american medicinal leaves and herbs 1911

8/8/2019 American Medicinal Leaves and Herbs 1911

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are green above and below, thick and leathery, oval or roundish,somet imes with . the t op pointed, blun t, or ha ving a short stiff point a nda rounded or heart-shaped base. The margins are unbroken and theupper sur face is sm ooth , while th e lower su rface is somewhat ha iry. Theleaves measure from 1 to 3 inches in length and are about half as wide,the hairy stalks supporting them ranging from one-fourth of an inch to2 inches in length. Early in the year, from about March to May, theflower clust ers a ppear . These ar e born e in th e axils of th e leaves an d atthe ends of the branches and consist of several waxy, pinkish-white,fragrant flowers with saucer-shaped, 5-lobed corolla, the throat of thecorolla tu be being very densely ha iry with in. (Fig. 10.) The seed capsu leis somewhat roundish, flattened, five celled, and contains numerousseeds. The gravel plant , belongs t o the h eat h fam ily (Er icaceae) an d is aperennial.

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves a r e collected a t flowerin g timeand are worth about 3 or 4 cents a pound. They have a bitter,astringent taste and are said to possess astringent and diureticproperties.

W I N T E R G R E E N .

Gaulth eria procum bens L.

Other common names .Gaultheria, spring wintergreen, creeping

wintergreen, aromatic wintergreen, spicy wintergreen, checkerberry,teaberry, partridge berry, grouseberry, spiceberry, chickenberry,deerberry, groundberry, hillberry, ivyberry, boxberry,redberrytea,Can adian tea , mount ain t ea, ivory plum, chink s, dru nk ar ds, red pollom,ra pper dan dies, wax cluster .

Habitat and range .This small native perennial frequents sandy soilsin cool damp woods, occurring especially under evergreen trees inCanada a nd the north eastern United States.

Description .Wintergreen is an aromatic, evergreen plant with anunderground or creeping stem producing erect branches not more than6 inches in height, the lower part of which is smooth and naked, whilenea r t he en ds a re bome th e crowded cluster s of evergr een leaves. Theseare alternate, shining dark green above, lighter colored underneath,spicy, th ick a nd leat her y, oval an d na rr owing towar d th e base, 1 to 1 1 / 2

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inches in length, and of varying width. From aboutJune to September thesolitary, somewhat urn-shapedand five-toothed white andwaxy flowers appear, borne onrecurved stems in the axils of the leaves. (Fig. 11.) These arefollowed by globular,somewhat flattened berries,which ripen in autumn andremain on the plant,sometimes until spring. Theyare bright red, five celled,mealy, and spicy. All parts of

th e plant , which belongs to th eheath family (Ericaceae), arearomatic.

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves of wintergreen, or gaultheria,were at one time official in theUnited States Pharmacopoeia,

but now only the oil of wintergreen, distilled from the leaves, is so

regarded. The leaves should be collected in autumn. Sometimes theentire plant is pulled up and, after drying, the leaves readily shake off.The pr ice paid t o collectors r anges from about 3 t o 4 cent s a poun d.

Wintergreen has stimulant, antiseptic, and diuretic properties. Its chief use, h owever, seems to be as a flavorin g agent .

BEARBERRY.

Arctostaph ylos u va-ursi (L.) Spren g.

Pharm acopoeial n am e .Uva u rsi.

Other common names.Red bearberry, bear's-grape, bear's bilberry,bear's whortleberry, foxberry, upland cranberry, mountain cranberry,crowberry, mealberry, rock-berry, mountain box, kinnikinnic, killikinic,



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universe vine, brawlins, burren myrtle, creashak, sagachomi, rapperdan dies (fru it).

Habitat and range . Bearberry is a native of this country, growing indry sandy or rocky soil from the Middle Atlantic States north toLabra dor a nd westwar d to Californ ia an d Alaska .

Description .The bearberryis a low, much-branchedshrub trailing over theground and having leathery,evergreen leaves. It is amember of the heath family(Ericaceae) and produces itspretty waxy flowers about

May.

The n um erous crowded leavesare thick and leathery,evergreen , about one-ha lf to 1inch in length, blunt andwidest at the top andna rr owing at th e base, with anet work of fine veins, sm ooth ,and with margins entire. The

flowers are few, borne inshort drooping clusters at theends of the branches, and areovoid or somewhat bellshaped in form, four or fivelobed, white with a pinkishtinge. They are followed bysmooth, red, globular fruits,with an insipid, rather drypu lp, cont ain ing five nu tlet s. (Fig. 12.)

Collection, prices, and uses .Bearberry or uva ursi leaves, official inthe United States Pharmacopoeia, are collected in autumn. Collectorsreceive from a bout 2 to 4 cent s a poun d for th em. Bear berr y leaves ha vea bitter, ast ringent t ast e and a faint odor. They act on th e kidneys an dbladder a nd h ave astr ingent a nd t onic properties.



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Another species .The leaves of manzanita ( Arctostaphylos glauca Lindl.), a shrub-like tree, 9 to 25 feet high, have properties similar touva u rs i and a re a lso used in m edicine for s imilar pur poses. They ar e of a leathery texture, pale green, ovate oblong in shape, with unbrokenmargins, and about 2 inches in length. Manzanita grows in California,in dry rocky distr icts on t he wester n slopes of th e Sierra s.

BUCK BEAN.

Menyan th es trifoliata L.

Other common names .Bog bean, bog myrtle, bog hop, bog nut, brook bean, bean trefoil, marsh trefoil, water trefoil, bitter trefoil, watersha mr ock, mar sh clover, moonflower, bitt erworm.

Habitat and range .The buck bean is a ma rsh herb occur ringin North America as far southas Pennsylvania, Minnesota,an d Californ ia. It is also nat ivein Eu rope.

