AMERICAN MEDICINAL FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND SEEDS. 



15 



are from 4 to 12 inches in length, thick and rough, with dense, felty hairs above 

 and below, oblong in outline and pointed at the top, their margins extending 

 winglike down the stem. The sulphur-colored corolla of the mullein flowers 

 is wheel shaped and five lobed, with rounded, somewhat unequal lobes, and, as 

 stated, the flowers are densely crowded in an elongated, cylindrical, narrow 

 spike. They have a honeylike odor. 



Collection, uses, and prices. — The flowers are used medicinally, that is, the 

 corolla, the other parts being discarded. These are collected when about fully 

 open, but before the pet- 

 als are ready to drop. 

 They have a sweetish 

 odor and a mucilaginous, 

 sweet taste. 



Mullein is used for the 

 relief of coughs and ca- 

 tarrhs and also in diar- 

 rheal complaints. The 

 leaves are similarly em- 

 ployed. Mullein flowers 

 are listed wholesale at 

 from 70 to 80 cents a 

 pound. 



ELDER. 



Sambucus canadensis L. 



Other common names. — 

 American elder, sweet el- 

 der, sambucus, elder flow- 

 ers, elder blows. 



Habitat and range. — 

 The elder bush is found 

 in rich soil and low, 

 somewhat damp ground 

 from Canada southward 

 to Florida and Arizona. 



Description. — Elder is 

 an indigenous Shrub and 

 is a member of the honey- 

 suckle family (Caprifo- 



liacese). The deliciously sweet odor given off by the large flat clusters of 

 creamy white flowers when the bush is in full bloom is well known. The shrub 

 attains a height of 6 to 10 feet, its light-gray, numerous stems being generally 

 smooth and the younger ones contaning a large white pith. 



The leaves are rather large and consist of 5 to 11 oval leaflets borne on short 

 stalks ; these are pointed at the apex, smooth above and somewhat hairy on the 

 veins beneath, and measure from about 2 to 5 inches in length, with margins 

 sharply toothed. About June or July the flat-topped, fragrant clusters appear, 

 composed of numerous small, five-lobed, wheel-shaped, creamy white flowers. 

 The clusters of edible fruits which follow are black or a very dark purple, 

 small, round, -shining, and juicy. (Fig. 12.) 



Fig. 12. — Elder (Sambucus canadensis), leaves, flowering 

 and fruiting clusters. 



