212 



(W. R. McNcab's Botany: "Morphology and Physiology," 5th 

 edition, p. 93). "A bitter and astringent principle," says 

 that celebrated American botanist, Asa Gray, in the 5th 

 edition of his " Structui-al and Systematic Botany," pp. 

 436-438, "pervades the whole order; which in some is 

 tonic as in the Chamomile, the Boneset or Thorough^vort, 

 etc. ; in others, combined with mucilage, so that they are 

 demulcent as well as tonic (Elecampane and Coltsfoot) ; in 

 many aromatic and exti'emely bitter (such as wormwood and 

 all the species of Artemisia) ; som.etimes accompanied by acrid 

 qualities, as in the Tansy, and the Mayweed, the bruised fresh 

 herbage of which blisters the skin. The species of Liatris, which 

 abound in tereljinthine juice, are among the reputed remedies for 

 the l)ites of serpents ; so are some species of Mikania in Central 

 America. The juice of Silplnum and some Sunflowers is resinous. 

 The leaves of Solidago odora, which owe their pleasant anisote 

 fragi'ance to a peculiar volatile oil, are infused as a substitute for 

 tea. From the seeds of Sunflov/ers and several other plants of the 

 order a bland oil is expressed. The tubers of Helianthus 

 tuherosiis are eaten under the name of Jerusalem artichokes ; 

 Girasola, the Italian name of Sunflower, having become Anglicized 

 into Jerusalem. True artichokes are the fleshy receptacle and 

 imliricated scales of Cynara Scolymns. The flowers of Carthamus 

 tinctorius, often called Saffron, peld a yellow dye, much inferior 

 in quality to true Saffron. The Liyuliflora, or Cichoracece, all 

 have a milky juice, which is narcotic, and has been employed as a 

 substitute for opium. The bland young leaves of the garden 

 Lettuce are a common salad. The roasted roots of the Wild 

 Succory (Cichorium Infybns) are extensively used to adulterate 

 coffee : and the roots of some species of Tragopoyan (Salsify, 

 Oyster Plant), and Scorzonera are well known esculents." 



Having completed these somewhat lengthy extracts, I will 

 now notice briefly a few genera of world-wide fame, and also one 

 or two that are well known locally, before closing my paper. 

 Ageratum : A. mexicanum and its varieties are extensively used in 

 Great Britain for flower garden purposes during the summer 

 time. For the West Indies there are recorded at least two 

 species — A. conyzoides, L., and A. muticum, G. 



Eupatorium : Locally two Eupatoriums are alleged to be 

 much appreciated by women in cases of menstruation. In Europe 

 several species are grown for ornamental purposes, A'iz E. atrorubens 

 E. Weinmannianum. 



BcJlis : Tills claims one of England':^ typical flowers — tiie 

 Daisy, />. ] lerenip.s— yfhich. is associated with so many of childhood's 

 countrv families and ever-to-l)e-remembered experiences. AVho is 

 there among those who hail from the Old Country who has not 



