AMERICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS 



67 



YELLOW WILD-INDIGO 



Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br. (Fig. 127.) 



Other common names. — Baptisia, indigo weed, yellow indigo, American indigo, 

 yellow broom, indigo broom, clover broom, horsefly weed, shoofly, rattlebush. 



Habitat and range. — This native herb grows on dry, poor land and is found 

 from Maine to Minnesota and south to Florida and Louisiana. 



Description. — Yellow wild-indigo is an erect, much-branched, very leafy plant 

 about 2 to 3 feet in height with cloverlike leaves. The flowers are bright yellow, 

 one-half inch in length, and are produced in numerous clusters from June to 

 September. The root, which is round and fleshy, sending out branches and 

 rootlets almost 2 feet in length, has a white interior and a thick, dark-brown bark. 

 The bark root has a bitter, nauseous taste. 



Other species. — A related species, said to possess similar properties, is Baptisia 

 alba R. Br., called the white wild-indigo. This plant has white flowers and 

 is found in the Southern States and on the western Plains. 



Part used. — The herb and the root, the latter collected in autumn. In limited 

 demand only, 



Figure 127.— Yellow wild-indigo 

 (Baptisia tinctoria) 



Figure 128.— Yerba santa (Eriodic- 

 tyon calif or nicum) 



YERBA SANTA 



Eriodictyon californkum (Hook, and Arn.) Greene. (Fig. 128.) 



Synonym. — Eriodictyon glutinosum Benth. 



Other common names. — Mountain balm, consumptive's weed, 15 bear's-weed, 

 gum plant, tarweed. 



Habitat and range. — Yerba santa is common on the Pacific coast along the 

 coastal ranges from central California north to Oregon. 



Description. — This evergreen shrub, which reaches a height of from 3 to 4 

 feet, has a smooth stem which exudes a gummy substance. The narrow, dark- 

 green, leathery leaves are from 3 to 4 inches in length and are covered with a 

 resinous substance which makes them appear as if varnished. The rather showy, 

 whitish, or pale-blue flowers are borne in clusters at the top of the plant. 



Part used. — The leaves. In reasonably constant demand. 



> 5 This is a popular but misleading name. 



