170 COMPOSITE. 



Co)ii<lihir)i/x. — A fnifjvfut volatile oil. 



Frepamlioiis. — Infusion, decoction, nml volatile oil. 



Medical Prifperliefi and Uaes. — Goldeu-rod is gently stimulant, diapho- 

 retic, and carminative. The decoction and ^;ann infusion are used in do- 

 mestic practice to produce diaphoresis, to relieve colic, and to promote 

 menstruation. Tlu^ oil is used for similar purjjoses. 



Other sj)ecies of solidago have been employed medicnual^", but iione of 

 them ai'e as agreeable as this. 



GRINDELIA. 



Charnctn' of the Genus. — Heads many-flowered ; rays jMstillate, in a 

 single series ; disk-flowers tubular, perfect. Involucre hemispherical or 

 sub-globose, the numerous scales imbricated in several series. Iiecei)tacle 

 flat, minutely pitted. Corolla of the ray elongated ; of the disk, tubular- 

 infundibuliform, 5-toothed. Achenia obovate or oval, somewhat angled, 

 glabrous. Pappus of 2 to 8 rigid brisLlcs or awns, which are early de- 

 ciduous. 



Perennial or biennial herbs (rarely suft'ruticose), Avith branching stems. 

 Leaves entire or serrate, somewhat jjelkicid- or reticulate-punctate ; the 

 radical ones usually spatulate, cauline, sessile or joartly clasping. Heads 

 solitary at the summit of the branches ; flowers yellow. The heads, in- 

 (duding the involucres, are commonly thickly coated with a glutinous or 

 resinous varnish. 



Grindelia robustaNuttall. 



Description. — Heads large, manj'-flowerod. Involucre leafy at the base, 

 the scales jtroduced into recurved-squarrose, subulate-linear appendages ; 

 piippus of 2 to 5 bristles. 



Stem stout, 1^^ foot hi^ii, branching. Leaves oblong, obtuse, coarsely 

 serrate, cordate-clasjiiug, 1^ to 2 inches long. The entire phmt glabrous. 

 A variable species. 



Habitat. — Common along the Pacific coast. 



Grindelia squarrosa Dunal. 



Descvipfion. — Heads smaller than the preceding ; the involucre about 

 one-half inch in diameter. Scales with rccui'ved-squaiTOse or mostl}' cir- 

 cinate, subulate tips ; pappus of 2 to 4 bristles. 



Stem rather slender, 10 to 20 inches high, corymbosely branched. 

 Leaves oblong-lanceolate, or spatulate, finely serrate, the upper entire, 

 somewhat clasping. 



llal)itat. — Cojnmon on the dry plains west of the Rocky Mountains. 



Several other species of grindelia resemble those above described in 

 general appearance and probably in constituents also. 



Parts Used. — The leaves and flowering tops of G. robusta — official 

 title, Grindelia — United States Pharmacopceia. G. squarrosa is believed to 



