38 



AMERICAN ROOT DRUGS. 



Description of rooistoclc. — The thick cnjoked rootstocU of blue cohosh is almost 

 concealed by the mass of matted roots which snrrounds 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 l)elow the surface of the rootstock. while others are 

 raised above it. The outside is brownish and the inside tough and woody. 

 P.lue cohosh possesses a slight odor and a sweetish, somewhat bitter and acrid 

 taste. In the powdered state it causes sneezing. 



Collccfioii. jiriecfi, and y/NCv. — 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 2* to 4 cents a i)ound. 



Blue cohosh, official in the United States 

 riiarmncopceia for 1890, is used as a demulcent, 

 antispasmodic, ennnenagogue. and diuretic. 



TWINLEAF, 



Jeffermnia (lipln/Ud (I..) Pers. 



Other common naiiic^. — .leffersonia, rheuma- 

 tism-root, helmetpod, ground-squirrel pea. yel- 

 lowroot. 



Habitat and rani/e. — 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 sin'ing plants, and its white flower, resem- 

 bling that of bloodroot, is produced as early as 

 April. 



The long-stemmed, smooth leaves, produced in 

 pairs and arising from the base of the plant, 

 are rather oddly formed. They are about '?, to 

 (\ 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 l)orne 

 at the sunnnit 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 npjier part forming a sort of lid. (Fig. l^i.) 

 Twinleaf belongs to the barberry family (Berl)eridace:e). 



Description of rootstock. — Twinleaf has a horizontal rootstock. with many 

 fibrous, nmch-matted roots, and is very similar to that of blue cohosh, but not 

 so hmg. 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. 



CoUectioi). prices, and uses.— The rootstock is collected in autunni, and is used 

 as a diuretic, alterative, antispasmodic and a stimulating diaijhoretic Lnrge 

 107 



Fic. 13. — Twinleaf (JcJ'ersoiiia di- 

 pliiilla), plant and seed capsule. 

 (After Britton and Brown, Illus- 

 trated Flora.) 



