38 



MISC. PUBLICATION 77, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



flower, which is either all green or green with dark purple stripes, is readily recog- 

 nized on account of the similarity of its form to that of the calla lily. In autumn 

 the fruit ripens in the form of a bunch of bright, scarlet, shining berries. The 

 underground portion, usually referred to as the root but botanically known as a 

 corm, is shaped like a turnip. The lower part is flat and wrinkled, while the 

 upper part is surrounded by coarse wavy rootlets. It has an extremely burning 

 taste. 



Part used. — The dried corm, collected in the summer, is sliced crosswise and 

 dried. Drying and heat diminish its burning taste, which disappears rapidly 

 with age. In limited demand only. 



Figure 69.— Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema FiG\jR'E70.—Jimson\yeed(Daturastrainonium) 



triphylium) 



JIMSON WEED 



Datura stramonium L. (Fig 70.) 



Other common names. — Jamestown weed, Jamestown lily, thorn apple, devil's 

 apple, madapple, stinkweed, stinkwort, devil's-trumpet, fireweed, dewtry. 



Habitat and range. — This is a very common weed in fields and waste places 

 almost everywhere in the United States except in the North and West. 



Description. — Jimson weed is an ill-smelling, poisonous plant with stout, much- 

 branched, leafy stems from 2 to 5 feet high. The large, smooth, thin, wavy, 

 toothed leaves are from 3 to 8 inches long. The flowers, which appear from May 

 to September, are white, funnel-shaped, about 3 inches long, and have a pro- 

 nounced odor. The prickly seed pods which follow are about the size of a horse- 

 chestnut. When ripe these pods burst open, scattering numerous poisonous 

 black, kidney-shaped seeds. 



Part used. — The leaves, collected when the plant is in flower, and the seeds. 

 In reasonably constant demand. 



LADYSLIPPER 



(1) Cypripedium pubescens Willd. (fig. 71); (2) C. parviflorum Salisb. 



Other common names. — (1) Common yellow ladyslipper, large yellow lady- 

 slipper, yellow ladyslipper, yellow moccasin flower, Venus's-shoe, Venus's-cup, 

 yellow Indian shoe, American valerian, nerveroot, male nervine, yellow Noah's- 

 ark, yellows, monkeyflower, umbil-root, yellow umbil; (2) small yellow lady- 

 slipper. 



Habitat and range. — Both of these species frequent bogs and wet places 

 in deep shady woods and thickets. The large yellow ladyslipper may be 

 found from Nova Scotia south to Alabama and west to Nebraska and Missouri. 

 The range for the small yellow ladyslipper extends from Newfoundland south 



