134 



CASE No. 339. Dandelion Roots {Taraxacum officinale, 



69. Wiggers), a common and troublesome weed almost 

 wherever cultivation extends. Dandelion roots are ino- 

 dorous, have a bitter taste, and are tonic, aperient, and 

 diuretic. An extract is prepared from them. The roots 

 dried, roasted, and ground are sometimes used to adulterate 

 coffee, or even as a substitute for it. The blanched leaves 

 are used on the Continent as a salad. Observe crystallized 

 Mannite from the Dandelion. 



Note a specimen of Lactucarium or Lettuce Opium 

 obtained from several species of Lactuca as L. virosa, L., 

 L. Scariola, L., &c. It is used in medicine as a mild 

 narcotic. The leaves of the Garden Lettuce (L. Scariola) 

 are very largely used as a salad. 

 CASE In the first compartment of this Case note roots of 



70. SCORZONERA {ScoTzonera hispanica, L.), a native of Spain, 

 cultivated for the roots, which are used as a vegetable, 

 as are also those of the Salsafy (Tragopogon po7^rifolius, 

 L.), which is found in wet meadows in some localities in 

 Britain, but nowhere wild. It is occasionally cultivated 

 in this country as a vegetable, but much more extensively 

 on the Continent. 



In the small order Goodenovieae, note Taccada Pith 

 from the stems of Scaevola Koenigii, Vahl, used by 

 Malays and Siamese for making artificial flowers, &c. 

 Observe models of fruits in this pith from Amboyna. 



Bluebell or Harebell Order (Campanulaceae). A 

 group of herbs or undershrubs scattered throughout the 

 globe. Very few have any economic value. 



No. 340. Indian Tobacco {Lobelia Winflata, L.). 

 An erect annual or biennial herb, from one to two feet 

 high, an inhabitant of dry places in the Northern United 

 States, extending to Hudson's Bay and Saskatchewan on 

 the one hand and to the Mississippi on the other, and found 

 also in Kamtschatka. Lohelia inflata as imported into 

 this country consists of the dried herb cut into pieces of 

 varying sizes, and mostly compressed in the form of 

 oblong, rectangular-shaped packages. Lobelia in small 

 doses is expectorant and diaphoretic, in full doses emetic, 

 and in excessive doses a powerful acro-narcotic poison ; 

 its effects being similar to those of tobacco. 



