108 PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



Hibiscus flowers are used in preparing shoe polish. Rich in a mucil- 

 aginous substance. 



433. Hibiscus californicus Kell. Rosemallow. Malvacece. 

 Has not yet been investigated chemically. 



434. Hierochloa macrophylla Thurb. Holy grass. Large leaved 

 vanilla grass. Graminece. 



Found in the coast redwood belt of California. Very fragrant, due 

 to the presence of cumarin. Retains its fragrance for thirty years or 

 more. Of possible great value to perfumers in the manufacture of 

 sachet powders. Almost exterminated in Marin County. Attempts 

 should be made to perpetuate it by cultivation. 



435. Humulus lupulus L. Hop. Moracece. 



Hop culture is one of the most important industries in the State. 

 The plant has escaped from cultivation in different parts of the State. 

 Strobiles much used by the Indians in the form of poultices for swell- 

 ings and bruises. 



436. Hydrangea arborescens L. Hydrangea. Saxifragacece. 

 Extensively cultivated as an ornamental plant. The root has long 



been known medicinally. The Cherokee Indians and white settlers use 

 a decoction for calculus troubles. (Am. Journ. Pharm., 122, 1887.) 



437. Hydrastis canadensis L. Golden seal. Ranunculacece. 



This native of Canada and the eastern United States is becoming 

 very rare, due to the herb gatherers. Whereas the rhizomes sold for 

 about ten cents per pound some years ago, it is now worth over three 

 dollars per pound. Cultural attempts are now being made in various 

 parts of the United States. The efforts in California are thus far 

 purely experimental. H. L. Scherb of Los Angeles has made attempts 

 at its culture. Some plants received from him for the botanic garden 

 in Golden Gate Park grew exceedingly well. Golden seal requires a 

 moist, rich, shady soil. In fact, it is grown much like ginseng. The 

 rhizomes with rootlets attached are dug up and dried. A most valu- 

 able medicine for which there will be continued good demand. (See 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 51, United States Department of Agriculture, 

 for full particulars as to culture, etc.) 



438. Hyoscyamus niger L. Henbane. Solanacece. 



An introduced plant which has escaped from cultivation. Well 

 known medicinally. (See Chap. III.) (Henbane culture in England. 

 Proc. A. Ph. A. 25: 136, 1877.) (W. A. Puckner, The Assay of Hyos- 

 cyamus. Proc. A. Ph. A. 47: 297-301, 1899.) 



439. Hypericum species. St. John's wort. Hypericacece. 



The native species require further study. Perhaps have properties 





