ASTERACE2E. 



the stem lanceolate. Floral leaves broadly cordate-ovate, acuminate, 

 hoary. Heads on long stalks. Flowers pale red. A decoction of 

 the leaves and roots are given on the Malabar coast in cases of dysuria. 



PIQUERIA. 



Head 4-5-flowered. Involucre oblong, consisting of 4-5 

 leaves in a single row. Receptacle small, naked, flat. Tube 

 of corolla short, somewhat dilated, usually hairy. Terminal ap- 

 pendage of the anthers scarcely any. Branches of the style 

 obtuse. Achaenia when young compressed, when old 5-angled, 

 smooth, and jointed with a short stalk. DC. 



903. P. trinervia Cav. ic. iii. 1 9. t. 235. Jacq. eel. i. 70. t. 48. 

 DC.prodr. v. 104. Ageratum febrifugum and Stevia febrifuga 

 Mop. and Sesse. Mexico ; rocks near Santa Rosa de la Sierra, 

 Xalapa, and many other parts where it is called Xoxonitztal and 

 Yoloxiltic. 



A small herbaceous plant. Leaves ovate- or oblong-lanceolate, sub- 

 serrated, 3-nerved. Panicle corymbose, lax, many-headed. Heads 4- 

 flowered. Tube of the corolla shaggy. Scales of the involucre obtuse, 

 mucronate. Florets white. Used in Mexico as a remedy in inter- 

 mittent fevers. 



LIATRIS. 



Heads 5-30-flowered. Involucre imbricated, in a few rows. 

 Receptacle naked. Corolla tubular, enlarged at the throat, with 

 long lobes. Branches of style cylindrical, much protruded. 

 Achaenium with about 10 ribs, somewhat cylindrical. Pappus 

 in 1-3 rows, consisting of feathered or bearded bristles. 



904. L. squarrosa Willd. iii. 1634. Hook.fl. bor. am. i. 306. 

 Elliott sketch ii. 282. DC. prodr. v. 129. Pursh ii. 509. 

 Serratula squarrosa Linn. sp. pi. 1147. (Dill. elth. t. 71. f. 82.) 

 North America from Canada to Carolina in dry Pine barrens. 



Root tuberous, perennial. Stem 2-3 feet high, pubescent, rather 

 rough, leafy, not branched. Leaves very long, linear, nerved, roughish 

 at the edge, sometimes ciliated. Heads few, racemose, solitary at the 

 end of a leafy peduncle. Involucre cylindrical, either smooth or downy, 

 with lanceolate, rigid, spreading scales, the ends of which are leafy. 

 Flowers bright purple. Achaenia striated, hairy, crowned with a pur- 

 plish-brown conspicuous pappus. Known in the Southern parts of 

 America by the name of Rattlesnake's master. In case of being bitten 

 by this animal they bruise the roots and apply them to the wound, 

 while at the same time the patient drinks a decoction of it in milk. 

 Pursh. The roots have a terebinthinous odour, and are reputed to be 

 powerfully diuretic, and hence antisiphilitic. 



It is probable that other species of this genus possess similar pro- 

 perties, at least that of being diuretic. 



905. L. scariosa Willd. and 906. L. odoratissima Willd. in 

 particular, deserve to become the subjects of inquiry. 



450 



