GOLDEN-ROD. 359 



what downy, curved below, then erect, and from one to three 

 feet in length. The leaves are alternate, acute, sharply toothed, 

 harsh, covered with short rigid down, slightly dotted above, paler 

 beneath ; the lower ones obovate or elliptical, on winged foot- 

 stalks ; the upper lanceolate, sessile, nearly entire. The flowers 

 are produced in terminal and axillary clusters, forming a pani- 

 cled leafy raceme, very variable in compactness. The invo- 

 lucre is closely imbricated with scales, which are oblong, acute, 

 downy, with a membranous border. The florets of the ray 

 vary from five to ten, they are ligulate, three-toothed, pistilli- 

 ferous, and of a bright yellow colour ; those of the disk are nu- 

 merous, perfect, tubular, with five equal spreading segments. 

 The five filaments are hair-like, short, with the anthers united 

 into a cylindrical tube. The germen is oblong, with a filiform 

 style, and two revolute stigmas. The fruit is obovate, crowned 

 with the sessile, hair-like pappus, which is rough when magni- 

 fied. The receptacle is naked and nearly flat. Plate 22, fig. 3, 

 (a) floret of the ray magnified ; (ft) floret of the disk magni- 

 fied. 



This plant is frequent in woods and thickets, on heaths and 

 among furze in the British islands, and is common in most 

 countries of Europe. It flowers from July to September. 



The generic name is a derivative o^ soUdari, to unite, because 

 of the vulnerary qualities of the plant*. It was formerly 

 called Solidago Sarracenica, and was said to have been brought 

 over by the Christians who returned from the Saracen wars. 

 It received its specific name from the Latin virga, a rod, aurea 

 of gold, in allusion to its racemes of yellow flowers. 



Qualities and general Uses. — Both the flowers and leaves 

 of this plant are highly recommended by Bechstein as affording 

 a yellow dye superior to that obtained from weld or dyer's- 

 weed {Reseda Luteola). The foliage is eaten by cattle in 

 general. 



The odour of the recent herb when bruised resembles that of 

 the wild carrot ; and its taste is sub-astringent, bitter, and 



* Gerard gravely informs us, that " Saracens Consound is not inferiour 

 to any of the wound-herbes whatsoeuer, being inwardly ministred or out- 

 wardly applied in ointments or oyles. With it I cured blaster Cartwright, 

 a gentleman of Grayes Inne, who was grievosly wounded into the lungs, 

 and that by God's permission in short space." Herbal, p. 429. 



