756 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



gold is poisonous to stock and the may weed (Anthemis Cotula), when applied 

 to the surface, causes vesication. The European prickly lettuce (Lactuca 

 virosa) contains a bitter principle, hyoscyamin; the prepared milky juice is 

 called Lactucarium. It is listed as poisonous by Lehmann; a small amount of 

 hyoscyamin also occurs in the cultivated lettuce. 



The seeds of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus) are said to be diuretic. 

 The oil cake from these seeds is used as stock food. Sneeze weed (Helenium 

 autumnale) is used by the Indians to produce sneezing; a decoction made from 

 it is used as a tonic. The mayweed (Anthemis Cotula) acts like chamomile, 

 and is used as a tonic and stimulant in colic; when applied to the skin, it 

 causes vesication. Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium), a stimulant and tonic, con- 

 tains achillein, C nrt H 00 NO, . The oil of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is used 



* 20 oo *. 15 



as an abortifacient, in many cases with fatal results. It contains the substance 

 thujone, found in Thuja occidentalis. This has commonly been called tanacetin 

 C 11 H 16 O 4 , and is identical with absinthol obtained from absinthium, and with 

 salviol from salvia. The Cnicus benedictus contains cnicin C 20 H 37 O 10 . 



Of the many cultivated plants of this order used for ornamental purposes, 

 the best known in the northern states are probably the bachelor's button (Cen- 

 taur ea Cyanus), a native of Europe, ageratum (Ageratum conysoides), Chi- 

 nese aster (Callistephus hortensis), garden daisy (Bellis perennis), and dahlia 

 {Dahlia variabilis), native to Mexico, running into many varieties. The last 

 named produces thickened roots, that contain a great deal of inulin, C 6 H 10 O 5 . 

 Among the species of the order which are common in the gardens are the zinnia 

 (Zinnia elegant), golden glow (Rudbeckia laciniata), sunflower (Helianthus an- 

 nuus), coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria), gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella), dusty 

 miller or cineraria (Senecio Cineraria}, common cineraria (S. cruentus) from 

 the Teneriffe, and the purple ragwort (S. elegans) from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, yarrow (Achillea Ptarmica), whiteweed (Chrysanthemum Parthenium), 

 several species of the genus chrysanthemum from Japan (C. sinense and C. 

 indicum), Marguerite (C. frutescens) and summer chrysanthemum (C. coro- 

 narium), marigold (Tagetes erecta), the pot marigold (Calendula officinalis), 

 cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) of Mexico. The marigold (Calendula officinalis) 

 cultivated in country gardens contains calendulin C^H n O . 



o 10 5 



Of the economic plants, the following are the more important: the culti- 

 vated lettuce (Lactuca sativa), probably native to Asia, slightly narcotic, 

 comprising many varieties; the safHower or saffron (Carthamus tinctorius), 

 native to Egypt, used for dyeing; marigold flowers (Calendula officinalis) 

 sometimes used as an adulterant for saffron; wormwood (Artemisia AbsintJi- 

 ium), used for making absinthe; tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus) used as a 

 pot-herb and in making vinegar, a native of Asia, but cultivated now in Hol- 

 land and England; 'the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), with thick- 

 ened roots, cultivated as food for hogs and stock, native to North America; the 

 great sunflower (Helianthus animus), the seeds of which are eaten in Russia, 

 and from which an oil is obtained; the chicory (Cichorum Intybus) ; the bur- 

 dock (Arctium minus), cultivated for its thick root which is sometimes dried 

 and mixed with coffee and also used as a forage plant; the endive (Cichorum 

 endivia) cultivated as a winter salad plant; the cardoon (Cynara Cardunculus), 

 also known as the European artichoke, used as a vegetable, the thickened 

 scales being used as food; salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius) a vegetable, and 

 the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) used like lettuce. 



