PLANTS FURNISHING ROOT 1)RU(;S. 51 



diuretic- aiiil f.\|u'<-l(ir;iiit. niid for pnniiotiiii,' pcrspirMi ion. In larirc dosos it acts 

 as an onictic. and tiic root, wlien ciu'wotl. excitos a How of saliva. It is said tti 

 resemble Seneca snakeroot in action. 



A.MKKICAN .\N(;i:i-l('.\. 

 Aiit/vlic(t (ilroinirjiiirrd L. 



Sjinuiij/in. — Anliaiitif']i(ii otroiHUitiinn IlotVni. 



Oilier coiiinK/ii //(//ncv.— Aii.uelica, iiurpic-sfcnnncd .Miiiclici. ^rcnt anuclita, idsili 

 angelica. i>urpic anf^elica. uiasterwort. 



Habitat unit raii<>r. — American anjielica is a nativ(> licri*. connnon in swanijis 

 and daniit jilaccs from lialirador to Delaware and west to Minnesota. 



l)csrTii)ti>iii of j)l(iiit. — This stronji-scented. tall, stont jierennial readies a 

 height of from 4 to (> feet, with a smooth. dark-i)niplc. hollow stem 1 to 12 inches 

 in diameter. The leaves are divided into three parts, each of which is again 

 divided into threes; th(> rather thin segments are ov.il or ovale, somewhat acute, 

 sharply toothed ami sometimes deeply cnt. and ahont - inches long. The lower 

 leaves sometimes measniv - feet in width, while the upper ones are smaller, hut 

 all have very broad exjianded stalks. 'I'he greenish white tiowers are produced 

 from June to July in somewhat roundish, many-r.iyed umbels or heads, which 

 sometimes are S to 10 inches in diameter. The fruits are smooth, compressed, 

 and broadly oval. (1*1. \'l. tig. 1.) American ang«'li(;i belongs to the parsley 

 family (Ai)iace!V). 



Description of root. — American angelica root is branched, from '•'> to inches 

 long, and less than an inch in diameter. The outside is light brownish gray, 

 with deep furrows, and the inside ne.-ii'ly white, th(> whole breaking with :i short 

 fracture and the thick bark showing fine resin dots. It has an aromatic odor, 

 and the taste at first is sweetish and spicy, afterwards bitter. The fresh root is 

 said to possess poisonous proi)erties. 



The root of the European or garden angelica {Atujrlica officinalis Moench) 

 supplies nmch of the angelic-a root of connnerce. This is native in northern 

 Europe and is very widely cultivated, especially in (4ermany, for the root. 



Collection, prices, ami uses. — The root is dug in autunni and carefully dried. 

 Care is also necessar.v in preserving the root, as it is verv liable to the attacks of 

 insects. American angelica root ranges from 6 to 10 cents a pound. 



American angelica root, which was official in the T^nited States Pharmaco)j(jeia 

 from 1820 to I860, is used as an aromatic, tonic, stimulant, carminative, diuretic,, 

 and diaphoretic. In large doses it acts as an emetic. 



The seeds are also employed medicinally. 



YELLOAV JASMINE OK JESSAMINE. 



(lelseiniiim seinperririns (L. ) Ait. f. 



• 



Pharmacupaial name. — Gelsemium. 



Other common names. — Carolina .lasmine or jessamine, Carolina wild wood- 

 bine, evening trumpet-flower. 



Habitat and range. — Yellow jasmine is a plant native to the South, found 

 along banks of streams, in woods, lowlands, and thickets, generally near the 

 coast, from the eastern part of Virginia to Florida and Texas, south to Mexico 

 and Guatemala. 



Description of plant. — This highly ornamental climbing or trailing plant is 

 abundantl.v met with in the woods of the Southern States, its slender stems 

 festooned over trees and fences and making its presence known by the delight- 

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