HERBS 



59 



seeds to make a meal or gruel. Indians capitalized upon the 

 seed oil to grease their hair, boiling the flower heads to get it. 

 Roots were used in combination with other roots for snake bite, 

 and a root decoction was used as a warm wash for rheumatism. 

 A purple and black dye was extracted from seeds for clothes and 

 baskets; also a yellow dye was derived from the plan to Roasted 

 seeds or shells crushed and sifted were used as a drink like cof- 

 fee. Ripe seeds parched and made into a meal or bread is very 

 nutritious. Stalks yield a fibrco 



Pharmacopia says, "Seed diuretic, yields a blond fixing oil; the 

 plant is anti-malarial. " Bees make a fine, amber honey from the 

 flowers. Sun flower oil is fed to sheep, cattle and poultry; claimed 

 to be better than linseed oil. 



H-54. GRINDELIA, GUM PLANT, 

 RESIN WEED, Grindelia sp„ Usually 



l'-6' high herbs, rather resinous, es- 

 pecially around the flowers; single or 

 branched stems; rather stiff pointed 

 leaves with toothed edges; large yellow 

 flowers solitary or few in cluster. 



Brooks Botany says: "Root in Spring 

 dried and powdered, makes a fine med- 

 icine for purging or hemorrhages. The 

 decoction of the whole plant is famous 

 for wounds and, in England, it was used 

 for ulcers." Spanish Americans boiled 

 buds and flowers until water was down 

 to a pint, then that was drunk for kidney trouble. For rheumatism, 

 fresh plant was crushed and applied to body part. Official use of 

 drug : fluid extract made from flowering top and leaves, a stom- 

 ach tonic, anti-spasmodic; also, fluid extract painted on surfaces 

 affords relief to those suffering from ivy or oak poisoning. 



Indians boiled root and drank tea for the liver; buds on the plant 

 were dried for use with small-pox; a decoction of leaves was made 

 for running sores; flowering tops, collected in the spring, were 

 used for a blood purifier and to relieve throat and lung trouble; a 

 small quantity of decoction held in the mouth, but never swallowed, 

 helped to cure toothache. Small dosages of a decoction of the plant 

 were taken each day for small pox, also a half cupful a day for 

 measles. A half cupful hot was said to be good for pneumonia. 



Marsh 

 Sage 

 Cult. 

 Grass 



Most States 



