50 



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



fruit, which ripens in September, is about the size of a pea, dark blue, 1-seeded, 

 and is borne on a thick red stalk. All parts of the tree are aromatic. 



Part used. — The bark of the root, which is in reasonably constant demand, 

 collected in spring or autumn. The outer layer is discarded. The production 

 of sassafras oil by distillation of the root and root bark is a small industry in the 

 southeastern section of the country. 9 



SAW PALMETTO 



Serenoa serrulata (Michx.) Hook. f. (Fig. 93.) 



Synonym. — Sabal serrulatum Roem. and Schutt. 



Other common names. — Palmetto, dark palmetto, fan palm. 



Habitat and range. — This palm is found in sandy soil from North Carolina 

 and Arkansas to Florida and Texas. 



Description. — The saw palmetto is a fan-leaved, tufted palm with a creeping, 

 branching stem 4 to 8 feet long. The bright-green, fan-shaped leaves with 15 to 

 30 divisions are roundish in outline and are borne on slender stalks edged with 

 spines. The flower spike is thickly hairy, considerably shorter than the leaves, 

 and the flowers are small and whitish. The fruit is from one-half to 1 inch in 

 length, 1-seeded like an olive, reddish brown or blackish brown, and smooth but 

 somewhat wrinkled in drying. 



Part used. — The fruit, usually referred to as the berries. The entire cluster is 

 cut when most of the fruits are ripe. These are shaken off and dried on racks or 

 tables. When still fresh they are not 

 readily injured by rain, but if partially 

 dried out they will absorb moisture which 

 is not easily removed. It is best, therefore, 

 to protect them from rain, which will also 

 assure a more uniformly colored product. 

 In reasonably constant demand. 



Figure 93. 



liuetto (Serenoa serrulata) 



Figure 94.— Seneca-snakeroot (Polygala senega) 



SENECA-SNAKEROOT 



Polygala senega L. (Fig. 94.) 



Other common names. — Senega snakeroot, Seneca root, rattlesnake-root, 

 mountain flax. 



Habitat and range. — This native plant is found in rocky woods and hillsides 

 from New Brunswick and western New England to Minnesota and the Canadian 

 Rocky Mountains, and south along the Allegheny Mountains to North Carolina 

 and west to Missouri. 



Description. — The root of this plant sends up a number of smooth, slender, 

 erect stems (as many as 15 or 20 or more), sometimes slightly tinged with red, 

 from 6 inches to a foot in height, and generally unbranched. The lance-shaped, 

 stemless leaves are thin in texture and from 1 to 2 inches long. The flowering 

 spikes are borne in May and June on the ends of the steins and consist of rather 

 crowded, small, whitish, insignificant flowers. The lower flowers develop first 

 and have already fruited when the upper flowers open. 



A modified form of Seneca-snakeroot occurring in the North Central States is 

 distinguished by its taller stems and broader leaves. 



Part used. — The root, collected in autumn. In reasonably constant demand. 



6 Sievers, A. F. Op. cit. (See footnote 4.) 



