37 



Description. — Canada Henbane is an annual weed belonging' to the 

 aster family (Asteracese). The stem, which is bristly-hairy, or some- 

 times smooth, varies greatly in height, according to the soil, being 

 sometimes only 3 inches high, and in favorable soil often reaching a 

 height of 10 feet. The larger plants are branched near the top. The 

 leaves are usually somewhat hairy, those scattered along the stem being 1 

 rather narrow, with unbroken margins, and the lower ones slightly 

 toothed. From June to November numerous heads of small incon- 

 spicuous white flowers are produced, followed by an abundance of seed. 



Parts used. — The entire herb is medicinal, and 

 should 1 >e gathered during the flowering period 

 and carefully dried. It has a faint, agreeable 

 odor and a somewhat astringent and bitter 

 taste. The fresh herb on distillation yields 

 a volatile oil which is sold as oil of fleabane. 



The common name "blood stanch" indi- 

 cate- the use of this plant for arresting hem- 

 orrhages from various sources and the bleed- 

 ing of wounds. It is useful also in diarrhea 

 and dropsy. 



Price. — The price paid for erigeron or flea 

 bane ranges from 6 to 8 cents per pound. 



JTMSON WEED. 

 Datura stramonium L. 



Other common names. — Jamestown weed 

 (from which "jimson" weed i< derived), thorn- 

 apple, stinkweed, stinkwort, devil's apple, 

 mad-apple, devil"- trumpet, fireweed, James- 

 town lily, dewtry, apple of Peru. (Fig. 26). 



Range and habitat. — Fimsonweed is exceed- 

 ingly common in fields and waste places 

 throughout the entire country with the excep- 

 tion of the North and West. It is native in 

 the Tropics and widely scattered in nearly 

 all warm countries. 



Description. — This well-known rank and ill-scented poisonous weed 

 i- ;in annual about 2 to 5 feet in height, and belongs to the potato 

 family (Solanacese). Its yellowish- green stems are stout, leafy, 

 and much forked. The leaves are large, 3 to S inches long, thin, 

 smooth, pointed at the apex and usually narrowed at the base, irreg- 

 ularly waved and toothed, veiny, dark green on the upper surface 

 and paler green beneath. The rather large, showy flowers are pro- 

 duced from May to September. They are white, funnel shaped, 



188 



r-=»2J?Begf 



Pig. 25.— Canada fleabane (Lep- 

 tilon canadense (L.) Britton). 



