34O THE ALPINE FLORA 



and mutellinum cannot be passed over. In silicious soils 

 of the Alps and of a few valleys in the Jura the former 

 plants huge colonies, reigning in places unchallenged over 

 vast expanses. The fresh vegetation is the finest and 

 most delicate in nature, and the foliage would be highly 

 valued for use in artistic arrangements of flowers, were 

 it commonly known. The culture moreover is easy, if 

 chalky soil is avoided. The root (known in the hills as 

 racine d'or) is a carminative and has cured consumptives 

 of whom physicians had despaired. Both it and the 

 allied species mutellinum are excellent forage plants and 

 give great value to the pasture and meadow lands in 

 which they grow. 



Peucedanum or Imperatoria Ostruthium (Racine du 

 guerrier) is a plant with fine, ornamental foliage, great 

 umbels of white flowers, and grows in damp, mountain 

 places. The root is used in the Upper Alps as a cattle 

 medicine, and once as an old-time remedy for inflam- 

 mations of the mucus, cancer and delirium tremens ; it is 

 nowadays employed as a sudorific, carminative cordial. 

 In the Upper Valais (so I was told at Gruben in the 

 Turtmanthal) when the herds are incensed before driving 

 them to the hills, roots of Ostruthium are burnt on live 

 coals in the stables ; this is believed to protect them 

 against mishaps, witchcraft and serpents. Culture easy; 

 succeeds in any cool position in gardens. 



Laserpitium includes several fine, sturdy herbs ; the 

 foliage is sometimes 3-foliate CL. panaxj and always 

 decorative with massive umbels of white flowers majestic- 

 ally carried; grows in the alpine and mountain zone. 

 L. siler and lati folium occasionally exceed 40 in. in 

 height. 



