AMEEICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS 



45 



Description. — Pinkroot is an herb with a simple erect stem from 6 inches 

 to V/z feet high. The pointed leaves are stemless, from 2 to 4 inches long, and 

 one-half to 2 inches wade. The rather showy flowers are produced from May 

 to July in a 1-sided terminal spike. They are tube-shaped, narrowed below, 

 and slightly contracted toward the top, where they terminate in five lance- 

 shaped lobes. The outside and inside of the tube are bright scarlet and the 

 lobes j^ellow. 



The roots of other plants, especially that of the East Tennessee pinkroot 

 (Ruellia caroliniensis (Walt.) Steud., syn. R. ciliosa Pursh), are often found 

 mixed with the true pinkroot. The rootstock of this plant is larger and not as 

 dark as that of Shigella marilandica, and it has fewer and coarser roots. 



Part used. — The rootstock, collected after the flowering period. In reason- 

 ablv constant demand. 



Figure 83.— Pinkroot (Spigelia 

 marilandica) 



Figure 84.— Pipsissewa (A, Chimaphila 

 umbellata: B, C. maculata) 



PIPSISSEWA 



(1) Chimaphila umbellata (L.) Barton; (2) C. maculata (L.) Pursh. (Fig. 84.) 



Synonyms. — (1) Pyrola umbellata L., Chimaphila corymbosa Pursh; (2) P. 

 maculata L. 



Other common names. — (1) Common pipsissewa, prince's pine, pyrola, rheu- 

 matism weed, bitter wintergreen, ground holly, king's-cure, love-in- winter, 

 noble pine, pine tulip; (2) striped pipsissewa, spotted pipsissewa, spotted winter- 

 green, spotted piperidge, ratsbane, dragon' s-tongue. 



Habitat and range. — Common pipsissewa is found in dry, shady woods, 

 especially in pine forests, from New Brunswick to British Columbia and south 

 to Georgia, Mexico, and California. Spotted pipsissewa occurs in similar places, 

 but its range extends only to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Mississippi. 



Description. — Common pipsissewa is a small herb a foot or less in height 

 with a long, running, partly underground stem and shining, dark-green, ever- 

 green, somewhat leathery leaves, 1 to 2 inches long, rather crowded toward 

 the top of the stem. From about June to August its handsome, waxy-white 

 or pinkish fragrant flowers are borne in nodding clusters from the top of the 

 erect stem. 



The spotted pipsissewa is readily distinguished from the former by its leaves, 

 which are olive green marked with white along the midrib and veins. 



Part used. — The leaves and the herb of both species. In reasonably constant 

 demand. 



