774 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Distribution. From Minnesota, Western Iowa, to Montana, Texas, New 

 Mexico and Sonora. 



Poisonous properties. Several species of Liatris are powerful diaphoretics, 

 formerly these species were used as antidotes against snake bite. Dr. Johnson 

 says that they probably possess no antidotal properties whatever and beneficial 

 effects attributed to them are doubtless due to the diaphoresis induced by the 

 administration of large quantities of the hot decoction. 



11. Grindelia Willd. Gum Weed. 



Coarse perennial or biennial herbs, occasionally woody at the base; leaves 

 alternate, sessile or clasping, spinulose serrate; involucre hemispherical; scales 

 imbricated in several series; heads large, terminating leafy branches; radiate or 

 rayless; ray flowers yellow, pistillate, disk flowers perfect or staminate; achenes 

 short, thick, compressed or turgid; pappus of 8 awns, soon falling. 



About 25 species, from western Minnesota and Iowa westward and south- 

 ward to Peru and Chili. 



Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh.). Gum Weed 



A resinous, viscid, glabrous perennial from 1-3 feet high; leaves alternate, 

 spatulate to linear oblong, sessile or clasping, spinulose serrate; heads many 

 flowered; ray flowers yellow, pistillate; scales of the involucre hemispherical, 

 imbricated in several rows with green tips ; achenes short and thick ; pappus 

 consisting of 2 or 3 awns. 



Distribution. Common west of the Missouri river from Mexico, Nevada 

 and Texas to British America and east to Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, 

 occasionally naturalized eastward. 



Poisonous properties. Very abundant in the west; is not liked by stock. 

 The G. robusta and G. squarrosa are used in medicine in moderate doses to stim- 

 ulate the mucous membrane and are beneficial in catarrhal affections. They are 

 also antispasmodics. An alkaloid has been isolated from G. robusta. It con- 

 tains grindelin, a bitter alkaloid, and two glucosides which resemble the saponins 

 of Polygala. 



12. Solidago L. Golden-rod 



Perennial erect herbs, simple or branched; leaves alternate, simple, toothed 

 or entire ; heads small, in terminal or axillary panicles, cymose corymbose ; ray 

 flowers yellow, rays few or many pistillate; disk flowers yellow, perfect; in- 

 volucre hemispherical or bell-shaped, bracts appressed, destitute of green tips, 

 achenes many-ribbed, terete or nearly so ; pappus of simple capillary bristles. 



A genus of about 100 species mostly in North America. About one-half 

 of the number found in northern states east of the Missouri river. A few of 

 the species are handsome and ornamental, like Solidago speciosa, S. Drum- 

 mondn, S. Missouriensis and S. odora. The latter species is used as a stim- 

 ulant and carminative. From this species there is derived an aromatic oil. 

 An oil is also derived from Solidago canadensis, which strongly resembles the 

 oil obtained from pine needles. The leaves of the fragrant golden-rod (5*. 

 odora) are often used as a substitute for tea; it contains an aromatic volatile oil. 



Solidago canadensis L. Golden-rod 



A perennial with rough stem, from 3-6 feet high; leaves hairy beneath, 

 rough above, lanceolate and pointed, sharply serrate ; heads small, few flowered ; 



