SOME MEDICINAL WILDINGS 



Among Spanish Californians an herb of the 

 Pacific Coast believed useful in fevers is Canchala- 

 gua, or as the Americans call it Wild Quinine 

 (Erythraea venusta, Gray). It is of the Gentian 

 family, whose characteristic bitterness it possesses; 

 and is one of the most charming of western spring 

 flowers, common on dry hillsides throughout much 

 of California the bright pink blossoms with a yel- 

 low eye borne in terminal clusters upon plants a 

 few inches to two feet high, with lance-shaped leaves 

 in opposite pairs. Of the same family and some- 

 what similar in appearance but with leaves clasping 

 a quadrangular stem is the American Centaury 

 (Sabbatia angularis, Pursh.), common on the Atlantic 

 side of the continent from Canada to Florida. The 

 dried herb is intensely bitter, and is popular among 

 old-fashioned folk for its tonic properties. 



One of the most interesting plants of the Pacific 

 Coast is a beautiful evergreen forest tree, known 

 variously as California Bay, California Laurel, 

 Pepperwood and Oregon Myrtle (Umbellularia Cal- 

 ifornica [H. & A.] Nutt.). It is a member of the 

 Laurel family (to which the Sassafras, the Old 

 World Bay and the Camphor-tree belong) and is 

 characterized by a strong, pungent odor given off 

 from the crushed leaves, somewhat suggesting bay 



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