and Cohosh, black, 18–19, 35–36 + wort. _See_ Hellebore, American, and Cohosh, black, 18–19, 35–36 + + Bumblebee-root. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Burdock, description, 64–65 + + Butter-dock. _See_ Dock, yellow, 27–29 + + Butterfly-weed. _See_ Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + + Button-snakeroot. _See_ Water-eryngo, 50–51 + + + Cabbage, meadow, and swamp. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + skunk, description, 15 + + Calamus. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + _See also under_ Flag, blue. + + Calomel, vegetable. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + + Canada-root. _See_ Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + + Cancer-jalap. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Cane, sweet. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + + Cankerroot. _See_ Goldthread, 34 + wort. _See_ Dandelion, 60–61 + + Cat’s-foot. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, 25–26 + + Caulophyllum and C. thalictroides. _See_ Cohosh, blue, 37–38 + + Centaury, ground. _See_ Colombo, American, 53–54 + + Chamaelirium, description, 17–18 + luteum and C. obovale. _See_ Chamaelirium, description, 17–18 + _See also under_ Aletris. + + Chandler’s-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Chickentoe. _See_ Crawley-root, 24–25 + + Chimney-pink. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Chocolate-flower. _See_ Crane’s-bill, 44–45 + + Choctaw-root. _See_ Indian hemp, black, 55–56 + + Cimicifuga and C. racemosa. _See_ Cohosh, black, 35–36 + + Cinnamon-sedge. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + + Citronella. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + + Clover-broom. _See_ Indigo, wild, 43–44 + + Coakum. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Cockle-button. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + + Cohosh, black, description, 35–36 + blue, description, 37–38 + + Colicroot. _See_ Aletris; Yam, wild; and Snakeroot, Canada, 19–20, + 21–22, 25–26 + + Collard. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + + Collection of root drugs, 10–11 + + Collinsonia and C. canadensis. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + + Colombo, American, description, 53–54 + + Colt’s-foot, false, and colt’s-foot snakeroot. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, + 25–26 + + Comfrey, description, 57–58 + + Common names of plants, confusion, 10 + + Coneflower, pale-purple. _See_ Echinacea, 63 + + Coonroot. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + + Coptis and C. trifolia. _See_ Goldthread, 34 + + Corallorhiza and C. odontorhiza. _See_ Crawley-root, 24–25 + + Coralroot, late, small, and small-flowered. _See_ Crawley-root, 24–25 + + Corn, bear. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + crow. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + snakeroot. _See_ Water-eryngo, 50–51 + + Cotton, wild. _See_ Indian hemp, black, 55–56 + + Couch-grass, description, 12–13 + + Crane’s-bill, description, 44–45 + spotted, and wild. _See_ Crane’s-bill, description, 44–45 + + Crawley. _See_ Crawley-root, 24–25 + + Crawley-root, description, 24–25 + + Crow-corn. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + foot. _See_ Crane’s-bill, 44–45 + soap. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Cuckold-dock. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + + Culver’s-physic. _See_ Culver’s-root, 59–60 + root, description, 59–60 + + Curcuma, Ohio. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + + Cypripedium, C. hirsutum, C. parviflorum, and C. pubescens. _See_ + Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + + + Daffydown-dilly. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Daisy, Irish. _See_ Dandelion, 60–61 + + Dandelion, description, 60–61 + + Dealers in root drugs, communication necessary, 11 + samples to be sent, 11 + + Descriptions of plants furnishing root drugs, 11–65 + root drugs, 11–65 + scope of, 11 + + Devils-apple. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + bit. _See_ Chamaelirium and Aletris, 17–18, 19–20 + bite. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + bones. _See_ Yam, wild, 21–22 + ear. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Dioscorea, D. villosa, and D. villosa var. glabra. _See_ Yam, wild, + 21–22 + + Dishcloth. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Dock, bitter, blunt-leaved, broad-leaved, butter, common, curled, + narrow, and sour. _See_ Dock, yellow, 27–29 + cuckold. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + elf, and velvet. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + yellow, description, 27–29 + + Dogbane, riverbank, and velvet. _See_ Indian hemp, black, 55–56 + grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Doon-head-clock. _See_ Dandelion, 60–61 + + Dovefoot. _See_ Crane’s-bill, 44–45 + + Dracontium and D. foetidum. