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



midrib. The lower leaves are at times 10 inches long and 3 inches wide, but the 

 upper ones -are much smaller. The pale yellow flowers, which appear in the 

 early fall, occur in very numerous heads up to a third of an inch broad, having the 

 feathery appearance of the ripe dandelion bloom, arranged in open clusters, each 

 head consisting of 6 to 12 flowers. 



Part used. — The leaves. In limited demand only. 



PURPLESTEM ANGELICA 



Angelica atropurpurea L. (Fig. 89.) 



Synonym. — Archangelica atropurpurea Hoffm. 



Other common names. — American angelica, great angelica, high angelica, 

 purple angelica, masterwort. 



Habitat and range. — Purplestem angelica is a native herb, common in swamps 

 and damp places from Newfoundland to Delaware and west to Minnesota. 



Description. — This strong-scented, tall, stout perennial reaches a height of 

 from 4 to 6 feet. It has a smooth, dark purple, hollow stem 1 to 2 inches in 

 diameter. The leaves are divided into three parts, each of which is again divided, 

 with many broad leaflets. The lower leaves are sometimes 2 feet in width, but 

 the upper ones are smaller, and all have very broad stalks. From June to July 

 the greenish- white flowers are produced in somewhat roundish heads, which some- 

 times are 8 to 10 inches in diameter. The root is branched, from 3 to 6 inches long, 

 and less than an inch in diameter. It has an aromatic odor, and the taste at 

 first is sweetish and spicy, afterwards bitter. The fresh root is said to be poisonous. 



Part used. — The root, dug in autumn. It must be carefully dried and pre- 

 served, because it is very subject to the attacks of insects. In reasonably con- 

 stant demand. 



Figure 89.— Purplestem angelica (Angelica 

 atropurpurea) 



Figure 90. 



-Purple trilliuin {Trillium 

 erectum) 



PURPLE TRILLIUM 



Trillium erectum L. (Fig. 90.) 



Other common names. — Bethroot, trillium, red trillium, purple trillium, 

 ill-scented trillium, birthroot, birthwort, bathwort, bathflower, red wake-robin, 

 purple wake-robin, ill-scented wake-robin, red-benjamin, bumblebee root, daffy- 

 downdilly, dishcloth, Indian balm, Indian shamrock, nosebleed, squawflower, 

 squawroot, wood lily, truelove. Many of these names are applied also to other 

 species of trillium. 



Habitat and range. — This is a native plant growing in rich soil in damp, 

 shady woods from Canada south to Georgia, Alabama, and Missouri. 



Description. — Purple trillium is a low-growing plant from 8 to 16 inches in 

 height, with a rather stout stem having three leaves arranged in a circle near the 



