PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 75 



155. Balsamorrhiza deltoidea Nutt. Balsam root. Composite. 

 Seeds used as food (roasted and ground) by the Klamath Indians 



of Oregon ; likewise the seeds of B. digittata. 



The Balsamorrhiza species (balsam roots) contain a terebin thine 

 principle in the outer root parenchyma which the Indians remove 

 before eating. This resin or turpentine requires further study. 



156. Balsamorrhiza sagittata Nutt. Wild sunflower. Composites. 



Roots used medicinally by the Piute Indians. Petioles eaten. Frag- 

 rant. No doubt contain volatile oil like B. terebinthacea. Reported to 

 be poisonous. (U. S. Disp.) Kelly, Drug. Circular (1897). 



ir> 7. Balsamorrhiza terebinthaceae Nutt. Composite. 



The root has a strong terebinthine odor and is used as a diuretic. 



158. Bamboo. (See Arundinaria, 130.) 



159. Bananas. (See Musa.) 



160. Berberis species. Barberry. Berberidacece. 



Three species occur, B. dictyota, B. pinnata (California barberry) 

 and B. nervosa (Mahonia). These, no doubt, have properties not 

 unlike those of B. vulgaris. (See J. M. Maisch. The Berberis species 

 of the Pacific coast. American Journal Pharmacy, 50 :374-371, 1878, 

 and Proc. A. Ph. A. 27:201-206, 1879.) 



161. Berberis aquifolium Pursh. Oregon grape. Berberidacece. 

 Roots are used in treatment of ulcers and sores. The juice of the 



fruit fermented, with sugar added, makes an excellent wine. Cali- 

 fornia Indians have long used the root decoction as a tonic. The bark 

 is used medicinally. There is still considerable demand for this drug. 

 (Calif. Geol. Surv., Bot. 1:14). (U. S. Surv., Wheeler's Rep. Bot. 

 6:41.) 



162. Berberis nervosa Pursh. False Oregon grape. Berberidacece. 

 Berries are strongly acid, but are eaten and are said to promote the 



action of the liver. The bark and root are used in jaundice. B. repens 

 has similar properties. (Calif. Geol. Surv. Bot. 1:15.) (Contrib. 

 U. S. Nat. Herb. 7: (No. Ill) 348). 



163. Berberis pinnata Lag. Barberry. Berberidacece. 



Berries are edible. Stem and root contain a yellow die. Properties 

 like those of B. nervosa. 



164. Beta vulgaris L. Beet. Garden or red beet. Sugar beet. 

 Chenopodiacece. 



Escaped from gardens. Sugar beet culture is conducted on an 

 enormous scale in California. (See paper by Geo. W. Shaw. Numer- 

 ous state agricultural reports on sugar beet culture, etc.) 



165. Betula alba L. European white birch. Cupidiferce. 

 Cultivated. Leaves used in gout, dropsy, rheumatism. Saccharine 



