98 ENGLISH r.OTANY. 



the apex. AcLones inrgularly 4-sidccl, striated. Pappus of a 

 single row of liairs. 



In moist meadows, pastures, bu>*liy places, and liedge-hanlcs. 

 Rare, and probably not native in many of its localities. It occurs 

 in most of the Southern counties ; and Mr. Baker considers it 

 truly wild in Yorkshire, and it may possibly be so in Durham and 

 the Lake district. In Scotland, however, it is certainly introduced. 



England, [Scotland,] Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer 

 and Autumn. 



Pvootstock enlarged, fleshy, many-headed. Stem stout, erect, 

 deeply furrowed, 2 to 5 feet higli. Kadical and lower stem-leaves 

 very large, not unlike those of a Mullein; those about the middle 

 of the stem broader in proportion than tlie others, and amplexicaul. 

 Anthodcs solitary, or 2 or 3 in a corymb, on short peduncles. 

 Pcricline hemispherical, 1 to 2 inches across, the outer leaf-like 

 phyllaries much developed in the larger anthodes. Florets all 

 bright-yellow. Achenes glabrous, olive-brown, -with 4 very strong; 

 ribs, which give it a prismatic shape ; the spaces between the ribs 

 finely striate. Pappus longer than the achene, dirty-white usually 

 tinged with reddish-brown ; hairs very shortly ciliated. Plant pale- 

 green, the under side of the leaves and phyllaries softly pubescent. 



Mccampane. 



French, Arince Officiiude. German, Adder Alaut. 



This plant has a reputation attached to it even independently of its mythical 

 name. It was highly valued by the older physicians for its medicinal virtues, and is 

 still employed to some extent as an aromatic tonic. A sweetmeat, very popular with 

 schoolboys, is made from the root candied with sugar. In former days it was esteemed 

 as a cordial by the monkish herbalists, who celebrated its virtues in the line " Euula 

 campana reddit prrecordia sana." The name Elecampane is a corruption of the first of 

 these words. Gerarde tells us " it is good for shortnesse of breath, and an old cougli 

 and for such as cannot breathe unless they hold their neckes ujiright." Pliny aflirii. 

 " that the same being chewed fasting doth fasten the teeth." Gerarde adds :" 11 •■ 

 root of Elecampane is with good successe mixed with counterpoisoos ; it is a remedv 

 against the biting of serpents, it rosisteth poison ; it is good for them that are bursten 

 and troubled with cramps and convulsions." Of the origin of the name of the jilant 

 our imaginative friend Gerarde says : " It tooke the name Helenium of Helena, wife 

 to Menelaus, who had her hands full of it when Paris stole her away into Phrygia." 

 We are told that the leaves were eaten by the Romans as a potherb : the practice may 

 have extended to Troj-, and account for the fact which Gei-arde relates of the fair 

 Helen. The root contains a large quantity of a principle called inulin, resembling 

 starch in properties ; but this is combined with a resinous bitter substance and a 

 volatile oil, to which the n)edical qualities of the plant are due. A decoction of tie 

 root is said by Witliering to cure sheep affected with the scab. 



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