N. ORD.—COMPOSIT&. 
Tribe. —SENECIONIDEA. 
GENUS.—TANACETUM,* LINN, 
SEX. SYST.—POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA, 
86 
TANACETUM. 
TANSY. 
SYN.—TANACETUM VULGARE, LINN. 
COM. NAMES.—TANSY OR TANSEY; (FR.) TANAISIE; (GER.) RAINFARN. 
A TINCTURE OF THE LEAVES AND FLOWERS OF TANACETUM VULGARE, LINN, 
Description.—This robust, acrid-aromatic perennial, grows to a height of from 
2 to 3 feet. Svem erect, glabrous or somewhat pubescent, leafy to the summit. 
Leaves alternate, 2 to 3 pinnately dissected, glandularly dotted; divistons very 
numerous, confluent, decurrent, incisely-serrate, with many small lobes interposed 
along the common petiole; ¢ee¢h cuspidate, acuminate, /xflorescence capitate, in 
dense, terminal, corymbiform cymes; Aeads numerous, depressed-hemispherical, 
heterogamous ; zzvolucre composed of several imbricated rows of dry, minute 
scales; flowers all fertile, the corollas sprinkled with resinous dots. Marginal 
florets terete, pistillate; rays inconspicuous, oblique, 3 - toothed. Disk florets 
densely crowded, perfect ; corolla tubular; border 5-toothed; anthers tailless, with 
broad, obtuse tips. S#y/e deciduous, the branches truncate with obscure, conical 
tips. Pappus a coroniform, dentately 5-lobed border. Akenes 5-ribbed, with a 
large epigynous disk. 
History and Habitat.— This common European plant has escaped from gar- 
dens in many places in this country, especially, however, in the more eastern 
States, where it flowers from July to October. oo ay, 
Tansy has been used in medicine, especially as a carminative tonic, since the 
middle ages, its use at the present time being almost entirely laic and among 
country folk, Bergiusy recommended a cold infusion of the tops as : spams in 
convalescence from exhausting diseases, dyspepsia, jaundice and periodic fevers. 
A warm infusion has been found to be antihysteric, antiflatulent, carminative and 
stimulant, and largely used in amenorthcea, dysmenorrhcea and abdominal cramps. 
Dr. Clark spoke highly of its relief of gout.t Hoffman recommended the ee 
in is to 40 grain doses as an anthelmintic not inferior to cina, for which action the 
leaves are often applied to the abdomen as a fomentation. Dr. Clapp speaks of 
ee ea ee 
- eve la ” 
Altered from adavacia athanasia, not dying > the name of a genus of Composite having the nature of an ** ever st 
? 
ing” plant. ~ t Essays Phys. et Lit. 3; 748. 
+ Mat. Med., 664. 