Description .This perennialherb arises from a long, black,

creeping, scaly rootstock, theleaves being produced from theend of the same on erectsheathing stems measuringabout 2 to 10 inches in height.The leaves consist of threeoblong-oval or broadly ovalleaflets 1 1 / 2 to 3 inches long,somewhat fleshy and smooth,blunt at the top, with margins

entire and narrowed towardthe base; the upper surface ispale green and the lowersurface somewhat glossy, withthe thick midrib light in color.The flower cluster is produced



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from Ma y to J uly on a long, th ick, na ked st alk ar ising from th e r ootst ock It bears from 10 to 20 flowers, each with a funnel-shaped tubeter mina ting in five segmen ts which a re pinkish pu rple or whit ish on t heoutside and whitish and thickly bearded with white hairs within. (Fig.13.) The capsules which follow are ovate, blunt at the top, smooth andlight brown, and contain numerous smooth and shining seeds. Buck bean is a perennial belonging to the buck-bean family(Menyanthaceae).

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves are generally collected inspr ing. They lose more th an th ree-four th s of th eir weight in drying. Theprice paid per poun d is a bout 6 to 8 cent s.

Buck-bean leaves ha ve a very bitt er t as te, but no odor. Lar ge doses ar esaid to ha ve cat ha rt ic an d sometimes emet ic action, but th e principal use

of buck-bean leaves is as a bitter tonic. They have been employed indyspepsia, fevers, rheumatic and skin affections, and also as a remedyagainst worm s.

The rootstock is also sometimes employed medicinally and wasrecognized in t he U nited Sta tes P ha rm acopoeia from 1830 to 1840.

SKULLCAP.

S cu tellaria lateriflora L.

Pharm acopoeial n am e .Scutellaria.

Other common names .American skullcap, blue skullcap, mad-dogskullcap, side-flowering skullcap, madweed, hoodwort, blue pimpernel,hooded willow-her b.

Habitat and range .This species is n at ive in dam p places along ba nk sof streams from Canada southward to Florida, New Mexico, andWashington.

Description .The lip-sha ped flowers a nd squa rish stem s of th e sku llcapindicate that it is a member of the mint family (Menthaceae). It is aperennial of slender, erect habit, its square, leafy, branching stemra nging from 8 inches to 2 feet in h eight , smooth , or somet imes ha iry atthe top. The leaves are placed opposite to each other on the stem on



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slender stalks and are about 1to 3 inches in length and aboutone-third as wide, thin intexture, oblong or lanceshaped, with margins coarselytoothed. They graduallybecome sm aller t owar d th e top,and sometimes those at thevery top have the marginsunbroken. The flowers areborne in narrow, spikelike, one-sided clusters, generally in theaxils of the leaves, butfrequently also at the top, andare interspersed with leafy

bra cts. They appear from aboutJuly to September and areblue, shading off to whitish.The tubular, 2-lipped flowersare about a quarter of an inchin length, and the calyx, orouter green covering of theflower, is also two lipped, theupper lip shaped like a helmetand closing in fru it. (F ig. 14.)

Collection , prices, an d uses .The dr ied plan t is a t p resen t official in th eUnited States Pharmacopoeia. The entire plant is collected when inflower a nd should be car efully dried in th e sh ade. The pr ice r an ges fromabout 3 to 4 cent s a pound .

Very frequently collectors will gather some other species in place of theofficial plant, most of those thus wrongly finding their way into themarket being generally of stouter growth, with broader leaves andmu ch lar ger flowers.

This plant was once considered valuable for the prevention of hydrophobia, whence the names "mad-dog skullcap " and "madweed,"but it is now known t o be useless for t ha t pu rpose. It is used pr incipallyas a tonic and to a limited extent for allaying nervous irritation of various kinds.



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H O R E H O U N D .

Marrubium vulgare L,

Pharm acopoial nam e .Marrubium.

Other com m on n am es .Hounds bene, ma rvel, ma rr ube.

Habitat and range .Horehound grows in dry sandy or stony soil inwaste places, along roadsides and near dwellings, in fields, andpastures. It is found from Maine to South Carolina, Texas, andwestward to California and Oregon. It is very abundant in pastures in

Oregon an d Ca liforn ia, an d especiallyin southern California, where it is avery t rouble-some weed, covering vast

ar eas and in such dense masses as tocrowd out all other vegetation. It hasbeen na tu ra lized from Eu rope.

Description .The entire plant ist hickly covered with ha irs, which giveit a whitish, woolly appea ra nce. It is abushy, branching herb, having apleasan t a roma tic odor, an d is about 1to 3 feet high, with many woolly

stems rounded below and four angledabove, with opposite, oval orroundish, wrinkled, strongly veined,an d very hoar y leaves. The leaves ar eabout 1 to 2 inches in length, placedopposite each other on the stem, ovalor nearly round, somewhat blunt atthe apex, and narrowed or somewhatheart shaped at th e base, the ma rginsround toothed; the upper surface is

wrinkled and somewhat hairy, whilethe lower surface is very hoary andprominently veined. The lip-shapedflowers, which appear from June to

September, show that it is a member of the mint family (Menthaceae).These are borne in dense woolly clusters in the axils of the leaves and



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are whitish, two lipped, the upper lip two lobed, the lower three lobed.The hooked calyx teeth of the mature flower heads cling to the wool of sheep, result ing in th e scat ter ing of th e seeds. (Fig. 15.)

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves and tops a re t he par ts u sed inmedicine an d ar e official in t he Un ited Sta tes P ha rm acopoeia. These ar egathered just before the plant is in flower, the coarse stalks beingrejected. They should be carefully dried in the shade. The odor ispleasan t, ra th er a romatic, but diminishes in drying. The t ast e is bitt erand persistent. Horehound at present brings about 1 / 2 to 2 cents apound.

It is well known as a domesticremedy for colds and is alsoused in dyspepsia and forexpelling worms .

CATNIP.

Nepeta cataria L.

Other commonnames .Cataria, catmint,catwort, catrup, field mint.Ha bita t a nd r an ge.Catn ip, acommon weed naturalizedfrom Europe, occurs in ratherdry soil in waste places andcultivated land from Canadato Minnesota and south toVirginia an d Ark an sas.

Description .The fine whiteha irs on t he stem s of th is plan tgive it a somewhat whitish

appearance. Catnip reachesabout 2 to 3 feet in height,with erect, square, andbranched stems. It is aperennial belonging to themint fam ily (Menth aceae).



