PLANTS FURNISHING MEDICINAL LEAVES AND HERBS. 25 
MOTHERWORT. 
Leonurus cardiaca 1. 
Synonym.—Cardiaca vulgaris Moench. 
E : ae Ae hd Ca A 
Other common names.—Throwwort, cowthwort, lion’s-tail, lion’s-ear. 
Habitat and range.—Motherwort, naturalized from Europe and a native also of Asia, 
is found about dwellings 
and in waste places, its 
range in this country ex- 
tending from Nova Scotia 
to North Carolina, Minne- 
sota, and Nebraska. 
Description.—The 
rather stout, erect, 4- 
angled stem of this peren- 
nial herb attains a height 
of from 2 to 5 feet, is spar- 
ingly hairy, and has up- 
right branches. The 
rough, dark-green leaves 
are borne on long stems, 
the lower ones rounded, 
about 2 to 4 inches wide 
and three to five lobed, 
the lobes pointed, toothed, 
or variously cut, the upper 
narrower ones three cleft 
with lance-shaped lobes. 
Motherwort flowers in 
summer, the pale-purple 
or pinkish lip-shaped 
blossoms produced in the 
axils of the leaves being 
arranged in dense circles 
around the stem; the up- 
per lip is densely covered 
with white, woolly hairs 
Fig. 17.—Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), leaves, flowers, and seed 
clusters. 
on the outside and the lower lip is three lobed and mottled. (Fig.17.) Motherwort 
belongs to the mint family (Menthace). 
Collection, prices, and uses.—The leaves and flowering tops are collected during the 
flowering season. They have an aromatic odor and a very bitter taste. At present 
they bring about 3 to 5 cents a pound. 
Motherwort has stimulant, slightly tonic properties and is used also to promote 
perspiration. 
97225°—Bul. 219—11——_4 : 
