PLANTS FURNISHING MEDICINAL LEAVES AND HEEBS. 



43 



FIREWEED. 



Erechthites hieradfolia (L.) Raf. 



Synonym. — Senecio hieracifolius L. 

 Another common name. — Pilewort. 

 Habitat and rayige.—Fireweed is found in woods, fields, and waste places from Canada 



to Florida, Louisiana, 

 and Nebraska, springing 

 np in especial abun- 

 dance where land has 

 been burned over, 

 whence the name "fire- 

 weed." 



Descriptio n . — This 

 weed is a native of this 

 country and is an ill- 

 emelling annual belong- 

 ing to the aster family 

 (Asteracea^). The stem 

 is from 1 to 8 feet 

 in height, grooved, 

 branched, and juicy. 

 The light-green leaves 

 are rather large, from 2 

 to 8 inches long, thin in 

 texture, lance shaped or 

 oval lance shaped, the 

 margins toothed or some- 

 timeg deeply cut. The 

 Tipper ones usually have 

 a clasping base or are at 

 least stemless, while the 

 margins of those lower 

 down narrow into the 

 stems. 



Fireweed is in flower 

 from about July to Sep- 

 tember, the flat-topped 

 clusters of greenish-white or whitish heads being produced from the ends of the stem 

 and branches. 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, and u.ses.—The entire plant is used and is gathered in summer. 

 The leaves turn black in drying. The price paid to collectors ranges from about 2 to 3 

 cents a pound. 



An oil is obtained by distillation from the fresh plant. Fireweed has a disagreeable 

 taste and odor. It has astringent, tonic, and alterative properties. 

 219 



Fig. 35.— Fireweed (Erechthites hieracifnlia). leaves and flowering tops. 



