PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 93 



305. Delphinium trolliifolium Gray. Larkspur. Eanunculacece. 

 Occurs from California northward into Oregon and British Colum- 

 bia. Requires further study. 



306. Delphinium variegatum T. and G. Sacramento larkspur. 

 nunculacece. 



Poisonous. 



307. Dicentra chrysantha H. and A. Dutchman's breeches. 

 imariacece. 



Grows on high, dry ridges. Requires further study as to active con- 

 ituents. Perhaps contains an alkaloid like that of D. canadensis. 

 . T. Wenzell, Am. Journ. Pharm. 205, 1855.) 



308. Dicentra farmosa D.C. Dutchman's breeches. Bleeding 

 heart. Fumariacece. 



Found in shady woods. Said to be tonic, diuretic and alterative. 

 Extensively used by the eclectics. 



>309. Digitalis purpurea L. Foxglove. Digitalis. Scrophulariacece. 

 An European plant, introduced everywhere ; has escaped from culti- 

 vation and occurs spontaneously in several places along the entire 

 Pacific coast as far north as Vancouver Island. Extensively grown 

 in California. According to chemical analyses, the American article 

 is fully as active as the European (English). Easy of cultivation. 

 Thrives best in rather sandy, fairly rich, loose soil. Should be 

 attempted on a large scale (several acres or more). Plant in rows 

 and cultivate not unlike sugar-beet or potatoes. Full grown, bright 

 green leaves of the second year's growth only are collected, at the 

 time of flowering. Spread leaves thinly and dry quickly, carefully 

 and uniformly. When dry, keep in tightly-closed, dry packages in 

 dry place. Should be marketed promptly, as the drug deteriorates 

 rather quickly (one year and less). A very useful drug, heart tonic, 

 poisonous. Market value per pound, for good material, about forty 

 cents. 



310. Dioscorea species. Yam root. Dioscoreacece. 



Most species are cultivated. Edible, tuberous roots, very rich in 

 starch. The eclectics use the roots of D. villosa in bilious colic and 

 the negroes of the southern states use them in the treatment of rheu- 

 matism. 



311. Diospyros virginiana L. Persimmon. Styracece. 

 Cultivated in the southern portions of the State. The unripe fruit 



is very astringent, rich in tannin, used in diarrhoea, dysentery, uterine 

 hemorrhage. The bark is also very astringent and similarly used. 



