222 HERBS 



Action and Uses. The chief action of ergot is the stimulation of 

 plain muscle, especially of the uterus and of the arterioles in peripheral 

 parts of the body ; it is employed to excite or increase uterine con- 

 traction and to control uterine haemorrhage. 



HERBS IN LESS FREQUENT USE 



Pulsatilla (Basque Flower). The leaves, stems and flowers of Anemone 

 Pulsatilla, Linn6 (N.O. Ranunculacece}. The plant produces a rosette of stalked 

 leaves and an erect scape bearing a whorl of three bracteoles which form an 

 involucre below the large, single, terminal flower. Leaves tripinnate, ultimate 

 lobes linear, pointed, covered with silky hairs ; petioles often purplish ; stem 

 hairy ; bracteoles much divided ; sepals six, light purple, silky externally ; 

 odourless ; very acrid when fresh, becoming less so on keeping. Contains a 

 crystalline vesicant substance which decomposes into acrid, crystalline anemonin 

 and tasteless crystalline isoanemonic acid. Irritant : used in dysmenorrhoea 

 and amenorrhcea. 



Pilewort (Lesser Celandine). The leaves and flowers of Ranunculus Ficaria, 

 Linn6 (N.O. Ranunculacece), indigenous, very common. Leaves stalked, broadly 

 ovate or reniform, glabrous, crenate, cordate at base. Flowers on long peduncles, 

 three sepals, eight to twelve bright yellow petals, each with a nectary at the 

 base. Several of the roots enlarge to tubercles. Taste, when fresh, acrid. 

 Used in the fresh state as a remedy for haemorrhoids. It probably contains 

 traces of anemonin. 



Purging Flax. The leaves, stems, and flowers of Linum catharticum, Linn6 

 (N.O. Linece), indigenous. Stems very slender, 10 to 20 cm. long ; leaves small, 

 opposite, obovate or oblong, entire ; flowers very small, white, on long slender 

 pedicels ; sepals pointed ; petals obovate, minute. Taste acrid and bitter. 

 Herb (and also seeds) used as a purgative. Active constituent unknown, prob- 

 ably glucosidal, yielding by hydrolysis colourless, crystalline, inactive, linin. 



Wormwood. The leaves and flowering tops of Artemisia Absinthium, Linn 6 

 (N.O. Compositce), Northern Asia and Europe. Stems 30 to 90 cm. high ; leaves 

 alternate, rounded-oval, bi- or tri-pinnate, segments lanceolate, ash grey on 

 the upper, greyish green on the under surface, very hairy and glandular ; hairs 

 consisting of a long spindleshaped cell supported horizontally at its centre on 

 a short 3-celled pedicel ; flowerheads small, florets pale yellow, tubular. Odour 

 aromatic ; taste aromatic and bitter. Contains volatile oil (1 per cent.) and a 

 crystalline bitter glucoside, anabsinthin (absinthin). Used in the preparation 

 of the French liqueur absinthe. 



Lettuce. The fresh, flowering herb, Lactuca virosa, Linn6 (N.O. Compositce) 

 indigenous and cultivated. Stem 1 metre or more high, prickly near the base, 

 producing leafy panicles of small, pale yellow flowers. Leaves lanceolate to 

 broadly oblong, coarsely toothed or lobed with prickles on the undersurface of 

 midrib and lateral veins ; leaves and stem exude a white latex when incised ; 

 contains traces of hyoscyamine (see also ' Lactucarium '). 



Centaury. The flowering herb of Erythrcea Centaurium, Bersoon (N.O. 

 Gentianece) indigenous. Stem 20 to 30 cm. high ; leaves opposite, glabrous, 

 sessile, oblong, with 3 to 5 distinct veins ; flowers in cymes ; tube of corolla 

 twice as long as that of the calyx, 5 -partite, rose-pink, taste bitter. Contains 

 crystalline erythro-centaurin. Used as a tonic. 



