54 



AMERICAlSr EOOT DRUGS. 



Habitat and range. — American coloinbo occurs in dry soil from the western 

 l)art of New York to Wisconsin, south to Georgia and Kentucliy. 



DescriiJtioii of plant. — During the first and second year of the growth of this 

 plant only the root leaves are produced. These are generally somewhat rounded 

 at the summit, narrowed toward the base, and larger than the stem leaves, 

 which develop in the third year. The leaves are deep green and produced 

 mostly in whorls of four, the stem leaves being 3 to 6 inches in length and 

 oblong or lance shaped. In the third year the stem is developed and the 

 flowers are produced from June to August. The stem is stout, erect, cylindrical, 

 and .*'> to ,S feet in height. The flowers of American Colombo are borne in large 



terminal, handsome py- 

 ramidal clusters some- 

 times 2 feet in length, 

 and are greenish yel- 

 low or yellowish white, 

 dotted with brown pur- 

 ple. They are slender 

 stemmed, about 1 inch 

 across, with a wheel- 

 shaped. 4 - parted co- 

 rolla. The seeds are 

 contained in a much 

 c o m p ressed capsule. 

 (Fig. 21.) American 

 Colombo is an indige- 

 nous perennial, and be- 

 longs to the gentian 

 family (Gentianacete). 

 Description of root. — 

 The root is long, hori- 

 zontal, spindle shaped, 

 yellow, and wrinkled. 

 In the fresh state it is 

 fleshy and quite heav.v. 

 The American Colombo 

 root of commerce, for- 

 m e r 1 y in transverse 

 slices, now generally 

 occurs in lengthwise 

 slices. The outside is 

 yellowish or \Mi\e orange and the inside spongy and pale yellow. The taste is 

 l>itter. American Colombo root resembles the oflicial gentian root in taste and 

 odor, and the uses are also similar. 



Collection, prices, and uses. — The proper time for collecting American Colombo 

 root is in the autumn of the second year or in March or April of the third 

 year. It is generally cut into lengthwise slices before drying. The price of 

 American Colombo root ranges from 3 to 5 cents a pound. 



The dried root, which was official in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 

 1820 to 1880, is used as a simple tonic. In the fresh state the root possesses 

 emetic and cathartic- properties. 

 107 



Fic. 21. — American Colombo (Frusri-a rarolhien^is), leaves, flowers, 



and .':ee<i pods. 



