ISO COMPOSITE. 



Part Used. The seed not official. 



Constituents. A large percentage of bland fixed oil. 



Preparations. The oil. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Sunflower seeds are said to be diuretic 

 and expectorant, but there is little reason for believing them actively 

 medicinal. 



HELENIUM. SNEEZE-WEED. 



Helen! um autumnale Linne. Sneeze-Weed. 



Description. Heads many-flowered, radiate ; the rays several, in a 

 single series, 3- to 5-cleft at the summit, fertile, yellow, reflexed soon 

 after expansion. Involucre small, reflexed, the scales linear or awl-shaped, 

 in 2 series. Receptacle convex, globose, or oblong, naked. Achenia top- 

 shaped, ribbed. Pappus of 5 to 8 membranous, 1-nerved scales. 



An erect, nearly smooth perennial herb. Stem 1 to 3 feet high, angled, 

 branching. Leaves lanceolate, toothed, decurrent on the stems and 

 branches. Heads corymbed, showy, appearing in September. 



Habitat. In moist places along streams ; common everywhere. 



Parts Used. The leaves and flowers not official. 



Constituents. Unknown. 



Preparations. Used in powder or decoction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The common name of the plant indicates 

 the popular estimation of it. The powdered flowers particularly have been 

 used as an errhine, and a decoction is said to be tonic and diaphoretic. 



MARUT A. MAY-WEED. 



Maruta Cotula De Candolle. May-Weed, Wild Chamomile. 



Description. Heads many-flowered, radiate ; rays neutral, white, soon 

 reflexed ; disk-flowers tubular, perfect. Involucre hemispherical, the 

 scales imbricated, shorter than the disk, with whitish margins. Eecepta- 

 cle conical, chaffy throughout, or only at the summit. Achenia obovoicl, 

 ribbed, glabrous. Pappus none. 



An annual, one-half to one foot or more in height. Leaves tripin- 

 nately divided, the ultimate segments very narrowly linear. Heads solitary, 

 terminating the branches. It flowers from midsummer till late in autumn. 



Habitat. Common everywhere in waste places. 



Part Used. The herb formerly official ; it was dropped from the 

 Pharmacopoeia in 1880. 



Constituents. Volatile oil, tannic, valerianic, and oxalic acids, bitter ex- 

 tractive, etc. 



Preparations. Commonly employed in infusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. May-weed has a very disagreeable odor, 

 and, when fresh, a bitter, acrid taste. Therapeutically it acts like chamo- 

 mile but is much less agreeable. It is seldom used except by the laity. 