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The opposite leaves ar e hea rt sha ped or oblong, with a pointed a pex, th eupper surface green, the lower grayish green with fine white hairs, thema rgins finely scalloped and 1 t o 2 1 / 2 inches in length .

About June to September the many-flowered, rather thick spikes areproduced at the ends of the stem and branches. The whitish flowers,dott ed with pu rple, ar e two lipped, th e upper lip notched or t wo cleft, th elower one with th ree lobea, th e middle lobe broadest an d sometimes t wocleft . (Fig. 16).

Collection , prices, an d u ses .The leaves an d flowerin g tops, which ha vea st rong odor a nd a bitter ta ste, ar e collected when th e plant is in flowerand are carefully dried. The coarser stems and branches should berejected. Catnip was official in the United States Pharmacopoeia from1840 to 1880. The pr ice ra nges from 3 to 5 cent s a poun d.

Catn ip is used as a m ild stimulan t a nd t onic an d as a n emm enagogue. Italso has a quieting effect on t he n ervous system.

MOTHERWORT.

Leonu rus card iaca L.

Synonym .Cardiaca vu lgaris Moench.

Other com m on n am es .Thr owwor t, cowth wor t, lion's-ta il, lion 's-ear .

Habitat and range .Motherwort, naturalized from Europe and anative also of Asia, is found about dwellings and in waste places, itsrange in this country extending from Nova Scotia to North Carolina,Minnesota , and Nebraska.

Description . The rather stout, erect, 4-angled stem of this perennialherb attains a height of from 2 to 5 feet, is sparingly hairy, and has

upright branches. The rough, dark-green leaves are borne on longstems, the lower ones rounded, about 2 to 4 inches wide and three tofive lobed, the lobes pointed, toothed, or variously cut, the uppernarrower ones three cleft with lance-shaped lobes. Motherwort flowersin su mm er, t he pa le-pur ple or pinkish lip-sha ped blossoms produced inthe axils of the leaves being arranged in dense circles around the stem;



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the upper lip is denselycovered with white, woollyhairs on the outside and thelower lip is three lobed andmottled. (Fig. 17.) Motherwortbelongs to the mint family(Menthaceae).

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves and flowering topsare collected during theflowering season. They havean aromatic odor and a verybitter taste. At present theybring about 3 to 5 cents a

pound.

Motherwort has stimulant,slightly tonic properties a nd isused also to promoteperspiration.

PENNYROYAL . H ed eom a. pu legioid es (L.)Pers.

Pharm acopoeial n am e .Hedeoma.

Other com m on n am es .American pennyroyal, mock pennyroyal, squawmint , tick-weed, stinking balm, mosquito plant .

Habitat and range .Pennyroyal is found in dry soil from Nova Scotiaan d Quebec to Dakota a nd southwar d.

Description .This very strongly aromatic annual of the mint family

(Ment ha ceae) is of rat her insignifican t app ear an ce, being a low-growingplant, 'about 6 inches to a foot or so in height, with a slender, erect,mu ch-bra nched and somewhat ha iry stem.

The opposite leaves are small, scarcely exceeding three-fourths of aninch in length and becoming smaller toward the top of the plant. They



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are borne on short stems andare oblong ovate in shape,thin, blunt at the apex,na rr owed at th e base, and withma rgins spa ringly tooth ed. Thebran chlets ar e four an gled andsomewhat hairy, and the looseflower clusters, appearing fromJuly to September in the axilsof the leaves, consist of a fewpale-bluish flowers with 2-lipped corolla, the erect upperone entire or slightly notchedor two lobed, while the lowerspr ead ing lip is t hr ee cleft. (Fig.

18.)

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves andflowering tops are official inthe United States Pharmaco-poeia, as is also the oil of penn yroyal distilled from t hem .They should be collected whilein flower. The price paid to

collectors ranges from about11 / 4 to 2 1 / 2 cent s a poun d.

Penn yroyal has a st rong mintlike odor a nd pun gent ta ste an d is used asan aromatic stimulant, carminative, and emmenagogue. The odor isvery repulsive to insects, and pennyroyal is therefore much used forkeeping away mosquitoes and other troublesome insects.

B U G L E W E E D .

Lycopu s virginicus L.

Other common names .Buglewort, sweet bugleweed, American waterhorohound, carpenter's herb, green archangel, gypsyweed, Paul'sbetony, wood betony, wolf foot, purple archangel, water bugle,gypsywort , gypsy h erb, Virginia horeh oun d.



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Habitat and range.Bugleweed is a native herbfrequenting wet, shady placesfrom Canada to Florida,Missour i, an d Nebrask a.

Description .This perennialherb of the mint family(Menthacese) has long,threadlike runners and abluntly 4-angled, smooth,slender, erect or ascendingstem from 6 inches to 2 feet inheight. The leaves are dark

green or of a purplish tinge,about 2 inches in length, longpointed at the apex andna rr owed toward t he base, th eupper portion of the marginbeing toothed. The small,tubular, bell-shaped, 4-lobedflowers are purplish and areproduced from about. July toSeptember They are borne in

dense clusters in the axils of th e leaves a nd ar e followed by 3-sided n ut lets. (Fig. 19.)

Collection, prices, and uses .The entire herb, which was official from1830 to 1880, should be gat her ed du ring t he flowering period. It bringsabout 3 to 4 cents a pound. The plant has a rather pleasant, mintlikeodor, but the taste is bitter and disagreeable. It has sedative, tonic, andast ringent pr operties.

P E P P E R M I N T.

Menth a piperita L.

Pharm acopoeial n am e .Mentha piperita.

Other common names .American mint, brandy mint, lamb mint,



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lammint , Stat e mint (in New York).

Habitat and range .Peppermint is naturalized from Europe and isfound in damp places from Nova Scotia to Minnesota and south toFlorida and Tennessee. It islargely cultivated, principallyin Michigan and New York,where the distillation of theplants for the oil is carried oncommercially on a veryextensive scale, and also inparts of Indiana, Iowa, andWisconsin.

