MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 187 



sliould be dug after frost. There are some people who gather the young 

 shoots in the early Spring and use them in the same manner as asparagus. 

 It is also of interest that the ashes of this plant contain a large quantity of 

 potassium. 



37. Polypodium vulgarc L. (Licorice fern). This fern resembles the 

 common polypody and is a native of Washington. It contains a substance 

 which resembles the glycyrrhizin, the sweet principle occurring \n licorice 

 root. 



38. Pycnantlicmum fiexulosum, (Walt.) B. S. P. (Mountain mint). Per- 

 ennial herb, having a pungent mint-like flavor. The plant is nearly smooth, 

 the leaves linear or lanceolate and somewhat downy. The flowers are slightly 

 purplish and the floral leaves somewhat whitened. The plant has a local use 

 in medicine and contains an interesting volatile oil. 



39. Rheum officinale Baill, and Rheum palamtuni L. (Rhubarb). This 

 plant resembles the common garden rhubarb, but has a thick fleshy rhizome, 

 which is the part used in medicine. These plants seem to do well in this 

 climate. While both of these species of Rheum seem to be the plants from 

 which the Chinese obtain their medicinal rhubarb, and while these plants 

 have been extensively cultivated since they were first grown by Soubeiran 

 in 1867, yet none of this cultivated product seems to be equal to that of the 

 Chinese drug. In all probability greater care is needed in cultivating the 

 plant and in pruning the overground shoots. 



40. Salvia officinalis Jj. (Sage.) The common garden sage is rather well 

 known and has been extensively cultivated. It flowers in June, and it is at 

 this time that the plant should be cut down and carefully dried. The leaves 

 and tops are largely used as a condiment, but they are also used in medicine, 

 the plant having been very highly esteemed since ancient times. Other species 

 of Salvia are recognized in some of the foreign pharmacopoeias. The seeds of 

 some of these other species are used for food and are therefore of some 

 interest. 



41. Sat lire ja hortensis L. (Summer Savory). A perennial herb, native 

 of Europe and cultivated for culinary uses. It has a thyme-like odor and 

 flavor. The volatile oil is of some interest and should be investigated. 



42. Sihjhum Marianum Gaertn. (Milk Thistle). There are a great many 

 plants of the compositae that produce prickly leaves and the receptacles are 

 more or less spinose. Some of these are used in medicine as, the "Milk thistle" 

 and the "Blessed thistle," both of which are used somewhat extensively in 

 European countries. The milk thistle has large mottled leaves, which are 

 very prickly ; it produces large heads of purple flowers. In growing this plant 

 great care should be exercised that the seeds are not disseminated so as to 

 make it a noxious weed; to prevent this, the flowers should be gathered as 

 soon as they appear. 



