ASTERACEjE. 413 



so as to form a compound diffuse corymb, with a subulate bract at each division. The radi- 

 cal leaves are obovate or oblong spathulate, entire or slightly-toothed, with a short petiole, 

 thin, often glaucous and purplish beneath, the margins and midrib villous, but the sur- 

 faces often glabrous, the first that unfold are appressed to the ground ; the cauline leaves 

 when present glabrous. Heads small and about 20-flowered, base of involucre and pe- 

 duncles usually somewhat hispid with short hairs ; inner scales of involucre glabrous or 

 nearly so. Florets bright and yellow. Achenia linear. 



The Hawkweed is a native of many parts of the United States, but is 

 most common to the northward and eastward. It flowers from May to July. 

 The parts that have been used medicinally are the leaves and root. These 

 have no odour, but a bitterish and somewhat mucilaginous taste. No chemi- 

 cal examination has been made of them. 



Medical Properties. — The Hawkweed is used in domestic practice as a 

 mild astringent and expectorant in haemoptysis and chronic catarrh, and has 

 been given in scrofula and amenorrhea, but does not appear to be possessed 

 of any very decided powers, and is noticed now only on account of its re- 

 puted power in curing the bites of venomous snakes. Among the Indian 

 tribes a great number of vegetable substances were considered as antidotes 

 against the venom of snakes ; some of these, although not now employed as 

 alexipharmics, are of indisputable remedial powers, as the Polygala, the 

 Serpentaria, and the Cimicifuga, whilst on the other hand many of them 

 appear to be almost devoid of any active properties, as the Prenanthes, the 

 Alisma, thePedicularia, and the plant now under consideration, and yet there 

 are numerous instances on record where they apparently have effected a cure 

 (Pursh, Flor. ii. 499 ; Tech. Repos. iv. 258). The Hawkweed is mentioned 

 by Schoepf as of much efficacy, the root and leaves being applied in a bruised 

 state to the wound, and the juice taken internally. Some years since a per- 

 son of Elnsworth brought a collection of rattlesnakes to this city and pro- 

 fessed to be in possession of a certain cure for the symptoms arising from 

 their bite, which he offered to divulge for a moderate compensation. This 

 being paid him, he suffered himself to be bitten several times, and after the 

 poisonous effects had displayed themselves, was completely relieved by taking 

 a few ounces of the decoction of the root of a plant which was identified by 

 Dr. Pickering as the Hieracium venosum. The same snake was suffered 

 to bite a small puppy, which died from the poison in about five hours. These 

 experiments were made in the presence of a number of distinguished medical 

 and scientific persons, so that no deception was practised. A full account of 

 them by Dr. R. Harlan, will be found in the third volume Transactions of 

 American Philosophical Society, New Series. Although it must be admitted 

 that this plant certainly appeared to counteract the effects of the poison, still 

 reliance should not be placed upon it to the exclusion of the more sure means 

 of suction, pressure or ligature; though it well deserves a full examination 

 both as respects its real medicinal powers and its chemical composition. 



Taraxacum. — Holler. 



Heads many-flowered. Involucre double, exterior of small scales appressed, spread- 

 ing or reflexed; inner ones, erect in a single series. Receptacle naked. Achenia oblong, 

 ribbed or angled, muricate on the ribs, the apex abruptly produced into a beak. Pappus 

 of many white capillary bristles. 



A small genus of perennial stemless plants, with simple hollow and naked 

 one-headed scapes, and oblong, or lanceolate leaves, which are nearly entire, 

 sinuately-toothed or runcinate. The flowers are yellow. They all abound 

 in a milky bitter juice. 



