WEEDS OF THE THISTLE FA.MILY. 159 



stem stout and the root small. In size it varies much according to 

 the richness of the soil. Widely distributed in Europe and South 

 America in exchange for some of the many weeds they have fur- 

 nished us. Kemedies: pulling before the seeds ripen; mowing or 

 burning in early autumn. 



The horse-weed is used in medicine as a remedy for dropsy, 

 diarrhea, etc. It is sometimes called "blood stanch," being used 

 for stopping bleeding from wounds. The fresh herb when distilled 

 yeilds a volatile oil known as oil of fleabane. When the plant is 

 freely handled this sometimes causes a skin eruption, somewhat 

 similar to that produced by poison ivy. The . leaves and upper 

 branches when gathered and dried during the flowering season 

 bring from 6 to 8 cents per pound. 



123. ANTENNARTA PLANTAGINIFOUA L. Plantain-leaf Everlasting. Mouse- 



ear. Indian Tobacco. (P. N. 2.) 



Low woolly herbs spreading by offshoots or runners and having the 

 male and female heads on separate plants; stems of fertile plants 6-18 

 inches, of the sterile, 3-8 inches high ; basal leaves in rosettes, woolly, 

 broadly oval or spoon-shaped, 3-ribbed, dark green above, silvery white 

 below; stem leaves linear or oblong, sessile. Heads numerous in small 

 crowded clusters or short spikes; receptacle naked, pitted; involucre bell- 

 shaped, its whitish scales in several overlapping rows ; flowers all tubular, 

 cream-colored. Achenes cylindric, slightly flattened. Pappus a single row 

 of hair-like bristles, in the female flowers more copious and united at 

 base. 



Common in dry clayey, half-barren soil on the slopes of open 

 upland woods and old fields. April-June. Spreading both by 

 numerous seeds and runners, it forms broad patches, those of the 

 sterile and fertile plants often separate, crowding out or taking the 

 place of blue-grass and thus greatly lessening the pasture value of 

 the land. It is one of the earliest of the Composite to blossom, 

 often appearing the first of April. The flower stems are then very 

 low, but like those of the dandelion soon arise to a foot or more 

 in height. Remedies : increased fertilization and reseeding in pas- 

 tures ; cultivation and rotation with clover in old fields. 



124. GNAPHALTUM OBTCJSIFOLIUM L. Fragrant or Common Everlasting. 



Sweet Balsam. (A. N. 3.) 



Stem erect, woolly, simple or branched, 1-3 feet high ; leaves alternate, 

 linear or lanceolate, tapering at base, sessile, pointed, dark green above, 

 densely white woolly beneath, 1-3 inches long. Heads numerous, in 

 panicled clusters of 2-5; receptacle flat, naked; involucre cone-shaped, its 

 bracts dry, whitish, in several overlapping rows; flowers few, dull white. 

 Achenes glabrous, oblong-cylindrical; pappus a single row of hair-like 

 bristles. (Fig. 118.) 