Descr ip t ion .Peppe r-min t

propagates by means of itslong, running roots, fromwhich are produced smooth,squa re stem s, from 1 t o 3 feetin height, erect andbranching. The dark-greenleaves arc borne on stalksand are lance shaped, 1 to 2inches in length and abouthalf as wide, pointed at the

apex and rounded ornarrowed at the base, withmargins sharply toothed;they are smooth on bothsides, or sometimes the veinson the lower surface arehairy.

This aromatic perennial of the mint family (Menthaceae) is in flowerfrom July to September, the small purplish blossoms havinga tubular,

5-toothed calyx and a 4-lobed corolla. They are placed in circles aroundth e stem , form ing th ick, blun t, ter mina l spikes. (Fig. 20.)

Collection, prices, and uses .The dried leaves and flowering tops areth e par ts directed t o be used by the Un ited Stat es Ph ar ma copoeia. Thesemust be collected as soon as the flowers begin to open and should be



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carefully dried in the shade. Dried peppermint leaves and tops bringabout 3 1 / 2 t o 4 1 / 2 cent s a poun d.

The pu ngent odor of pepperm int is fam iliar , as is likewise the a greeable

ta st e, bu rn ing at fir st a nd followed by a feeling of coolness in t he m out h.It is a well-known r emedy for stomach a nd intestina l tr oubles.

The oil, which is obtained by distillation with water from the fresh orpartially dried leaves and flowering tops, is also official in the UnitedStates Pharmacopoeia. While a less acreage was devoted to peppermintduring 1910, conditions were favorable to its growth, and the crop isestimated to have amounted to about 200,000 pounds. The wholesalequotat ions for pepperm int oil in th e spr ing of 1911 ra nged from $2.85 to$2.95 a poun d.

S P E A R M I N T.

Menth a spicata L.

Pharmdcopoeial name .Menthas viridis.

Synonym . Mentha viridis L.

Other common names .Mint, brown mint, gardenmint, lamb mint, mackerelmint, Our Lady's mint, sageof Bethlehem.

Habitat and range.Likepeppermint, the spearminthas also been naturalizedfrom Europe and may befound in moist fields and

waste places from NovaScotia to Utah and south toFlorida . It is a lso cultivat ed tosome extent for thedistillation of the oil and is afamiliar plant in gardens for



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domest ic use.

Description .Spearmint very much resembles peppermint. It does notgrow perhaps quite so tall, the lance-shaped leaves are generallystemless or at least with very short stems, and the flowering spikes arena rr ow a nd pointed instea d of th ick a nd blunt . (Fig. 21.) The floweringperiod is th e sam e as for peppermint from J uly to September.

Collection, prices, and uses .The dried leaves and flowering tops areofficial in the United States Pharmacopoeia and should be collectedbefore the flowers are fully developed. The price at present is about 3 1 / 2 cent s a poun d.

Spearmint is used for similar purposes as peppermint, although itsaction is milder. The odor and taste closely resemble those of peppermint, but a difference may be detected, the flavor of spearmintbeing by some regarded as more agreeable. Oil of spearmint is alsoofficial in t he U nited St at es Ph ar ma copoeia. It is obta ined from t he freshor par tia lly dried leaves an d flowering tops.

J I M SO N WE E D .

Datura stram oniu m L.

Pharm acopceial n am e ,Stramonium.

Other com m on n am es .J am estown weed (from wh ich th e n am e "jimsonweed " is derived), J am estown lily, thorn apple, devil's apple, ma d-apple,apple of Per u, st inkweed, stink wor t, devil's-tru m-pet, fireweed, dewtr y.

Habitat and range .This is a very common weed in fields and wasteplaces a lmost everywhere in th e United Sta tes except in t he North an dWest. It is widely scat ter ed in near ly all war m coun tr ies.

Description .J imson weed is an ill-scent ed, poisonous a nn ua l belonging

to th e n ight sha de family (Solana ceae). Its stout, yellowish-green stem sare about 2 to 5 feet high, much forked, and leat'y with large, thin,wavy-toothed leaves. The leaves are from 3 to 8 inches long, thin,smooth , pointed at th e top an d usu ally na rr owed at t he base, somewhatlobed or irregularly toothed and waved, veiny, the upper surface dark green, while the lower surface is a lighter green. The flowers are large



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(about 3 inches in length),white, funnel shaped,rather showy, and with apronounced odor. Jimsonweed is in flower fromabout May to September,and the seed pods whichfollow are dry, oval, pricklycapsules, about as large asa horse-chestnut, whichupon ripening burst openinto four valves containingnumerous black, wrinkled,kidney-shaped seeds, whichare poisonous . (F ig. 22.)

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves of the

jimson weed, yielding, whenassayed by the UnitedStates Pharmacopoeiaprocess, not less than 0.35per cent of its alka loids, areofficial under the name"Stramonium." They are

collected at the time jimsonweed is in flower, th e ent ire plan t being cut or pulled up a nd t he leavesstripped and carefully dried in the shade. They have an unpleasant,narcotic odor and a bitter, nauseous taste. Drying diminishes thedisagreeable odor. The collector may receive from 2 to 5 cents a poundfor t he leaves.

The leaves, which are poisonous, cause dilation of the pupil of the eyean d a lso ha ve nar cotic, ant ispasm odic, anodyne, an d diur etic properties.In a sth ma th ey are frequent ly employed in t he form of cigar ett es, which

ar e smoked, or t he fumes ar e inh aled.The seeds a r e also used in m edicine.



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BALMONY.

Ch elon e glabra L.

Other common names .Turtlehead, turtle bloom, fishmouth, codhead,salt-rh eum weed, sna ke-hea d, bitt er h erb, shell flower.

Habitat and range.Thisnative perennial grows inswamps and along streamsfrom Newfoundland toManitoba and south to Floridaand Kansas.

