AMERICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS 



43 



Habitat and range. — Mullein is a weed found in fields, pastures, along road- 

 sides, and in waste places, its range extending from Maine to Minnesota and 

 southward. It is also spreading in the Western States. 



Description. — This plant is easily recognized by its tall, straight stem, its 

 large f elty or flannellike leaves, and its long, dense spike of yellow flowers. During 

 the first year it produces only a rosette of downy leaves followed from June to 

 August of the second year by the long flowering stalk. The densely hairy, erect 

 stem sometimes reaches a height of 7 feet. 

 The thick, felty leaves are from 4 to 6 inches 

 in length and, with the exception of the 

 basal ones, are stemless. 



Part used. — The flowers and leaves, the 

 former collected when fully opened. In 

 limited demand only. 



NARROW DOCK 



Rumex crispus L. (Fig. 80.) 



Other common names. — Yellow dock, 



rumex, curled dock, sour dock. 



Habitat and range. — This troublesome 



weed is now found throughout the United 



States, in cultivated as well as in waste 



ground, among rubbish heaps, and along 



roadsides. 



Description. — Narrow dock has a deep 



spindle-shaped root from which arises an 



erect, angular, and furrowed stem, attaining 



a height of from 2 to 4 feet. The stem is 



branched near the top and is leafy, bearing 



numerous, long, dense clusters formed by 



drooping groups of inconspicuous, green 



flowers arranged in circles around the stem. 



These are followed by the fruits, which are in 



the form of small triangular nuts like buck- 

 wheat grains, surrounded by three very 



small veiny leaves. As the clusters ripen 



they become rusty brown. The lower leaves 



of the yellow dock are blunt, from 6 to 8 



inches in length, with long stalks, while the upper leaves are narrower, only 3 to 6 



inches in length, short stemmed or stemless. The root is large and fleshy, 



usually from 8 to 12 inches long, tapering or spindle shaped, with few or no rootlets. 

 Part used. — The root, collected late in the summer or autumn after the fruit- 

 ing tops have turned brown. They are 

 washed, either left entire or split 

 lengthwise into halves or quarters, 

 and carefully dried. In limited demand 

 only. 



OREGON HOLLYGRAPE 



Berberis aquifolium Pursh. (Fig. 81.) 



Other common names. — Ouegon 

 grape, Rocky Mountain grape, holly- 

 leaved barberry, California barberry, 

 trailing mahonia. 



Habitat and range. — This shrub is 

 native in woods in rich soil among 

 rocks from Nebraska to the Pacific 

 Ocean, but it is especially abundant 

 in Oregon and northern California, 

 low-growing shrub from 2 to 5 feet in 

 The leaves are divided like 



Figure 79.— Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) 



Figure 



Narrow dock (Rumex crispus) 



Description. — Oregon hollygrape is a 

 height, resembling the holly of the Eastern States, 

 those of an ash; the five to nine leaflets from 2 to 3 inches long and about 1 inch 

 wide are evergreen, thick, leathery, smooth, and shining on the upper surface with 

 marginal spines, The numerous small yellow flowers appear in April and May 



