PHARMxYCAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 113 



471. Lavatera assurgentifolia Kell. Tree mallow. Malvacece. 

 Common in the State. The leaves are rich in mucilage. Eaten by 



horses and cattle. Demulcent. 



472. Lavendula angustifolia Miller. Lavender. Labiatce. 



This European plant is extensively cultivated everywhere. The 

 flowers and entire plant yield the oil of lavender, which is worth from 

 one to three dollars per pound. The flowers bring about twenty cents 

 per pound. The oil is much used as a flea eradicator and forms -the 

 base of many proprietary flea exterminators. 



The plant is easily cultivated in California. The grower should also 

 manufacture the oil, which is obtained from the fresh flowers and 

 mtire fresh plants. Lavendula spica (spike lavender) is also culti- 

 vated for the oil which it yields. Medicinally, the lavender oil and the 

 pharmaceutical preparations made from the flowers are used in flatu- 

 lence, as a carminative, in nervous headache, etc. 



473. Lavendula vera D. C. Lavender. Labiatce. 



Extensively cultivated. The flowers are very fragrant and are 

 much used in sachet powders, perfumes, etc. Lavender oil is official 

 and forms the chief ingredient of many flea exterminators. Good 

 quality of lavender oil has been produced in California. Could no 

 doubt be grown profitably. 



474. Lawsonia alba Lam. Henna. Lythraraicece. 



Cultivated in southern portions of the State. Used by the women 

 of Egypt and of other countries to color the finger nails and by the 

 men to dye the beard. The gum (labdanum) is collected by passing 

 leathern rakes over the plants or is combed out of the wool of goats 

 which have been among the plants. The plant is used in jaundice, 

 leprosy, skin diseases, catarrh, dysentery, and in pulmonary affections. 

 (U. S. Disp.) (Proc. A. Ph. H. 35 : 164, 1887.) 



475. Lathyrus sativus L. White vetch. Leguminosce. 



\ forage plant. Horses feeding on this plant' for a long time 

 become paralyzed in the hind extemities. The laryngeal muscles are 

 also paralyzed. The seeds contain a poisonous alkaline volatile sub- 

 stance, which is destroyed on heating, hence cakes made from the seed 

 and thoroughly baked may be eaten and are said to be very nutritious. 

 This plant requires further careful study as to physiological action and 

 possible therapeutic value. 



476. Lathyrus watsoni. Vetch. Leguminosce. 



An excellent fodder plant and sometimes cooked and eaten by the 

 Indians. The older plants are boiled and applied as a poultice to 

 swellings. (Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 7: No. 3, 357.) 



8 BF 



