NAB ALUS RATTLESNAKE-ROOT. 187 



tute of tlie aromatic flavor of the latter ; and, moreover, infusion of chicory 

 does not produce the agreeable stimulation of coffee, and altogether serves 

 as a very poor substitute for it. 



HIER ACIUM. —Hawk- Weed. 



Hieracium venosum Ldnne. — Rattlesnake- Weed. 



Description. — Heads small, about 20-flowered ; the flowers all ligulate, 

 perfect. Involucre cylindrical, the inner scales in a single series, the outer 

 few and short. Achenia linear. Pappus a single series of tawny, fragile, 

 and rough capillary bristles. 



A perennial herb. Stem or scape 1 to 2 feet high, naked or with a 

 single leaf, smooth and slender, forking above into a diffuse corymb. 

 Radical leaves obovate or spatulate-oblong, entire or obscurely denticu- 

 late, slightly petioled, smooth and pale, often purplish and glaucous be- 

 neath, with purplish veins, the margins and often the under side of the 

 mid-vein hairy. Flowers yellow, appearing from May to July. 



Habitat. — In dry soil, especially in pine regions ; common. 



Part Used. — The entire plant — not official. 



Constituents. — Unknown. 



Preparations. — Infusion and expressed juice. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Said to be tonic, astringent, and ex- 

 pectorant, and to be an antidote to the bites of poisonous serpents. Little 

 of a positive character is known of it. 



NAB ALUS.— Rattlesnake-Boot. 



N abal us al b u s Hooker. — White Lettuce, Battlesnake-Root. 



Description. — Heads G- to 12-flowered ; the flowers all ligulate and 

 perfect. Involucre of about 8 scales, purplish. Achenia short, linear- 

 oblong, striate. Pappus copious, of cinnamon-colored, rough capillary 

 bristles. 



A perennial herb. Stem smooth and glaucous, 2 to 4 feet high, corym- 

 bose-panicled at the summit. Leaves angulate or triangular-halberd-form, 

 sinuate-toothed, or 3- to 5-cleft ; the uppermost oblong and undivided. 

 Flowers pendulous, greenish-white or purplish, appearing in autumn. The 

 whole plant abounds in a milky juice. 



Habitat. — Open grounds and borders of woods ; common in the North- 

 ern States and Canada. 



Part Used. — The entire plant — not official. 



Constituents. — Unknown . 



Preparations. — Infusion and expressed juice. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — The entire plant has a bitter taste, which 

 is most intense in the root. On this account it has been employed as a 

 tonic in domestic practice. The fresh juice is considered vulnerary and has 

 been applied to wounds, especially to snake bites. 