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + + Dragon, brown, and dragon-turnip. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Dragon’s-claw. _See_ Crawley-root, 24–25 + + Dropwort, western. _See_ Indian-physic, 42–43 + + Dryopteris filix-mas and D. marginalis. _See_ Male-fern, 11–12 + + Duckretter. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + + Duck’s-foot. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + + Durfa-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Durfee-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Dutch-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + + Earth-gall. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + + Echinacea angustifolia. _See_ Echinacea, description, 63 + description, 63 + + Elder, horse. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + + Elecampane, description, 62–63 + + Elf-dock. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + wort. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + + Eryngium, E. aquaticum, and E. yuccifolium. _See_ Water-eryngo, 50–51 + + Eryngo. _See_ Water-eryngo, 50–51 + + Eryngo, water, description, 50–51 + + Eupatorium maculatum and E. purpureum. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + Explanation of plates, 68 + term “root drugs”, 9 + + Eye-balm. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + root. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + + + Fern, basket, evergreen wood, male shield, and marginal-fruited shield. + _See_ Male-fern, 11–12 + male, description, 11–12 + + Feverroot. _See_ Crawley-root, 24–25 + + Fin’s-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Five-fingers. _See_ Ginseng, 49–50 + + Flag, blue, description, 22–23 + _See also under_ Sweet-flag. + lily, and water. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + myrtle. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + poison. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + _See also under_ Sweet-flag. + rattlesnake. _See_ Water-eryngo, 50–51 + sweet, description, 16 + _See also under_ Flag, blue. + + Flax, mountain. _See_ Snakeroot, Seneca, 45–47 + + Fleur-de-lis, American. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + + Flower-de-luce, American. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + + Fluctuation in prices of drugs, 11 + + Fortune-teller. _See_ Dandelion, 60–61 + + Frasera, F. carolinensis, and F. walteri. _See_ Colombo, American, + 53–54 + + Fuller’s-herb. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + + Garget. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Gelsemium and G. sempervirens. _See_ Jasmine, yellow, 51–52 + + Gentian, yellow. _See_ Colombo, American, 53–54 + + Geranium and G. maculatum, spotted, and wild. _See_ Crane’s-bill, 44–45 + + Gillenia, G. stipulacea, and G. trifoliata. _See_ Indian-physic, 42–43 + + Gilliflower, mock. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Ginger, Indian, and wild. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, 25–26 + + Ginseng, American. _See_ Ginseng, description, 49–50 + blue, and yellow. _See_ Cohosh, blue, 37–38 + description, 49–50 + + Goldenseal, description, 31–33 + + Goldthread, description, 34 + + Gowan, horse, and yellow. _See_ Dandelion, 60–61 + + Grape, Oregon, description, 36–37 + Rocky Mountain. _See_ Oregon grape, 36–37 + + Grass, Chandler’s, creeping wheat, devil’s, dog, durfa, Durfee, Dutch, + Fin’s, quack, quake, quick, quitch, scutch, twitch, wheat, and + witch. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + couch, description, 12–13 + myrtle, and sweet. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + + Gravelroot and Indian gravelroot. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + Ground-centaury. _See_ Colombo, American, 53–54 + lemon. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + raspberry. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + squirrel pea. _See_ Twinleaf, 38–39 + + Gum-plant. _See_ Comfrey, 57–58 + + + Hardock. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + + Healing-herb. _See_ Comfrey, 57–58 + + Heart-snakeroot. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, 25–26 + + Hedge-pink. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Hellebore, American, description, 18–19 + big, false, green, swamp, and white. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + fetid. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + + Helmetpod. _See_ Twinleaf, 38–39 + + Helonias, description, 17–18 + dioica. _See_ Chamaelirium or Helonias, description, 17–18 + + Hemp, American, and Canadian. _See_ Indian hemp, black, 55–56 + black Indian, description, 55–56 + + Hog-apple. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + + Holly, mountain. _See_ Oregon grape, 36–37 + + Horse-balm and horseweed. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + elder and horseheal. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + gowan. _See_ Dandelion, 60–61 + + Horsefly-weed. _See_ Indigo, wild, 43–44 + + Hurr-bur. