50 



HERBS 



Most Hab. 



also cooked the roots like rutabaga. Early Spaniards made a medi- 

 cine compounded from the roots for rheumatism. Pharmacopia 

 says root and leaves acrid, irritant, poisonous; reputed carmina- 

 tive (useful in expelling gas); stimulant for dyspepsia (indigestion). 

 Indians inserted root pieces in tooth cavities to stop pain. For 

 sore throat, they mashed root, soaked in water and used infusion 

 as a gargle, or applied it as a poultice around the throat. 



H-37. CYMOPTERUS, Cymop - 

 terus sp. Small herbs with more or 

 less finely-divided leaves; the yel- 

 low, white or purple flowers gener- 

 ally in ball-shaped umbels, often 

 appearing perfectly round and con- 

 gested; the wings or ribs of the 

 seeds have undulate margins. 

 Most states Basal leaves, white flowers and 

 parsnip-like roots are eagerly sought 

 after by Indians. They prepared 

 them by drying and stored for later 

 use. Only in young state can tubers 

 be eaten. They were usually boiled. 



Water from old roots boiled was used as an insecticide. 



H-38. SNOW PLANT, Sarcodes sanguinea, 

 Indian Pipe Fam, The bright red stem rises 

 from thick roots, ending in a raceme of crim- 

 son flowers. It is found in pine woods and the 

 roots do not go down into the soil, but are cov- 

 ered with fungus that lives on its host and in turn 

 supplies the plant with food from the rotting veg- 

 etation in the soil. It is thus saprophytic. 



Indians dried and powdered the herb and made 

 it into awash for ulcers and sore mouth. It was 

 also used to relieve toothache. The Paiutes are 

 reported to boil the dried plant as a tea to be tak- 

 en by pneumonia patients. But Pharmacopia sa^s 

 the plant is reported to be poisonous. 



This is an example of a plant that should be 

 used with great care on account of its possibility 

 of poisoning the user. 



MCF 

 CCF 



Ore. 

 Calif. 



