180 COMPOSITE. 



Part Used. — The seed — not official. 



Constituents. — A large percentage of bland fixed oil. 



Preparations. — The oil. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Sunflower seeds are said to be diuretic 

 and expectorant, but there is little reason for believing them actively 

 medicinal. 



HELENTUM. —Sneeze-Weed. 



Helenium autumnale Linne. — Sneeze-Weed. 



Description, — Heads many-flowered, radiate ; the rays several, in a 

 single series, 3- to 5-cleft at the summit, fertile, yellow, reflexed soon 

 after expansion. Involucre small, reflexed, the scales linear or awl-shaped, 

 in 2 series. Receptacle convex, globose, or oblong, naked. Achenia top- 

 shaped, ribbed. Pappus of 5 to 8 membranous, 1-nerved scales. 



An erect, nearly smooth perennial herb. Stem 1 to 3 feet high, angled, 

 branching. Leaves lanceolate, toothed, decurrent on the stems and 

 branches. Heads corymbed, showy, appearing in September. 



Habitat. — In moist places along streams ; common everywhere. 



Parts Used. — The leaves and flowers — not official. 



Constituents. — Unknown. 



Preparations. — Used in powder or decoction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — The common name of the plant indicates 

 the popular estimation of it. The powdered flowers particularly have been 

 used as an errhine, and a decoction is said to be tonic and diaphoretic. 



MARtfTA.— May-Weed. 



Maruta Cotula De Candolle. — May- Weed, Wild Chamomile. 



Description. — Heads many-flowered, radiate ; rays neutral, white, soon 

 reflexed ; disk-flowers tubular, perfect. Involucre hemispherical, the 

 scales imbricated, shorter than the disk, with whitish margins. Recepta- 

 cle conical, chaffy throughout, or only at the summit. Achenia obovoid, 

 ribbed, glabrous. Pappus none. 



An annual, one-half to one foot or more in height. Leaves tripin- 

 nately divided, the ultimate segments very narrowly linear. Heads solitary, 

 terminating the branches. It flowers from midsummer till late in autumn. 



Habitat. — Common everywhere in waste places. 



Part Used. — The herb — formerly official ; it was dropped from the 

 Pharmacopoeia in 1880. 



Constituents. — Volatile oil, tannic, valerianic, and oxalic acids, bitter ex- 

 tractive, etc. 



Preparations. — Commonly employed in infusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — May-weed has a very disagreeable odor, 

 and, when fresh, a bitter, acrid taste. Therapeutically it acts like chamo- 

 mile but is much less agreeable. It is seldom used except by the laity. 