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + + Huskwort. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + + Hydrangea arborescens and wild hydrangea. _See_ Hydrangea, description, + 41–42 + description, 41–42 + + Hydrastis and H. canadensis. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + + + Indian apple. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + balm and Indian shamrock. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + dye, Indian turmeric, and Indian-paint, yellow. _See_ Goldenseal, + 31–33 + ginger. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, 25–26 + gravelroot. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + hemp, black, description, 55–56 + hippo. _See_ Indian-physic, 42–43 + lettuce. _See_ Colombo, American, 53–54 + paint, red. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + physic, description, 42–43 + _See also_ Indian hemp, black. + pink. _See_ Pinkroot, 52–53 + poke. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + posy. _See_ Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + root. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, 48–49 + shoe, yellow. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + turnip. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Indigo, American, white wild, and yellow: indigo-broom and indigo-weed. + _See_ Indigo, wild, 43–44 + wild, description, 43–44 + + Inkberry and red inkberry. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Introduction to bulletin, 9–10 + + Inul. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + + Inula and I. helenium. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + + Ipecac, American, and false. _See_ Indian-physic, 42–43 + + Iris and I. versicolor. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + + Itchweed. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + + + Jack-in-the-pulpit. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Jalap, cancer. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Jasmine, Carolina. _See_ Jasmine, yellow, 51–52 + yellow, description, 51–52 + + Jaundice-root. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + + Jeffersonia and J. diphylla. _See_ Twinleaf, 38–39 + + Jessamine, Carolina. _See_ Jasmine, yellow, 51–52 + yellow, description, 51–52 + + Joe-pye-weed and spotted joe-pye-weed. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + + Kidneyroot. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + King-of-the-meadow. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + Knitback. _See_ Comfrey, 57–58 + + Knobgrass. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + root. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + weed. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + + Knotroot. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + + Lady-by-the-gate. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Lady’s-slipper, description, 23–24 + large yellow, small yellow, and yellow. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, + description, 23–24 + + Lappa and L. major. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + + Latherwort. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Lemon, ground, and wild. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + + Leptandra and L. virginica. _See_ Culver’s-root, 59–60 + + Lettuce, Indian. _See_ Colombo, American, 53–54 + + Licorice, wild. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, 48–49 + + Life-of-man. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, 48–49 + + Lily, flag, liver, and snake. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + wood. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Liver-lily. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + + London-pride. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Lords-and-ladies. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + + Mahonia, trailing. _See_ Oregon grape, 36–37 + + Male-fern, description, 11–12 + nervine. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + shield-fern. _See_ Male-fern, 11–12 + + Mandrake, American, and wild. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + + Maple, vine. _See_ Moonseed, Canada, 40 + + Marsh-milkweed. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + turnip. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Masterwort. _See_ Angelica, American, 51 + + May-apple, description, 39–40 + + Meadow-cabbage. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + pride. _See_ Colombo, American, 53–54 + turnip. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Medicinal uses of root drugs, 9 + + Menispermum and M. canadense. _See_ Moonseed, Canada, 40 + + Methods of cleaning and drying root drugs, 10 + + Milkweed, common, orange, swamp, and yellow. _See_ Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + marsh. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + _See also_ Indian hemp, black. + + Moccasin-flower, yellow. