184 COMPOSITE 



the base, with undulate margins, nearly glabrous above, woolly tomentose 

 beneath. Heads clustered at the summit of the paniculate-corymbose 

 branches, ovate-conical before expansion, then obovate ; corolla whitish or 

 yellowish. It flowers in August and September, the mature heads remain- 

 ing a long time on the stem. The whole plant is fragrant. 



Habitat. — In woods and old fields ; everywhere common. 



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



Constituents. — A bitter principle and a little volatile oil. 



Preparations. — Used in infusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Said to be tonic. Used in catarrhal af- 

 fections. 



Several other indigenous and exotic species possess similar properties. 



ERECHTHITES. —Fire- Weed. 



Erechthites hieracifolia Kafinesque. — Fire-Weed. 



Description. — Heads many-flowered ; flowers all tubular and fertile, the 

 outer pistillate, slender, the inner perfect. Scales of the cylindrical invo- 

 lucre in a single series, linear, acute, with a few bracteoles at the base. 

 Eeceptacle naked. Achenia oblong, striate, tapering to the apex. Pappus 

 copious, of fine capillary bristles. 



An erect, coarse, and often hairy annual, 1 to 5 feet high. Leaves alter- 

 nate, lanceolate-oblong, acute, unequally and sharply cut-toothed, sessile ; 

 the upper often auricled at the base. Heads corymbose ; flowers whitish, 

 appearing from July to September. 



Habitat. — Common in recent clearings, often covering ground which 

 has been burned over almost to the exclusion of other plants. 



Part Used. — The flowering tops — not official. 



Constituents. — Fire-weed has a peculiar aromatic and somewhat dis- 

 agreeable odor, and a pungent, bitterish taste. It yields a volatile oil of 

 similar odor and taste, upon which its medicinal virtues are believed to 

 depend. 



Preparations. — Volatile oil and infusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Fire-weed is said to be tonic, astringent, 

 and alterative, and to exert a special influence upon the mucous surfaces. 

 It has been highly praised as a remedy for dysentery. 



SENECIO. —Groundsel 



Senecio aureus Linne. — Golden Ragwort, Squaw-Weed. 



Description. ^-Heads many-flowered, radiate ; rays 8 to 12, pistillate, 

 golden yellow ; disk-flowers perfect. Scales of the involucre in a single 

 series, with a few bracteoles at the base. Eeceptacle flat, naked. Achenia 

 glabrous. Pappus of numerous soft and slender capillary bristles. 



