SOLIDAOO — OOLDEN-ROD. 175 



Erigeron Canadense Linm'. — Canada Flenbane, Ilorse-Weed, Jintler- 

 Weed. 



Description. — Heads voiy nnmei'ons, small, cylindrical, jianicled ; rays 

 numerous, inconsincuous, shorter than the involucre. Pappus simple. 



Stem erect, 3 to 5 feet high, panicled above, hispid or sometimes nearl,\ 

 glabrous. Leaves lanceolate-linear, mostly entire, liispidly ciliate ; radical 

 leaves cut-lobed. It blooms from July till late in the artumn. 



Ifabitat. — A common and unsightly weed, widely ditt'used over the 

 world. 



These three species fairly represent the whole genus, though several 

 others have been employed medicinally. 



Parts Used. — The leaves and tops — not official, though they were for- 

 merly. 



Constituents. — All these species of erigeron when distilled with water 

 yield volatile oil, E. Canadense producing a gi'eater jiroportion than the 

 others, and an article of slightly different character. Among their other 

 constituents are tannic and gallic acids and bitter extractive. 



Preparations. — Among the commercial preparations are solid and fluid 

 extracts. The plants are most commonly administered in decoction or in- 

 fusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — There is probably little difference in the 

 kind of effect produced by the different sjjecies of erigeron, but it is gen- 

 erally admitted that E. Canadense is most active. This is considered diu- 

 retic, tonic, and astringent. It has been used beneficially in diseases of the 

 urinai'y organs and in drojisies. The oil is said to be useful in uterine, 

 pulmonary, and other internal hemon-hages-. 



SOLID AGO. —G oi.DEN-RoD. 



Solidago odora Alton. — Sweet-scented Golden-Rod. 



Description. — Heads few- flowered, radiate ; rays 3 or 4, rather large, 

 oblong, obtuse, pistillate ; disk-flowers tubular, perfect. Scales of the in- 

 volucre oblong, acute, destitute of foliaceous tips, the outer ones shorter 

 and imbricating the othei'S. Receptacle small, not chafiy. Achenia many- 

 ribbed, somewhat terete. Pappus simple, of numerous scabrous capillary 

 bristles. 



Stem slender, 2 to 3 feet high, smooth or slightly pubescent below, 

 pubescent above. Leaves linear-lanceolate, entire, reticulate-veiny, but 

 only the mid-vein distinct, rough on the margin, otherwise smooth and 

 shining, pellucid-dotted. Heads in racemose, one-sided panicles, appear- 

 ing in September. 



Habitat. — In the margins of thickets and in old fields, in sandy soil, 

 from Maine and Vermont to Kentucky and southward. 



Parts Used. — The leaves and tops — not official. 