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + + Mock-gilliflower. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Monkey-flower. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + + Moonseed, Canada, description, 40 + + Motherwort. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + Mountain-flax. _See_ Snakeroot, Seneca, 45–47 + holly. _See_ Oregon grape, 36–37 + + Mouthroot. _See_ Goldthread, 34 + + Myrtle-flag, myrtle-grass, and myrtle-sedge. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + sweet. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + + + Names of plants, confusion, 10 + + Nerve-root. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + + Nervine, male. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + + Nettle-potato. _See_ Stillingia, 47–48 + + Niggerhead. _See_ Echinacea, 63 + weed. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + Nightshade, American. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Noah’s-ark, yellow. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + + Nosebleed. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + + Old-maid’s-nightcap. _See_ Crane’s-bill, 44–45 + pink. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + man’s-root. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, 48–49 + + One-o’clock. _See_ Dandelion, 60–61 + + Onion, bog. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Orange-blossom. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + root. _See_ Goldenseal and Pleurisy-root, 31, 56–57 + + Oregon grape, description, 36–37 + + Ox-balm. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + + + Panax quinquefolium. _See_ Ginseng, 49–50 + + Pappoose-root. _See_ Cohosh, blue, 37–38 + + Parilla, yellow. _See_ Moonseed, Canada, 40 + + Pauson. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + + Pea, ground-squirrel. _See_ Twinleaf, 38–39 + + Pelican-flower. _See_ Serpentaria, 26–27 + + Pepper-turnip and wild pepper. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Petty-morrel. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, 48–49 + + Phlox, Carolina, and P. ovata. _See under_ Pinkroot, 52–53 + woods. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Physic-root. _See_ Culver’s-root, 59–60 + + Phytolacca, P. americana, and P. decandra. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Pigeon-berry. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Pink, Boston, chimney, hedge, and old-maid’s. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + Carolina, Indian, and Maryland. _See_ Pinkroot, description, 52–53 + + Pinkroot, Carolina, and East Tennessee. _See_ Pinkroot, description, + 52–53 + description, 52–53 + + Plant names, confusion, 10 + + Plants furnishing root drugs, 11–65 + descriptions, 11–65 + + Plates, explanation, 68 + + Pleurisy-root, description, 56–57 + + Pocan. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Pockweed. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + + Podophyllum and P. peltatum. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + + Poison-flag. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + _See also under_ Sweet-flag. + + Poke and Virginian poke. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + Indian. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + stinking. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + + Pokeweed, description, 29–30 + + Polecat-weed. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + + Polygala senega and P. senega var. latifolia. _See_ Snakeroot, Seneca, + 45–47 + + Porteranthus stipulatus and P. trifoliatus. _See_ Indian-physic, 42–43 + + Potato, nettle. _See_ Stillingia, 47–48 + + Preparation of root drugs for market, 10–11 + + Prices, approximate range, 11 + conditions affecting, 11 + fluctuations, 11 + paid to collectors, 11 + + Priest’s-pintle. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Puccoon, red, white, and puccoon-root. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + yellow. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + + Pyramid-flower and pyramid-plant. _See_ Colombo, American, 53–54 + + + Quack-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Quake-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Queen-of-the-meadow, description, 61–62 + + Queen’s-delight and queen’s-root. _See_ Stillingia, 47–48 + + Quick-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Quillwort. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + Quitch-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + + Rabbit’s-root. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, 48–49 + + Raccoon-berry. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + + Raspberry, ground. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + + Rattlebush. _See_ Indigo, wild, 43–44 + + Rattleroot. _See_ Cohosh, black, 35–36 + + Rattle-snakeroot, rattletop, and rattleweed. _See_ Cohosh, black, 35–36 + + Rattlesnake-flag, rattlesnake-master, and rattlesnake-weed. _See_ + Water-eryngo, 50–51 + root. _See_ Snakeroot, Seneca, 45–47 + + Red-benjamin. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + berry. _See_ Ginseng, 49–50 + root. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + weed. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Rheumatism-root. _See_ Yam, wild, and Twinleaf, 21–22, 38–39 + weed. _See_ Indian hemp, black, 55–56 + + Richleaf. _See_ Stoneroot, 58–59 + + Richweed. _See_ Cohosh, black, and Stoneroot, 35–36, 58–59 + + Riverbank-dogbane. _See_ Indian hemp, black, 55–56 + + Rocky Mountain grape. _See_ Oregon grape, 36–37 + + Root drugs, cleaning, 10 + collection, 10–11 + dealers, communication necessary, 11 + samples to be sent, 10–11 + descriptions, 11–65 + drying, method, 10 + time required, 10 + explanation of term, 9 + medicinal uses, 9 + methods of cleaning and drying, 10 + number described, 9 + official and nonofficial, 9 + packing for shipment, 10 + plants furnishing, 11–65 + preparation for market, 10–11 + + Root drugs, samples for dealers, 10, 11 + time for collecting, 10 + required for drying, 10 + + Ruellia ciliosa. _See under_ Pinkroot, 52–53 + + Rumex, R. crispus, and R. obtusifolius. _See_ Dock, yellow, 27–29 + + Rush, sweet. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + + + Sampson-root. _See_ Echinacea, 63 + + Sang. _See_ Ginseng, 49–50 + + Sangree-root. _See_ Serpentaria, 26–27 + + Sangrel. _See_ Serpentaria, 26–27 + + Sanguinaria and S. canadensis. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + + Saponaria and S. officinalis. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Saponary. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Sarsaparilla, American, false, and Virginian. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, + 48–49 + Texas, and yellow. _See_ Moonseed, Canada, 40 + wild, description, 48–49 + + Scabwort. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + + Scoke. _See_ Pokeweed, 29–30 + + Scourwort. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Scutch-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Sedge, cinnamon, myrtle, and sweet. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + + Segg, sweet. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + + Seneca-root. _See_ Snakeroot, Seneca, 45–47 + + Senega. _See_ Snakeroot, Seneca, 45–47 + + Serpentaria, description, 26–27 + Texas and Virginia. _See_ Serpentaria, 26–27 + + Serpentary. _See_ Serpentaria, 26–27 + + Seven-barks. _See_ Hydrangea, 41–42 + + Shameface. _See_ Crane’s-bill, 44–45 + + Shamrock, Indian. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Sheepweed. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Shield-fern, male, and marginal-fruited. _See_ Male-fern, 11–12 + + Shoofly. _See_ Indigo, wild, 43–44 + + Shotbush. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, 48–49 + + Silverleaf. _See_ Stillingia, 47–48 + + Skunk-cabbage, description, 15 + weed. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + + Slippery-root. _See_ Comfrey, 57–58 + + Slunkweed. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + Snagrel. _See_ Serpentaria, 26–27 + + Snakebite. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + lily. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + root, black. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, and Cohosh, black, 25–26, 35–36 + button, and corn. _See_ Water-eryngo, 50–51 + Canada, description, 25–26 + colt’s-foot, heart, southern, and Vermont. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, + 25–26 + rattle. _See_ Cohosh, black, 35–36 + Red River, Texas, and Virginia. _See_ Serpentaria, 26–27 + Seneca, description, 45–47 + Senega. _See_ Snakeroot, Seneca, 45–47 + + Snakeweed. _See_ Serpentaria, 26–27 + weed, black. _See_ Snakeroot, Canada, 25–26 + + Soaproot. _See_ Soapwort, description, 31 + wort, common. _See_ Soapwort, description, 31 + description, 31 + + Spathyema foetida. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + + Speedwell, tall. _See_ Culver’s-root, 59–60 + + Spiceberry. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, 48–49 + + Spigelia and S. marilandica. _See_ Pinkroot, 52–53 + + Spignet. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, 48–49 + + Spikenard, American, California, and small. _See_ Sarsaparilla, wild, + 48–49 + + Squawflower. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + root. _See_ Bethroot; Cohosh, black; and Cohosh, blue 20–21, 35–36, + 37–38 + + Starbloom. _See_ Pinkroot, 52–53 + grass. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + wort. _See_ Chamaelirium and Aletris, 17–18, 19–20 + wort, drooping. _See_ Chamaelirium, 17–18 + mealy. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + yellow. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + + Starchwort. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Stick-button. _See_ Burdock, 64–65 + + Stillingia, description, 47–48 + sylvatica. _See_ Stillingia, description, 47–48 + + Stoneroot, description, 58–59 + + Stork’s-bill. _See_ Crane’s-bill, 44–45 + + Sunflower, wild. _See_ Elecampane, 62–63 + + Swallowwort, orange. _See_ Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + + Swamp-cabbage. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + hellebore. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + milkweed. _See_ Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + turnip. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + + Sweet-betty, and sweet-william, wild. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + cane, sweet grass, sweet myrtle, sweetroot, sweet rush, sweet sedge, + and sweet segg. _See_ Sweet-flag, 16 + flag, description, 16 + _See also under_ Flag, blue. + slumber. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + + Symphytum and S. officinale. _See_ Comfrey, 57–58 + + Symplocarpus foetidus. _See_ Skunk-cabbage, 15 + + + Taraxacum, T. dens-leonis, T. officinale, and T. taraxacum. _See_ + Dandelion, 60–61 + + Tetterwort. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + + Tickleweed. _See_ Hellebore, American, 18–19 + + Trillium and T. erectum, ill-scented, purple, and red. _See_ Bethroot, + 20–21 + + Triticum and T. repens. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + True-love. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Trumpet-flower, evening. _See_ Jasmine, yellow, 51–52 + weed. _See_ Queen-of-the-meadow, 61–62 + + Tuberroot. _See_ Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + + Turkey-claw. _See_ Crawley-root, 24–25 + + Turmeric. _See_ Bloodroot, 40–41 + + Turmeric, Indian, and turmeric-root. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + + Turnip, dragon, Indian, marsh, meadow, pepper, and swamp. _See_ Turnip, + wild, 13–14 + wild, description, 13–14 + + Twinleaf, description, 38–39 + + Twitch-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + + Umbil-root and yellow umbil. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + + Umbrella-plant. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + + Unicorn-plant. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + root. _See_ Chamaelirium and Aletris, 17–18, 19–20 + root, false. _See_ Chamaelirium, 17–18 + true. _See_ Aletris, 19–20 + + Unicorn’s-horn. _See_ Chamaelirium and Aletris, 17–18, 19–20 + + + Valerian, American. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + + Vegetable calomel. _See_ May-apple, 39–40 + + Venus’-cup and Venus’-shoe. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + + Veratrum, V. album, and V. viride, American, green, and true. _See_ + Hellebore, American, 18–19 + + Veronica, tall, and V. virginica. _See_ Culver’s-root, 59–60 + + Vine-maple. _See_ Moonseed, Canada, 40 + + + Wake-robin. _See_ Turnip, wild, 13–14 + robin, ill-scented, purple, and red. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Water-eryngo, description, 50–51 + flag. _See_ Flag, blue, 22–23 + + Wheat-grass and creeping wheat-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Whiteroot. _See_ Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + + Whorlywort. _See_ Culver’s-root, 59–60 + + Windroot. _See_ Pleurisy-root, 56–57 + + Witch-grass. _See_ Couch-grass, 12–13 + + Woodbine, Carolina wild. _See_ Jasmine, yellow, 51–52 + + Wood-fern, evergreen. _See_ Male-fern, 11–12 + lily. _See_ Bethroot, 20–21 + + Woods-phlox. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + World’s-wonder. _See_ Soapwort, 31 + + Wormgrass, wormweed, and American wormroot. _See_ Pinkroot, 52–53 + + + Yam, wild, description, 21–22 + + Yellow-eve. _See_ Goldenseal, 31–33 + root. _See_ Goldenseal, Goldthread, and Twinleaf, 31–33, 34, 38–39 + + Yellows. _See_ Lady’s-slipper, 23–24 + +----- + +Footnote 1: + + _Phytolacca americana_ L. by right of priority should be accepted, but + _P. decandra_ L. is used in conformity with the Pharmacopœia. + +Footnote 2: + + Bulletin 51, Part VI, Bureau of Plant Industry, “Goldenseal.” + +Footnote 3: + + King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. I, 1898, from Berberidaceæ, by C. + G. and J. U. Lloyd, 1878. + +Footnote 4: + + Bulletin 100, Part V, Bureau of Plant Industry, “The Drug Known as + Pinkroot.” + +Footnote 5: + + Some authors hold that this plant belongs to the genus Leptandra and + that its name should be _Leptandra virginica_ (L.) Nutt. The + Pharmacopœia is here followed. + +Footnote 6: + + Although the combination _Taraxacum taraxacum_ (L.) Karst. should be + accepted by right of priority, the usage of the Pharmacopœia is + followed. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + + TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES + + + ● Fixed typos; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. + ● Renumbered footnotes and moved them all to the end of the final + chapter. + ● Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. + ● Images without captions use the HTML alt text supplied by the + transcriber in place of a caption. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78958 *** |