Description .Balmony is a

slender, erect herb, with a 4-angled stem 1 to 3 feet inheight, occasionally branched.The short-stemmed leaves,which a r e from 3 t o 6 inches inlength, are narrowly lanceshaped to broadly lanceshaped, the lower onessometimes broadly oval,narrowing toward the base

and with margins furnishedwith sharp, close-lying teeth.In late summer or early fallthe showy clusters of whitishor pinkish flowers areproduced. Each flower is aboutan inch in length, with a

tubular, inflated corolla, with the mouth slightly open and resemblingthe head of a turtle or snake; its broad arched upper lip is keeled in thecenter and notched at the apex, while the lower lip is three lobed, the

smallest lobe in the center, and the throat bearded with woolly hairs.(Fig. 23.) The seed capsule is oval, about half an inch in length, andcont ains n um erous sma ll seeds.

Collection, prices, and uses .The herb (especially the leaves), whichbrings from 3 to 4 cents a pound, should be collected during the



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flower ing per iod.

Balmony has a very bitter ta ste, but no odor, an d is used a s a tonic, forits cath ar tic propert ies, an d for expelling worm s.

C O M MO N S P E E D W E L L .

Veron ica officin alis L.

Other common names .Paul's betony, ground-hele, fluellin, uplandspeedwell.

Habitat and range .This little herb frequents dry fields and woodsfrom Nova Scotia to Michigan and south to North Carolina andTenn essee. It also occur s in Eu rope and Asia.

Description .The commonspeedwell creeps over theground by means of ratherwoody stems rooting at the

joints and sends up branchesfrom 3 to 10 inches in height.It is ha iry all over. The leavesare opposite to each other onthe stem, on short stalks,

grayish green and soft hairy,oblong or oval in shape, andabout one-half to an inch inlength; they are blunt at theapex, with margins sawtoothed and narrowing intoth e stalks. From a bout May toJuly the elongated, narrow,spikelike flower clusters areproduced from the leaf axils,

crowded with small, pale-blueflowers. (Fig-24.) The capsu leis obovate, triangular, andcompressed, and containsnumerous flat seeds. Thespeedwell is a perennial



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belonging t o the figwor t family (Scroph ula ria ceae).

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves and flowering tops, whichbring about 3 to 5 cents a pound, should be collected about May orJune. When fresh they have a faint, agreeable odor, which is lackingwhen dry. The taste is bitter and aromatic and somewhat astringent.Speedwell ha s been u sed for ast hm at ic tr oubles an d coughs an d also forits a ltera tive, tonic, and diu ret ic propert ies.

FOXGLOVE.

Digitalis purpurea L.

Pharm acopoeial n am e .Digitalis.

Other common names .Purplefoxglove, thimbles, fairy cap,fairy thimbles, fairy fingers,fairy bells, dog's-finger, fingerflower, lady's-glove, lady's-finger, lady's-thimble,popdock, flap dock, flop dock,lion's-mouth, rabbit's-flower,cottagers, throatwort, Scotchmercury.

Habitat and range .Originally introducedinto this country from Europeas an ornamental gardenplant, foxglove may now befound wild in a few loca lities inparts of Oregon, Washington,and West Virginia, havingescaped from cultivation and

assumed the character of aweed. It occurs along roadsand fence rows, in smallcleared places, and on theborders of timber land.



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Description .Foxglove, a biennia l or perenn ial belonging t o th e figwor tfamily (Scrophulariaceae), during the first year of its growth producesonly a dense rosette of leaves, but in the second season the downy andleafy flowering st alk, r eaching a height of 3 to 4 feet, appea rs . The basa lleaves ar e rat her la rge, with long sta lks, while th e upper ones gra dua llybecome sma ller a nd a re born e on sh ort er leafsta lks. The ovate or ovalleaves, 4 to 12 inches long a nd about ha lf as wide, th e upper sur face of which is dull green and wrinkled, are narrowed at the base into longwinged st alks; th e lower su rface of the leaves sh ows a th ick n etwork of prominent veins a nd is gra yish, with soft, short ha irs. The apex is bluntor pointed and the margins are round toothed. When foxglove is inflower, about June, it is a most handsome plant, the long terminalclusters (about 14 inches in length) of numerous tubular, bell-shapedflowers making a very showy appearance. The individual flowers areabout 2 inches long and vary in color from whitish through lavender

an d pu rple; the in side of the lower lobe is white, with crims on spots an dfur nish ed with long, soft, wh ite h a irs. (Fig. 25.) The capsu le is ovoid, twocelled, an d m an y seeded.

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves, which are official in theUnited States Pharmacopoeia, are collected from plants of the secondyear's growth just about t he t ime th at th ey are coming into flower. Theyshould be very carefully dried in the shade soon after collection and asrapidly as possible, preserving them in dark, airtight receptacles. Theleaves soon lose their medicinal properties if not properly dried or if

exposed to light and moisture. Foxglove brings about 6 to 8 cents apound. At present most of the foxglove or digitalis used comes to thiscoun tr y from E ur ope, wher e th e plant grows wild an d is also cultivated.

Foxglove has a faint, rather peculiar odor and a very bitter, nauseoustaste. Preparations made from it are of great value in affections of theheart, but they are poisonous and should be used only on the advice of a ph ysician.

SQU AW VINE.

Mitchella repens L.

Other common names .Checkerberry, partridgeberry, deerberry, hivevine, squaw-berry, twinberry, chickenberry, cowberry, boxberry,foxberry, partridge vine, winter clover, wild running box, oneberry,



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pigeonber ry, sna keberr y, two-eyed berr y, squa w-plum .

Habitat and range.Thesquaw vine is common inwoods from Nova Scotia toMinnesota and south toFlorida and Arkansas, whereit is generally found creepingabout th e bases of tr ees.

Description .This slender,creeping or trailingevergreen herb, a member of the madder family(Rubiaceae), has stems 6 to

12 inches long, rooting at the joints, and roundish-oval,rather thick, shining, dark-green opposite leaves abouthalf an inch in length, whichare blunt at the apex androunded or somewhat heartshaped at the base, withmargins entire. Sometimesthe leaves show whitish

veins. The plant flowers fromabout April to June,producing fragrant whitish,sometimes pale-purplish,funnel-shaped and 4-lobed flowers, two borne together on a stalk andhaving the ovaries (seed-bearing portion) united, resulting in a double,berry like fruit. These fruits are red and contain eight small, bonynu tlets. (Fig. 26.) They rema in on t he vine t hr ough t he winter a nd a reedible, th ough pra ctically ta steless.

