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



CULVERS-PHYSIC 



Veronica virginica L. (Fig. 45.) 



Synonym. — Leptandra virginica (L.) Nutt. 



Other common names. — Culvers-root, blackroot, bowmansroot, beaumont 

 root, Brinton root, tall speedwell, tall veronica, physic-root, whorlywort. 



Habitat and range. — This common native herb is found abundantly in moist, 

 rich woods, mountain valleys, meadows, and thickets from Nova Scotia to British 

 Columbia and south to Alabama, Missouri, and Nebraska. 



Description. — Culvers-physic is a tall, slender-stemmed herb from 3 to 7 feet 

 in height. The long, narrow, pointed leaves, which are arranged around the stem 

 at intervals, in groups of from three to nine, are 3 to 6 inches in length and 1 inch 

 or less in width. The tube-shaped flowers, produced from June to September, 

 are borne in several densely crowded, slender, terminal, spikelike heads from 3 to 

 9 inches long. The flowers are usually white, but at times are pink to bluish or 

 purple. 



Part used. — The rootstock and roots, collected in the fall of the second year. 

 In reasonablv constant demand. 



Figure 45-— Culvers-physic (Veronica virginica) 



Figure 46.— Dandelion (Leontodon taraxacum) 



DANDELION 



Leontodon taraxacum L. (Fig. 46.) 



Synonym. — Taraxacum officinale Weber. 



Other common names.- — Blowball, cankerwort, doon-head-clock, fortune 

 teller, horse gowan, Irish daisy, yellow gowan, one-o'clock. 



Habitat and range. — With the exception, possibly, of a few localities in the 

 South, the dandelion is at home almost everywhere in the United States, being a 

 familiar weed in meadows and waste places, and especially in lawns. 



Description.— The dandelion is so well known as a widely distributed weed 

 that a detailed description of it is unnecessary. Its golden-yellow flowers, 

 followed by the round, fluffy, seed heads, are a familiar sight in lawns, meadows, 

 and along roadsides. The entire plant contains a white, milky juice. In spring 

 the young tender leaves are much used for table greens. The plant has a large, 

 thick, fleshy taproot which extends well into the ground. 



Part used. — The root, collected late in summer and in fall when the milky 

 juice has become thicker and more bitter. The dried root should not be kept 

 too long, because it loses some of its medicinal virtues with age. In limited 

 demand only. 



