756 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



gold is poisonous to stock and the may weed (Anthemis Cotula), when applied 

 to the surface, causes vesication. The European prickly lettuce (Lactuca 

 virosa) contains a bitter principle, hyoscyamin; the prepared milky juice is 

 called Lactucarium. It is listed as poisonous by Lehmann; a small amount of 

 hyoscyamin also occurs in the cultivated lettuce. 



The seeds of the sunflower {Helianthns anmius) are said to be diuretic. 

 The oil cake from these seeds is used as stock food. Sneeze weed (Hclenium 

 autumnale) is used by the Indians to produce sneezing; a decoction made from 

 it is used as a tonic. The mayweed {Anthemis Cotula) acts like chamomile, 

 and is used as a tonic and stimulant in colic; when applied to the skin, it 

 causes vesication. Yarrow {Achillea Millefolium), a stimulant and tonic, con- 

 tains achillein, C^^H^^^O^^. The oil of tansy {Tanacetum vulgarc) is used 

 as an abortifacient, in many cases with fatal results. It contains the substance 

 thujonc, found in Thuja occidentalis. This has commonly been called tanacetin 

 C H O , and is identical with absinthol obtained from absinthium, and with 



1110 4 



salviol from salvia. The Cnicus henedictus contains cnicin C^^^^^O^^^. 



Of the many cultivated plants of this order used for ornamental purposes, 

 the best known in the northern states are probably the bachelor's button {Cen- 

 taurea Cyanus), a native of Europe, ageratum {Ageratum conyzoides), Chi- 

 nese aster {Callistephus hortensis), garden daisy {Bellis perennis), and dahlia 

 {Dahlia variabilis), native to Mexico, running into many varieties. The last 

 named produces thickened roots, that contain a great deal of inulin, CgH^^jOj.. 

 Among the species of the order which are common in the gardens are the zinnia 

 {Zinnia clcgans), golden glow {Rudbeckia laciniata), sunflower {Helianthus an- 

 nuus), coreopsis {Coreopsis tinctoria), gaillardia {Gaillardia pulchella), dusty 

 miller or cineraria {Senecio Cineraria), common cineraria {S. cruentus) from 

 the Teneriffe, and the purple ragwort {S. elegans) from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, yarrow {Achillea Ptarmica), whiteweed {Chrysanthemum Parthenium), 

 several species of the genus chrysanthemum from Japan (C sinense and C 

 indicum), Marguerite (C. frutescens) and summer chrysanthemum {C. coro- 

 narium), marigold {Tagetes erecta), the pot marigold {Calendula officinalis) , 

 cosmos {Cosmos bipinnatus) of Mexico. The marigold {Calendula officinalis) 

 cultivated in country gardens contains calendulin CgHj^O^. 



Of the economic plants, the following are the more important : the culti- 

 vated lettuce {Lactuca sativa), probably native to Asia, slightly narcotic, 

 comprising many varieties; the safflower or saffron {Carthamus tinctorius), 

 native to Egypt, used for dyeing; marigold flowers {Calendula officinalis) 

 sometimes used as an adulterant for saffron; wormwood {Artemisia Absinth- 

 ium), used for making absinthe; tarragon {Artemisia Dracuncuhis) used as a 

 pot-herb and in making vinegar, a native of Asia, but cultivated now in Hol- 

 land and England; the Jerusalem artichoke {Helianthus tuberosus), with thick- 

 ened root^, cultivated as food for hogs and stock, native to North America; the 

 great sunflower {Ilcliauthus aniiuus), the seeds of which are eaten in Russia, 

 and from which an oil is obtained; the chicory {Cichorum Infybus) ; the bur- 

 dock {Arctium minus), cultivated for its thick root which is sometimes dried 

 and mixed with coffee and also used as a forage plant; the endive {Cichorum 

 endizfia) cultivated as a winter salad plant; the cardoon {Cynara Cardunculus), 

 also known as the European artichoke, used as a vegetable, the thickened 

 scales being used as food; salsify {Tragopogon porrifolius) a vegetable, and 

 the dandelion {Taraxacum officinale) used like lettuce. 