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves and stems (herb) are collectedat almost any time of the year and range in price from about 3 1 / 2 to 4cent s a poun d.

The leaves have no odor and are somewhat astringent and bitter.Squa w vine ha s tonic, astr ingent, and diur etic properties.



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LOBELIA.

Lobelia inflata L.

Pharm acopoeial n am e .Lobelia.

Other common names .Indian tobacco, wild tobacco, asthma weed,gagroot, vomit-wort, puke weed, emetic herb, bladder pod, low belia,eyebright.

Habitat and range .Lobelia may be found in sunny situations in openwoodlands, old fields and pastures, and along roadsides nearlyeverywhere in the United States, but especially east of the MississippiRiver.

Description .This poisonousplant, an annual belonging tothe bellflower family(Campanulaceae), contains anacrid, milky juice. Its simplestem has but few shortbranches and is smoothabove, while the lower part isrough h airy.

The leaves are placedalternately along the stem,those on the upper portionsmall and stemless and thelower leaves larger and borneon st alks. They are pa le greenand thin in texture, from 1 toabout 2 inches in length,oblong or oval, blunt at the

apex, the margins irregularlysaw toothed, and both upperand lower surfaces furnishedwith short hairs.

Lobelia may be found in



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flower from summer until frost, but its pale-blue flowers, while verynumerous, are very small and inconspicuous. They are borne on verysh or t s tem s in t he a xils of th e upper lea ves. The lower lip of each flowerhas three lobes and the upper one two segments, from the center of which the tube is cleft to the base. The inflated capsules are nearlyround, marked with parallel grooves, and contain very numerousextr emely minu te da rk -brown seeds. (Fig. 27.)

Collection , prices, an d uses .The Ph ar ma copoeia directs t ha t t he leavesand tops be collected after some of the capsules have become inflated.Not too mu ch of the st emm y port ion should be included. The leaves an dtops should be dried in the shade and when dry kept in coveredreceptacles. The price paid for th e dr ied leaves a nd tops is about 3 cent sa pound.

Lobelia has expectorant properties, acts upon the nervous system andbowels, causes vomiting, and is poisonous.

The seed of lobelia is a lso employed in m edicine.

B O N E S E T.

Eu patorium perfoliatum L.

Pharm acopoeial n am e .Eupatorium.

Synonym . Eu patorium conn atum Michx.

Other common names .Thoroughwort, thorough-stem, thorough-wax,wood boneset, teasel, agueweed, feverwort, sweating plant, crosswort,vegeta ble ant imony, Indian sage, wild sage, tear al, wild Isaa c.

Habitat and range . Boneset is a common weed in low, wet ground,along str eam s, and on th e edges of swam ps an d in th ickets from Cana dato Florida a nd west t o Texas a nd Nebra ska .

Description .This plant is easily recognized by the peculiarar ra ngement of th e leaves, which ar e opposite t o each oth er, but joinedtogether at the base, which makes it appear as though they were one,with the stem passing through the center. It is a perennial plantbelonging to th e ast er fam ily (Aster aceae), an d is erect, growing ra th er



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tall, from 1 to 5 feet in height. The stout stems are rough hairy,and theleaves,united at the base, are rough, very prominently veined,wrinkled, dark green above,lighter green and downybeneath, lance shaped,tapering to a point, and withbluntly toothed margins. Thecrowded, flat -topped clust er s of flowers are produced fromabout July to September andconsist of numerous whitetubular flowers united indense hea ds. (Fig. 28.)

Collection, prices, and

uses .The leaves andflowering tops, official in theUnited States Pharmacopoeia,are collected when the plantsar e in flower, str ipped from t hestalk, and carefully dried.They lose considerable of theirweight in dr ying. The pr ice perpound for boneset is about 2cents.

Boneset leaves and tops have a bitter, astringent taste and a slightlyar oma tic odor. They form an old and popular r emedy in t he t rea tm ent of fever and ague, as implied by some of the common names given to theplant. Boneset is also employed in colds, dyspepsia, jaundice, and as atonic. In lar ge doses it acts a s a n em etic an d cat ha rt ic.

G U M P L AN T.

(1) Grind elia robusta Nu t t.; (2) Grindelia squarrosa (Pu rsh ) Duna l.

Pharm acopoeial n am e .Grindelia.

Other com m on n am es .(2) Broad -leaved gum plan t, scaly grindelia .

Habitat and range .The gum plant ( Grindelia robusta ) occurs in the



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States west of the RockyMountains, while the broad-leaved gum plant ( G.squarrosa ) is more widelydistributed, being of commonoccurrence on the plains andprairies from theSaskatchewan to Minnesota,south to Texas and Mexico,an d westwar d to Californ ia.

Description .The name "gumplant" is applied especially toGrindelia robusta on accountof th e fact th at th e entire plant

is covered with a resinoussubstance, giving it a gummy,varnished appearance. It is anerect perennial herb belongingto the a ster fam ily (Aster aceae)and has a round smooth stem,about 1 1 / 2 feet in height. Theleaves are pale green, leatheryin texture and rather r igid,coated with resin and showingnumerous translucent dots,and are about an inch inlength. In outline they are

oblong spatulatethat is, having a broad, rounded top graduallynarrowing toward the baseclasping the stem and with marginssomewhat saw toothed The plant branches freely near the top, eachbra nch somewha t r eddish an d ter mina ting in a la rge yellow flower. Theyellow flowers are about three-fourths of an inch in diameter, broaderthan long, and are borne singly at the ends of the branches.Imm ediately benea th th e flower is a s et of nu mer ous, t hick, overlapping

scales (the involucre), the tips of which are rolled forward, the wholehea vily coat ed with r esin.

