36 > AMERICAN ROOT DRUGS. 



they expand in flower there is practically nothing to the flower but very numer- 

 ous white stamens and the pistil, but the stamens spread out ai'ound the pistil 

 in such a manner as to give to the spike a somewhat feathery or fluffy appeai'- 

 ance 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 And 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 root- 

 stock is covered with numerous round scars and stumps, the remains (jf 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 

 i)eculiar 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 Septeml)er. The in-ice 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 ;i very popular reu'edy 

 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 

 I'harmacopoeia. 



<>KE<JUN (;rape. 



Berberis aquifnlium Pursh. 



rimrmacopocial name. — lierberis. 



Other common names. — Kocky Mountain grape, lujlly-leaved barberry, Cali- 

 fornia 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 some- 

 what the familiar Christmas holly of the Eastern States, and. in fact, was first 

 designated as "mountain-holly" by members of the Lewis and Clark expedi- 

 tion on their way through the western country. It belongs to the barberry 

 family nierberidaceie), and grows about 2 to feet in height, the branches 

 stmietimes trailing. The leaves consist of from 5 to U leaflets, borne in pairs. 

 with an odd leaflet at the summit. They are from 2 to 3 ini-hes long and aljout 

 1 inch wide, evergreen, thick, leathery, oblong or oblong ovate in outline, smooth 

 ;ind shining above, the margins provided with thorny spines or teeth. The 

 numei-nus small yellow flowers appear in April or May and are borne in erect, 

 clusteretl heads. The fruit consists of a clvister of blue or tiluish purple 

 berries, having a pleasant taste, and each containing from three to nine seeds. 

 (PI. IV, fig. 1.) 

 107 



