1901] Morrell, — Maine Plants and their Uses 129 
stage of Pani um scoparium Lam. (Panicum viscidum Ell) See 
Scribner & Merrill l. c. 36. 
PANICUM LAXIFLORUM Lam. of Gray's Manual, ed. 6, 633 and (?) 
Trin. is Panicum boreale Nash. Panicum laxiflorum Lam. is a 
southern species. 
Division or AcRosrOLOGY, U. S. Dept. Agric., Washington, D. C. 
SOME MAINE PLANTS AND THEIR USES, *WISE AND 
OTHERWISE." 
JENNIE M. H..Morre tt. 
THE following partial list of Maine plants and their uses is based 
upon my own observations and recollections as well as upon notes 
furnished me by others who have known the plants to be used. 
Pteris aquilina. When this first starts growth in the spring it is 
cooked and eaten in place of asparagus, and I am told that one 
cannot tell the difference by tasting. 
Osmunda cinnamomea. ‘The heart of the root is eaten by chil- 
dren for its nutty taste. It is said to have some medicinal value, and 
is known sometimes as “ bog onion." 
Taxus Canadensis. The red berries of this, the ground hemlock, 
were one of the favorite fruits of my school days. 
Typha latifolia. The leaves are gathered, dried and marketed : 
they are used by coopers in making molasses hogshead, the leaves 
being placed between the staves to make them tight. In early 
times the heads or cat-tails were used in place of feathers for 
making beds. 
Arisaema triphyllum. ‘The corms, dried and boiled, are said to 
have been extensively used as food by the Indians. 
Acorus Calamus. Many people enjoy eating or nibbling the root 
of the sweet flag; and I remember seeing cough syrups made by 
boiling molasses and sweet flag. The root is candied by the Shakers 
and sold at Poland Springs. 
Lilium Canadense. The Indians used the bulbs in making soups 
and in thickening their broths which were thus made more palatable. 
