140 ROSACE^E. 



toothed. Flowers in slender, spiked racemes, appearing from July to 

 September. 



Habitat. Borders of woods from Canada to Florida and westward. 

 Common in Europe also. 



Part Used. The whole plant not official. 



Constituents. The only constituent thus far discovered in agrimony of 

 therapeutic importance is tannin, which exists in the proportion of less 

 than five per cent. 



Preparations. None are official a decoction or infusion is efficient. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Agrimonia has been used considerably 

 in domestic practice in cases requiring simple vegetable astringents. 



GEUM. AVENS. 



G e U m r i val e Linne. Water Avens. 



Description. Calyx deeply 5-cleft, the segments erect or spreading, 

 purplish. Corolla : petals 5, broadly obovate, emarginate, abruptly nar- 

 rowed into a claw about as long as the calyx, light purplish-orange. Sta- 

 mens numerous. Achenia numerous, gathered in a head upon a dry, coni- 

 cal receptacle ; styles articulated and bent in the middle, the upper part 

 plumose, the lower glabrous. 



An herbaceous perennial. Stems nearly simple, 1 to 3 feet high, re- 

 trorsely pubescent. Radical leaves lyrate and interruptedly pinnate ; those 

 of the stem trifoliate or trilobed. Flowers few, large, nodding, appearing 

 in May and June. 



Habitat. Bogs and wet meadows from Pennsylvania northward and 

 westward. Common in Europe also. 



Parts Used. The rhizome and rootlets not official. 



Constituents This plant has not been analyzed, but it is believed to 

 possess constituents similar to those of Geum urbanum, a closely allied 

 European plant, which contains volatile oil, tannin, and a bitter principle. 



Preparations. None are official. Boiling water extracts its virtues. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Water avens is tonic and astringent. It 

 has been used chiefly in relaxation of the mucous membranes. 



POTENTILL A. CINQUE-FOIL. 



Potentilla Canadensis Linne. Common Cinque-Foil, Five-Finger. 



Description. Calyx flat, deeply 5-cleft, with 5 bractlets alternating 

 with the segments, thus appearing 10-cleft. Corolla : petals 5, longer than 

 the calyx, broadly obovate or obcordate, yellow. Stamens numerous. 

 Achenia numerous, gathered in a head on a dry receptacle. 



A small annual or biennial, with decumbent, prostrate, or creeping stems, 

 producing runners in summer. Leaves 5-foliate ; leaflets obovate-wedge- 



