10 



AMERICAN MEDICINAL BARKS. 



Fig. 1. — White pine [Pinus strobus), leaves 

 and cones. 



The slender, pale green leaves, or needles, are usually five in a sheath, about 



3 to 5 inches long, the flowers rather in- 

 conspicuous, and the cones cylindrical, 

 drooping, sometimes slightly curved, 

 resinous, about 5 to 10 inches long and 

 about an inch in thickness, but much 

 wider after the scales spread apart, 

 which generally occurs in September, 

 allowing the seeds to fall out. (Fig. 1.) 

 It requires two seasons for the cones 

 to mature. The white pine belongs to 

 the pine family (Pinacere). 



Description of bark. — The inner bark 

 of the white pine is the part employed 

 medicinally. It occurs in flat pieces 

 of irregular size, about an eighth of 

 an inch in thickness, brownish on the 

 outside, the inner surface sometimes 

 lighter colored and sometimes darker 

 than the outside, smoothish, and 

 marked with fine grooves. It breaks 

 with a tough, fibrous fracture, and has 

 a slight turpentine odor. The taste is 

 described as " mucilaginous, sweetish, 

 bitterish, and astringent." 



Prices and uses. — At present collect- 

 ors are paid from about § to 3 cents a 

 pound. 

 White pine bark is used as an expectorant, forming one of the ingredients 



in the sirup which bears its name, 



which is much used for coughs and 



colds to facilitate expectoration. 



TAMARACK. 



Larix laricina (Du Roi) Koch. 



Synonym. — Larix americana Michx. 



Other common names. — American 

 larch, black larch, red larch, hackma- 

 tack. 



Habitat and range. — This tree fre- 

 quents swamps and moist places from 

 Canada south to New Jersey, Indiana, 

 and Minnesota. It is native in this 

 country. 



Description of tree. — In spring the 

 light green, feathery appearance of the 

 young leaves of the tamarack make it a 

 rather conspicuous and attractive tree. 

 It is a slender tree belonging to the 

 pine family (Pinaceae), but unlike other 

 members of this family, except bald 

 cypress, it loses its leaves upon the 

 approach of winter. The bark is thin 

 and close, finally becoming scaly. The 

 wood, which is light brown in color, hard and resinous, is strong and durable 

 139 



Fig. 2. — Tamarack (Larix laricina), leaves 

 and cones. 



