424 COMPOSITE 



traversed by broad medullary rays. Fracture horny. It has a slight un- 

 pleasant odor, and a sweetish, somewhat bitter taste. 



Powder. Brownish-gray. Characteristic elements: Parenchyma of cortex, 

 thin-walled, elongated with glassy masses and sphaero-crystals of inulin; ducts 

 large and small, with reticulate, simple pores; wood fibers and resin ducts, few. 



CONSTITUENTS. Mucilage, sugar, fat, a little tannin, a bitter glucoside, and 



inulin. 

 ACTION AND USES. Diuretic, diaphoretic, and alterative. Dose: J to 2 dr. 



(2 to 8 Gm.). Fluidextractum Lapps, Dose: % to 2 fl. dr. (2 to 8 mils). 



'AH' 



FIG. 231. Lappa Cross-section of root. (10 diam.) A, Cork. B, Resin cell. C, Xylem. 

 D, Cambium. (Photomicrograph.) 



559. LAPPJE FRUCTUS. BURDOCK FRUIT. A somewhat angular fruit, about 

 6 mm. (Y in.) long, rough and wrinkled, and covered with short, stiff hairs, 

 which are easily rubbed off. Very bitter. A tincture is used in psoriasis and 



f other skin diseases. 



560. POLYMNIA UVEDALIA Linne". BEARSFOOT. An indigenous plant, the 

 root of , which, in ointment form, has had virtues ascribed to it as a discutient 

 and anodyne, particularly in the treatment of malarial splenic enlargements. 



561. LA CINIARIA SPIC ATA Willdenow. BUTTON SNAKEROOT. Habitat: United 

 States. (Root.) Diuretic; also used as a gargle and injection. Dose: 

 % to 2 fl. dr. (2 to 8 mils). 



562. HELIANTHELLA TENUIFOLIA Torrey and Gray. The root of this plant 

 has the properties of an aromatic expectorant and antispasmodic, used as an 

 addition to cough mixtures. 



563. ECHINACEA, N.F. The root of Echina'cea angustifo'lia De Candolle. 

 Habitat: Western United States. This plant has grown into Considerable im- 

 portance, especially among the eclectic practitioners, in the treatment of 

 phagedenic ulcerations, boils, various forms of septicaemia, etc. The common 

 name of the plant is "nigger-head." The flower-head has from twelve to 

 fifteen rays, 2 inches long, rose-colored or red, drooping; receptacle conical, 

 with finely tipped chaff, longer than the disk-florets; disks purplish. The root 

 has a brownish-black color, the epidermis shrunken causing longitudinally 

 twisted wrinkles. Over 200,000 pounds were consumed in 1903. Since that 

 time the demand has been kept up quite regularly at the same figure. 



