184 compcsityE. 



tilt! Imso, with uudiilate margins, nearly glabrous above, woollj' tome, j^ 5 

 beneath. Heads clustered at the summit of the pauioulate-corymbose 

 brandies, ovate-conical before expansion, then obovate ; corolla whitish or 

 yellowish. It flowers in August and September, the mature heads remain- 

 ing a long time on the stem. The whole plant is fragrant. 



Ilabitut. — In wo(m1s and old fields ; everywhere common. 



l\ui>^ f'scd. — The Howers and tops — not official.. 



CuiislUunnlti, — A bitter principle and a little volatile oil. 



I'lvparaliuns.— Used in infusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Said to be tonic. Used in catarrhal af- 

 fections. 



Several other indigenous and exotic species possess similar properties. 



ERECHTIIITES.— FiKK-WKEn. 



Erechthites hieracifolia Rafinesque. — Fire-Weed. 



Jjcacriplinii. — Heads many-llowered ; flowers all tul)ular and fertile, the 

 oviter pistillate, slender, the inner pcu'fect. Scales of the cylindrical invo- 

 lucre in a single series, linear, acute, with a few bracteoles at the l)ase. 

 Ileceptacle naked. Achenia oblong, striate, tapering to the apex. Pappus 

 coi)ious, of tine capillary bristles. 



An erect, coarse, and often hairy annual, 1 to 5 feet high. Leaves alter- 

 nate, lanceolate-oblong, acute, uneqiially and sharply cut-toothed, sessile ; 

 the upper often auricled at the base. Heads corymbose ; Howers whitish, 

 appearing from July to September. 



Hahilid. — Common in recent clearings, often covering ground which 

 has been burned over almost to the exchision of other plants. 



Fart Used. — The flowering tops — not official. 



i7<mxti/ue))ls. — Fire-weed has 1 peculiar ai'omatic and somewhat dis- 

 agreeable odor, and a pungent, bitterish taste. It yields a volatile oil of 

 similar odor and taste, upon which its medicinal vii'tues are believed to 

 depend. 



Preparations. — Volatile oil and infusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Fire-weed is said to be tonic, astringent, 

 and alterative, and to exert a special influence upon the mucous surfaces. 

 It has been highly praised as a remedy for dysentery. 



SENECIO. — GiioUNDSEL . 



Senecio aureus Linne. — (Inlden Ragvort, Squaw-Weed. 



Description. — Heads many-flowered, radiate ; I'ays 8 to 12, pistillate, 

 golden yellow ; disk-flowers perfect. Scales of the involucre in a single 

 series, Avith a few bracteoles at the base. Receptacle flat, naked. Achenia 

 glabrous. Pappus of numerous soft and slender capillary bristles. 



