101 



REMEDY AND MEANS OF CONTROL: As the plant produces an enormous 

 quantity of small seeds it should not be allowed to reach maturity. Grub- 

 bing out or repeated cutting is the only effectual means of getting rid of 

 this weed. 



SNEEZEWEED (Helenium autumnale L.) THISTLE FAMILY. 



PLATE XL. 



COMMON NAMES: Among the popular names by which sneezeweed 

 is known are false sunflower, swamp sunflower, and yellow ox-eye. 



DESCRIPTION: The sneezeweed is an erect, soft, downy or nearly 

 smooth perennial plant, growing to a height of two to six feet. The flow- 

 ering heads are numerous, showy and bright yellow. Each head consists 

 of a central raised globular mass of numerous small flowers, surrounded 

 by ten to eighteen bright yellow ray flowers. The leaves are without 

 stalks, firm, oblong, pointed at the apex and narrowed at the base. The 

 leaves are prolonged more or less down the stem. The seeds are top-shaped, 

 ribbed, and hairy, with five to eight pointed scales at one end. Helenium 

 blooms profusely from August to the end of October, and is often cultivated 

 for that reason. 



DISTRIBUTION: Sneezeweed is a native of Canadian soil, and is 

 found in swamps, wet meadows, and along streams from Quebec to British 

 Columbia. 



POISONOUS PROPERTIES: This plant is known to be poisonous when 

 eaten in any quantity. As a rule cattle avoid it. Chesnut says: 



" Sheep, cattle, and horses that are unfamiliar with the plant are often 

 poisoned by it when driven to localities where it is abundant. As a rule, 

 these animals avoid it, but it is said they sometimes develop a taste for it 

 and are quickly killed by eating it in large quantity. The poisonous 

 constituent has not been closely investigated, but it is known that it exists 

 principally in the flowers. The young plants appear to be only very 

 slightly dangerous. In the mature ones the amount of poison present 

 seems to vary greatly even in the same field. The symptoms, as deter- 

 mined by experiments made in Mississippi upon calves, are an accelerated 

 pulse, difficult breathing, staggering, and extreme sensitiveness to the 

 touch. In fatal cases, death is preceded by spasms and convulsions. 

 Melted lard has been used with good effect in offsetting the action of the 

 poison when given before the spasms began." 



REMEDY AND MEANS OF CONTROL: As the plant prefers wet soil, 

 drainage and cultivation are the best means of preventing its growth. 

 In small patches it may be hand-pulled taking care to get up the perennial 

 roots and to avoid scattering the seeds if they have already formed. 



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