THREE-LOBED BUTTERBUR 97 



Fleabane is essentially a peat-loving plant growing in wet ground 

 which is more or less peaty, or else it is a clay-loving plant and grows 

 on a clay soil. It is common, in fact, on lias and boulder clay. 



A cluster-cup fungus, Uromyces junci, infests the leaves. 



The beetles, Meligethes lumbaris, Cassida fastuosa, feed upon it. 



It is a food plant for several moths, Ebulea crocealis, Choreutis 

 vibrana, Halonota inopiana, Sericoris fuligana, Eupcecilia griseana, 

 Gelechia bifractella, . paiipella, B. inopella, Acrolepia granitella, 

 Coleophora troglodytella, Pterophorus lithodactylus. 



Pnlicaria was given it from the Latin pulex, a flea (like the English 

 Fleabane), because it was said to drive away these pests, and the 

 second Latin name refers to another supposed property, namely, the 

 cure of dysentery. 



It is called Cammock, Herb Christopher, Fleabane Millet. Gerarde 

 says as to the second name: "In Cheape side the herbewomen call it 

 Herbe Christopher, and sell it to empericks, who with it (as they say) 

 make medicines for the eyes, but against what effect of them, or with 

 what successe, I know not ". It is called Job's Tears in Arabic, because 

 Job was supposed to have cured his ulcers with this herb. The specific 

 name alludes to the so-called curing of dysentery amongst the Russian 

 soldiers by its aid. Like Ploughman's Spikenard, if burnt, our fore- 

 fathers said it drove away fleas and other insects. It was once also 

 employed to cure the itch. Cattle will not touch it. It is very astring- 

 ent, and the juice is saltish. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



155. Piilicaria dysenterica, Gray. Stem woolly, branched, leaves 

 oblong, downy, wrinkled, flowerheads yellow, in a corymb, ray florets 

 wider than disk, pappus crenulate. 



Three-lobed Butterbur (Bidens tripartita. L.) 



This common aquatic plant, like other members of pratal and 

 paludal formations, is found in Preglacial, Interglacial, and Late Glacial 

 beds. In Arctic Europe, North Africa, West Asia, N.W. India, N.- 

 America it is found in the North Temperate and Arctic Zones. In 

 Great Britain it is found in the Peninsula province, in the Channel, 

 Thames, and Anglia provinces, except in Hunts; in the Severn pro- 

 vince; in S. Wales, except in Radnor and Pembroke; in N. Wales, 

 except in Montgomery and Merioneth; in the Trent, in the Mersey 

 province, H umber, Tyne, and Lakes provinces. In the West Low- 

 lands it is found generally, except in Kirkcudbright; in Edinburgh, 



VOL. IV. 53 



