COMPOSITE. 



169 



Etymology. — Tanacetum is said to he alterod from fitharwain, which is derived 

 from the two Greek words, o, without, and ddvaros, death, in alhision to the 

 durable character of the tlow ers. Vulgare, the specific name, is fn.m the Latin ad- 

 jective vulgaris, and signifies " common." Tansn is a corruption of Tanacetum. 



History. — The Egyptians liad a legend that their deity Isis discinered the 

 properties of tansy. The plant was known to the ancients, but when and 

 where it was introduced into medical practice is not known. 



Use. — The medical properties of tansy are stimulant, carminative, sud(jrific, 

 and anthelmintic. It is used princii)ally at the present day in domestic prac- 

 tice. The i)ulverized leaves, mixed with sirup, are said to be a si)ecific for 

 ascaris. A tincture is used for stomach bitters ; and in some rural districts the 

 bruised leaves and Howers are used to flavor gin, taken for stomach troubles. 

 It is also administered for ague, in the form of tea. 



The medical properties depend upon an essential oil, called oil of tansy, 

 obtained by distilling the whole plant 



Heads discoid, flower en- 

 Florets all tubular and 



CARTHAMUS, L. (Sattiower, Saffron.) 

 velope imbricated, outer bracts leaf-like, 

 perfect ; filaments smooth ; without 

 pappus; receptacle wnth bristly bracts 

 or palese. Akene 4-angled. Annual. 



C. tinctorius, L. (vSatflower.) Stem smooth, • 

 3 to 4 feet high, nuich-branched uear the top. 

 Leaves ovate, lanceolate, sessile, aud sub- 

 amplexicault, teeth armed with sharp spines. 

 Flowers orange-colored ; heads large, ter- 

 minal; florets long and slender. 



Geography. — The Carthamus is indige- 

 nous to all eastern Asia and the Levant, aud 

 has been introduced into Egypt and western 

 Europe. It thrives well in France and 

 southern Germany, aud was brought by 

 European colonists into the eastern L'nited 

 States of North America, where it is culti- 

 vated for ornament. 



Etymology and History. — Carthamus is 

 derived from the Arabic word 7»or/o?H, paint. 



•n .- , • « ic fi.-A»i t1,o Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower). 



The specihc name, tinctorius, is trom the 



Latin word tinctura, a dyeing. Sa/flou-er 



is supposed to be a contraction of saffron-flower, but its origin is not clear. 

 The flowers were brought into western Asia and southeastern Europe, over- 

 land, as early as H5 h. (" 



Preparation.— To obtain the dyeing ])rin(ii)le — carthaniine — the young 

 florets are i)icked and washed to free them from a s(dul)le yellow coloring 

 matter which they contain. They are then dried in kilns and i)Owdered, and 

 placed in an alkaline solution in which pieces of clean white cotton are im- 

 mersed. The alkaline solution having been neutralized with weak acetic 

 acid, the cotton is removed aiul wa,'«hed in another alkaline solution. The 

 second .solution is again neutralized with acid, and carthamine in a pure con- 

 dition is precipitated. Dried carthamine has a rich metallic green color. 



