428 COMPOSITE 



576. GRINDELIA. GRINDELIA 

 GRINDELIA 



The dried leaves and flowering tops of Grindelia camporum Greene, or Grindelia 

 cuneifolia Nuttall, or Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Nutall, without the pres- 

 ence of admixture of more than 10 per cent, of stems and other 

 foreign matter. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Woody herbs; leaves clasping, resinous, some- 

 what cuneate. Involucre hemispherical or globular, coated with resin; rays 

 fertile, yellow; disk-florets yellow, tubular, and perfect. Akenes com- 

 pressed, the outermost somewhat triangular; pappus awned. Grindelia 

 robusta is found in rather elevated regions, while G. squarrosa is found in 

 the plains. The former is more woody than the latter. 



SOURCE.' This genus inhabits the western part of both North and South 

 America. A resinous exudation is common to the various species of 

 the genus, being most abundant in the flower-heads, and it is possible 

 that medicinal properties are common to the genus. Besides the 

 official species, there are found the hirsutula and the glutimosa, similar 

 species growing in the western part of the United States, often culti- 

 vated and mixed with the official. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Rough, grayish-green fragments of the leaves, 

 mixed with brownish-yellow stem fragments, and with flower-heads 

 about 15 mm. (<^j in.) in diameter, usually destitute of florets, leaving 

 the bare receptacle surrounded by the stiff, varnished, resinous 

 bracts of the involucre; odor balsamic; taste aromatic and bitter. 



Distinction of the Two Species. It may be said that the two species, 

 squarrosa and robusta, resemble each other very much. Robusta is 

 said to have a more leafy involucre and the leaves to be more coarsely 

 serrate. The squarrosa in general is said to be less leafy and bushy, 

 but on close examination of numerous specimens it is a question 

 whether the distinction will hold. 



Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



CONSTITUENTS. The medicinal properties of grindelia seem to reside in 



the resinous exudation. An alkaloid principle has been claimed by 



some investigators and termed grindeline. 

 ACTION AND USES. Antispasmodic and sedative, in asthma. Dose: 15 



to 60 gr. (i to 4 Gm.). The fluidextract is said to be an efficient 



application in rhus poisoning. 



OFFICIAL PREPARATION. 



Fluid extractum Grind eliae, Dose: 15 to 60 15 (r to 4 mils). 



577. TANACETUM. TANSY. The leaves and tops of Tanace'tum vulga're 

 Linne'. Off. in U.S. P. 1890. Leaves pinnate, the lobes sharply serrate, in 

 wrinkled, broken pieces mixed with the reddish stems ; midrib heavy and promi- 

 nent on under side; odor strong, fragrant, diminished by drying; taste bitter, 