The broad-leaved gum plant ( Grindelia squarrosa ) is very similar to G.robusta, except that it is smaller and less gummy in appearance. It ismore sparingly branched near the top and the branches seem more



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reddish. The leaves are also clasping, but they are longer, about 2inches in length, and broader, thinner in texture and not rigid, andmore prominently toothed. The smaller flower heads are generallylonger than broad and have narrower involucral scales, the recurvedtips of which a r e longer and more slender. (Fig. 29.)

Collection, prices, and uses .The leaves and flowering tops of bothspecies of Grind elia ar e official in t he U nited Sta tes Ph ar ma copoeia, an dshould be collected about the time that the flowers have come into fullbloom. The price ranges from about 5 to 10 cents a pound. While bothspecies are official, the leaves and tops of Grindelia squarrosa, beingmore prevalent, ar e gener ally used.

The odor of grindelia is balsamic and the taste resinous, sharplyar oma tic, and slightly bitter. The dr ug is sometimes used in ast hma tic

and similar affections, as a stomachic, tonic, and externally in cases of poison ing by poison ivy.

CANADA FL EABANE.

Conyza canadense (L.) Britton.

Synonym . Erigeron can ad en sis L.

Other com m on n am es . Er igeron, horseweed, ma re's-ta il, Can ada erig-

eron, butterweed, bitter-weed, cow's-tail, colt's-tail, fireweed,bloodst an ch, hogweed, pr ideweed, scabious .

Habitat and range .Canada fleabane is common in fields and wasteplaces and along roadsides almost throughout North America. It is alsowidely distribut ed as a weed in t he Old World a nd in Sout h America.

Description .The size of this weed, which is an annual, depends uponthe kind of soil in which it grows, the height varying from a few inchesonly to somet imes 10 feet in favorable soil. The er ect st em is br istly ha iry

or sometimes smooth, and in the larger plants usually branched nearthe top. The leaves are usually somewhat hairy, the lower ones 1 to 4inches long, broader at the top and narrowing toward the base, withmargins toothed, lobed, or unbroken, while those scattered along thestem ar e ra th er n ar row with m ar gins genera lly entire. This weed, whichbelongs to the aster family ( Asteraceae ), produces from June to



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November numerous heads of small, inconspicuous whiteflowers, followed by anabun da nce of seed. (Fig. 30.)

Collection, prices, and uses .The entire herb is used; itshould be collected during theflowering period and carefullydried. The price paid is about5 to 6 cent s a poun d.

By distillation of the freshflowering herb a volatile oil isobtained, known as oil of

fleabane or oil of erigeron,which is sometimes employedin attempting to controlhemorrhages and diarrheala ffections. The leaves a nd t opswere formerly official in theUnited Sta tes P ha rm acopoeia,from 1820 to 1880, but the oilalone is now recognized as

official. The herb, which has a faint agreeable odor and an astringent

and bitter taste, is also used for hemorrhages from various sources andth e bleeding of woun ds. It is also employed in diar rhea an d dropsy.

YARROW.

Achillea millefolium L.

Other common names . Millefolium, milfoil, thousand-leaf, thousand-leaf clover, gordolobo, green arrow, soldier's wound-wort, nosebleed, dogdaisy, bloodwort, sanguinary, carpenter's grass, old-man's-pepper,

cammock. Habitat and range .Yarr ow is very comm on along roads ides and in oldfields, pastu res, an d meadows from th e New England St at es to Missour ian d in scatt ered localities in other par ts of the coun tr y.



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Description .This weed, aperennial of the aster family(Asteraceae), is about 10 to 20inches in height and hasmany dark-green featheryleaves, narrowly oblong orlance shaped in outline andvery finely divided intonumerous crowded parts orsegments. Some of the leaves,especially the basal ones,which are borne on stems, areas much as 10 inches inlength and about half an inchor an inch in width. The

leaves toward the top of theplant become smaller andstemless. From about June toSeptember the flat-toppedflowering heads are producedin abundance and consist of numerous small, white(sometimes rose-colored),densely crowded flowers. (Fig.31.) Yar row ha s a str ong odor,

and when it is eaten by cowsthe odor and bitter taste aretr an smitted to dairy products.

Collection, prices, and uses .The entire plant is collected at the timeth at it is in flower a nd is carefully dried. The coar ser s tem s a re r ejected.Considerable shrinkage takes place in drying, the plant losing aboutfour -fifth s of its weight . The pr ices pa id for yar row ar e from a bout 3 to 5cent s a poun d. Yar row was official in th e Un ited Sta tes P ha rm acopoeiafrom 1860 to 1880. It has a strong, aromatic odor, very much like

chamomile, and a sharp, bitter taste. It has been used as a stimulanttonic, for its action upon the bladder, and for checking excessivedischarges.



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TANSY.

Tan acetum vulgare L.

Other common names . Tanacetum, bitter buttons, ginger plant,par sley fern . scent ed fern , En glish cost, h indhea l.

Habitat and range .This is another garden plant introduced into thiscountry from Europe and now escaped from cultivation, occurring as aweed along waysides and fences from New England to Minnesota andsout hwar d to Nort h Car olina an d Missour i.

Description . Tan sy is str ong-scented perennial herb withfinely divided, fernlike leaves

and yellow buttonlike flowers,an d belongs to the a ster fam ily(Asteraceae). It has a stout,somewhat reddish, erect stem,usually smooth, 1 1 / 2 to 3 feethigh, and branching near thetop.

The entire leaf is about 6inches long, its general outlineoval, but it is divided n ear ly tothe midrib into about sevenpairs of segments, or lobes,which like th e term inal one a reagain divided for about two-thirds of the distance to themidvein into smaller lobeshaving saw-toothed margins,giving to the leaf a somewhatfeathery or fernlike

appearance. The yellowflowers, borne in terminalclusters, are roundish and flat topped, surrounded by a set of dry,overlapping scales (the involucre). (Fig. 32.) Tansy is in flower fromabout J uly to September.



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stems and the uppermost linear with unbroken margins. The flowerclusters, appearing from July to October, consist of numerous small,insignificant, drooping, flat-globular, yellow heads. (Fig.33.)

