140 EOSACE^. 



toothed. Flowers in slender, spiked racemes, appearing from July to 

 SejDtember. 



Habitat. — Borders of woods from Canada to Florida and westward. 

 Common in Europe also. 



Part Used. — The whole plant — not official. 



Constituents. — The only constituent thus far discovered in agrimony of 

 theraiDCutic importance is tannin, which exists in the proportion of less 

 than five per cent. 



Freparations. — None are official— a decoction or infusion is efficient. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Agrimonia has been used considerably 

 in domestic practice in cases requiring simple vegetable astringents. 



GEUM.— AvENs. 



Geum rivale Linne. — Jl'ater A vens. 



Description. — Calyx deeply 5-cleft, the segments erect or spreading, 

 jDurplish. • Corolla : petals 5, broadly obovate, emarginate, abruptly nar- 

 rowed into a claw about as long as the calyx, light purplish-orange. Sta- 

 mens numerous. Achenia numerous, gathered in a head upon a dry, coni- 

 cal receptacle ; styles articulated and bent in the middle, the upper part 

 plumose, the lower glabrous. 



An herbaceous perennial. Stems nearly simjjle, 1 to 3 feet high, re- 

 trorsely pubescent. Radical leaves lyrate and interruptedly pinnate ; those 

 of the stem trifoliate or trilobed. Flowers few, large, nodding, appearing 

 in May and June. 



Habitat. — Bogs and wet meadows from Pennsylvania northward and 

 westward. Common in Europe also. 



Parts Used. — The rhizome and rootlets — not official. 



Constituents — This plant has not been analyzed, but it is believed to 

 possess constituents similar to those of Geum urbanum, a closely allied 

 European j^lant, which contains volatile oil, tannin, and a bitter principle. 



Preparations. — None are official. Boiling water extracts its virtues. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Water avens is tonic and astringent. It 

 has been used chiefly in relaxation of the mucous membranes. 



POTEXTILLA. —Cinque-Foil. 



Potent! I la Canadensis Linm'. — Common Cinque-Foil, Five-Finger. 



Descripdion. — Calyx flat, deeply 5-cleft, with 5 bractlets alternating 

 with the segments, thus appearing 10-cleft. Corolla : petals 5, longer than 

 the calyx, broadly obovate or obcordate, yellow. Stamens numerous. 

 Achenia numerous, gathered in a head on a dry receptacle. 



A small annual or biennial, with decumbent, prostrate, or creeping stems, 

 producing runners in summer. Leaves 5-foliate ; leaflets obovate-wedge- 



