BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 26 



Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief 

 December 18, 1913. 



AMERICAN MEDICINAL FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND 



SEEDS. 



By Alice Henkel, 

 Assistant, Economic and Systematic Botany. 



INTRODUCTION 



While the greater number of plants employed for medicinal pur- 

 poses are valued for their roots, barks, or leaves, some are useful on 

 account of their flowers, fruits, or seeds. Such flowers, fruits, and 

 seeds as seem to be in greatest demand at present are included in this 

 bulletin, and of the 13 mentioned 6 are listed as official in the Eighth 

 Decennial Revision of the 'United States Pharmacopoeia. 



COLLECTION OF FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND SEEDS. 



Flowers bring the best price when, after drying, they retain as 

 nearly as possible their natural color and odor. They should be 

 gathered when they first open, or at least very soon afterwards, and 

 no faded flowers must be included. In seeking to preserve the natural 

 color the flowers should be carefully dried in the shade and prevented 

 from becoming moist. 



Fruits or berries should be gathered at maturity and must be very 

 carefully dried, so that they may not adhere to each other or become 

 moldy. 



Seeds should be collected as they are ripening, just before the seed 

 pods open or as they are about to open. They may be placed in 

 trays and dried in the open air and shaken frequently to insure drying 

 throughout. Bits of stems or leaves or shriveled seeds should, of 

 course, be removed. 



When ready for shipment each lot may be carefully packed in 

 sound burlap bags or in clean boxes. Samples should previously 

 have been sent to drug dealers for their inspection, who should be 

 informed also as to the quantity the prospective seller has to* 

 dispose of. 



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