Collection , prices, an d uses .When t he plan t is in flower t he leaves an dflowering tops are collected. These were official in the United StatesPh ar ma copoeia for 1890. The p r ice pa id for wormwood is about 4 cent s apoun d. Worm wood ha s a n a roma tic odor an d an exceedingly bitter ta ste,and is used as a tonic, stomachic, stimulant, against fevers, and forexpelling worms .

An oil is obtained from wormwood by distillation which is the mainingredient in the dangerous liqueur known as absinth, long a populardrink in France, in which country, however, the use of the oil is nowprohibited except by pha rm acists in m ak ing up pr escriptions.

COLTSFOOT.

T ussilago farfara L.

Other common names .Coughwort, assfoot, horsefoot, foalfoot, bull's-foot, horsehoof, colt-herb, clayweed, cleats, dove-dock, dummyweed,ginger , ginger root , hoofs, sowfoot, Br itish t obacco, gowan.

Habitat and range .Coltsfoot has been naturalized in this country

from Europe, and is found along brooks and in wet places and moistclayey soil along roadsides from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick toMassa chu sett s, New York , and Minn esota .

Description .In spring the white-woolly, scaly flowering stalks withtheir yellow blossoms are the first to appear, the leaves not beingproduced unt il th e seed ha s form ed or a t least t oward t he latt er pa rt of the flowering stage. The flowering stalks are several, arising from theroot, an d a re from 3 to 18 inches in height, each one bear ing at th e topa single, large yellow head, reminding one of a dandelion, having in the

center what are called disk flowers, which are tubular, and surroundedby what are known as ray flowers, which are strap shaped. When theseed is ripe the head looks somewhat like a dandelion "blow." Theflowering heads are erect, after flowering nodding, and again erect infruit. The bright-yellow flowers only open in sunshiny weather. Theyha ve a honeylike odor .



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The leaves, as already stated,appear when the flowers arealmost through blossoming, oreven afterwards. They arelarge, 3 to 7 inches wide,almost round or heart shapedin outline, or, according tosome of the names applied toit, shaped like a horse's hoof;the margins are slightly lobedand sharply toothed. Theupper surface is smooth andgreen, while th e lower is wh itewith densely matted woolly

ha irs. All the leaves a rise fromth e root a nd a re borne on long,erect s ta lks. (Fig. 34.)

Collection, prices, and uses .All parts of coltsfoot are active,but the leaves are mostlyemployed; they should becollected in June or July, or about the time when they are nearly fullsize. When dry, they break very readily. Collectors are paid about 3 1 / 2

cent s a poun d.

Coltsfoot lea ves form a popular r emedy in cough s a nd oth er a ffections of the chest and throat, having a soothing effect on irritated mucousmem bra nes. The flowers a re a lso used; likewise the root.

F I R E W E E D .

Erechthites hieracifolia (L.) Ra f.

Synonym .S enecio h ieracifoliu s L.

Another com m on n am e .Pilewort.

Habitat andrange .Fireweed is found in woods, fields, and wasteplaces from Canada to Florida, Louisiana, and Nebraska, springing up



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in especial abundance where land has been burned over, whence thena me "fire-weed."

Description .This weed is ana tive of this coun tr y an d is anill-smelling annual belongingto the aster family(Asteraceae). The stem is from1 to 8 feet in height, grooved,bra nched, an d juicy. The light-green leaves are rather large,from 2 to 8 inches long, thin intexture, lance shaped or ovallance shaped, the marginstoothed or sometimes deeply

cut. The upper ones usuallyhave a clasping base or are atleast stemless, while themargins of those lower downna rr ow int o th e stems.

Fireweed is in flower fromabout July to September, theflat-topped clusters of greenish-white or whitish

heads being produced from theends of th e stem a nd br an ches.The green outer covering of each flower head is cylindrical,with the base considerably

swollen. (Fig. 35.) The seed is furnished with numerous soft white-bristles.

Collection , prices, an d uses .The entire plan t is used an d is gather ed insummer. The leaves turn black in drying. The price paid to collectors

ra nges from about 2 t o 3 cent s a pound.An oil is obtained by distillation from the fresh plant. Fireweed has adisagreeable taste and odor. It has astringent, tonic, and alterativeproperties.



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B L E S S E D T H I S T L E .

Cnicus benedictu s L.

Synonyms .Centaurea benedicta L.; Carduus benedictus Cam.;Carbenia benedicta Adans.

Other common names .Holy thistle, St. Benedict's thistle, Our Lady'sthistle, bitter thistle, spotted thistle, cursed thistle, blessed cardus,spotted cardus.

Habitat and range .The blessed thistle is a weed which has beenintroduced into this country from southern Europe and is found inwaste places and stony, uncultivated localities from Nova Scotia toMaryland and the Southern States; also on the Pacific coast. It is

cultivat ed in ma ny par ts of Eu rope.

Description .In height thisannual plant of the asterfamily (Asteracese) scarcelyexceeds 2 feet, with coarseerect stems, branched andra th er woolly. The leaves ar elarge, 3 to 6 inches long ormore, oblong lance shaped,

thin, more or less hairy, withma rgins wa vy lobed an d spiny.The lower leaves and those atthe bottom are narrowedtoward the base into wingedstems, while th ose near th e topar e stemless an d clasping.

The yellow flower heads, whichappear from about May to

August, are si tuated at theends of the branches, almosthidden by the upper leaves,and are about an inch and ahalf in length. Immediatelysurrounding the yellow flower



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heads are scales of a leathery texture, tipped with- long, hard,bra nching, yellowish-red spines . (Fig. 36.)

Collection, prices, and uses .The leafy flowering tops and the otherleaves are gathered preferably just before or during the blossomingperiod an d th en a re t horoughly and quickly dried. In t he fresh sta te t heleaves and tops have a rather disagreeable odor, which they lose ondrying. They are bright green when fresh and grayish green and woollywhen dr y. Collectors r eceive about 6 to 8 cent s a poun d.

The taste of the blessed thistle is very bitter and salty and somewhatacrid. It, is used pr incipally as a bitt er t onic.

american medicinal leaves and herbs 1911

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