] 76 COMPOSITE. 



Constituents. — A fragrant volatile oil. 



Preparations. — Infusion, decoction, and volatile oil. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Golden-rod is gently stimulant, diapho- 

 retic, and carminative. The decoction and warm infusion are used in do- 

 mestic practice to produce diaphoresis, to relieve colic, and to promote 

 menstruation. The oil is used for similar purposes. 



Other species of solidago have been employed medicinally, but none of 

 them are as agreeable as this. 



GRINDELIA. 



Character of the Genus. — Heads many-flowered ; rays pistillate, in a 

 single series ; disk-flowers tubular, perfect. Involucre hemispherical or 

 sub-globose, the numerous scales imbricated in several series. Receptacle 

 flat, minutely pitted. Corolla of the ray elongated ; of the disk, tubular- 

 infundibuliform, 5-toothed. Achenia obovate or oval, somewhat angled, 

 glabrous. Pappus of 2 to 8 rigid bristles or awns, which are early de- 

 ciduous. 



Perennial or biennial herbs (rarely suffruticose), with branching stems. 

 Leaves entire or serrate, somewhat pellucid- or reticulate-punctate ; the 

 radical ones usually spatulate, canline, sessile or partly clasping. Heads 

 solitary at the summit of the branches ; flowers yellow. The heads, in- 

 cluding the involucres, are commonly thickly coated with a glutinous or 

 resinous varnish. 



G ri nde I ia robustaNuttall. 



Description. — Heads large, many-flowered. Involucre leafy at the base, 

 the scales produced into recurved-squarrose, subulate-linear appendages ; 

 pappus of 2 to 5 bristles. 



Stem stout, 1^ foot high, branching. Leaves oblong, obtuse, coarsely 

 serrate, cordate-clasping, 1^ to 2 inches long. The entire plant glabrous. 

 A variable species. 



Habitat. — Common along the Pacific coast. 



Grindelia squarrosa Dunal. 



Description. — Heads smaller than the preceding ; the involucre about 

 one-half inch in diameter. Scales with recurved-squarrose or mostly cir- 

 culate, subulate tips ; pappus of 2 to 4 bristles. 



Stem rather slender, 10 to 20 inches high, corymbosely branched. 

 Leaves oblong-lanceolate, or spatulate, finely serrate, the uj:>per entire, 

 somewhat clasping. 



Habitat. — Common on the dry plains west of the Rocky Mountains. 



Several other species of grindelia resemble those above described in 

 general appearance and probably in constituents also. 



Paints Used. — The leaves and flowering tops of G. robusta — official 

 title, Grindelia — United States Pharmacopoeia. G. squarrosa is believed to 



