54 



HERBS 



Cult. 

 Grass 

 Oak 

 Str. Wd. 



prophecies^ In India it was used by thugs and poisonerSo 



Dried leaves were smoked as tobacco and said to be beneficial 

 for asthma. Mexicans and Indians called it Toloche and used it to 

 induce a hypnotic state to unravel mysteries. In the Pacific Coast 

 Manual of Drug Plants it states: "dried leaves and flowering tops - 

 sedative, anodyne (soothing to pain), deliriant (causing delirium^ 

 depressant (lowering vital activity), and mydriatic (dilating eye). " 



H-45. SMALL-FLOWERED 



NIGHTSHADE, Solanum nodiflorum. 

 Usually called Black Nightshade, 

 because it is so much like the rarer 

 weed, S. nigrumo Both have simi- 

 lar properties, but nodiflorum has 

 l'-2' long straggling stems, while 

 nigrum is more erect, l'-3' high, 



and has dull instead of shining black 

 berries. Both have white flowers. 

 Most states Berries are POISONOUS, but 

 boiling destroys the toxic properties 

 in the ripe, black berries, and they are often made into pies. Al- 

 though the old leaves are poisonous, it is said that young leaves 

 and stems can be boiled as a pot herb, Indians used a decoction 

 as an eye-wash. Parkinson wrote: "The root boiled in wine and a 

 little thereof held in the mouth eases the pain of toothache." Pliny 

 wrote: "It is good to fasten loose teeth, and the juioe of the root, 



mingled with honey, is 

 y^ /""^""V"""/ '' 2 good for weak eyes. Juice 



of the leaves and a little 

 vinegar mixed together 

 procures rest and sleep." 



H-46. INDIAN TOBAC- 

 CO, Nicotianasp. (N. big - 

 elovii , Indian Tobacco, il- 

 lustrated). 1-5' tall herbs 

 (except 1 shrub with yellow 

 flowers, N, glauca ), with 

 strong-scented, narcotic- 

 poisonous leaves, and 

 large white or greenish- 

 white flowers. 



str. Wd. 



CulU 



Oak 



Most States 



