AMERICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS 



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flowers of the male plant are borne on plumelike spikes from 3 to 9 inches long 

 and those of the female plant in erect spikes. The rootstock is from one-half to 

 2 inches in length and usually curved upward at one end in the form of a horn. 

 The rootlets penetrate to the center of the rootstock. This and its disagreeable 

 bitter taste distinguish it from Aletris root. 



Part used. — The rootstock, collected in autumn. In limited demand only. 



CITRONELLA HORSEBALM 



Collinsonia canadensis L. (Fig. 39.) 



Other common names. — Stoneroot, Collinsonia, knob-root, knob giass, knob- 

 weed, knotroot, horseweed, richweed, richleaf, ox balm. 



Habitat and range. — Citronella horsebalm is found in moist shady woods from 

 Maine to Wisconsin and south to Florida and Kansas. 



Description. — This plant is a tall herb growing as high as 5 feet with a stout, 

 erect, branched stem, smooth or the upper part hairy. The leaves are from 3 to 

 8 inches long, pointed, sometimes heart-shaped at the base, and coarsely toothed. 

 From July to October the plant produces large, loose panicles of small pale- 

 yellow, lemon-scented flowers. The entire flowering herb possesses a pleasant, 

 lemonlike odor. The root, even when fresh, is very hard, hence the name stone- 

 root. It is horizontal, large, thick, and woody, the upper side rough, knotty, and 

 irregularly branched. It has a rather disagreeable odor and a spicy, pungent taste. 



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



Figure 40. 



Figure 39.— Citronella horsebalm (Collin- 

 sonia canadensis) 



COHOSH BUGBANE 



-Cohosh bugbane (Cimicifuga 

 racemosa) 



Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. (Fig. 40.) 



Other common names. — Black cohosh, black snakeioot, bugwort, rattlesnake- 

 root, rattleroot, rattleweed, rattletop, richweed, squawroot. 



Habitat and range. — Although preferring the shade of rich woods, cohosh bug- 

 bane will grow occasionally in sunny places in fence corners and woodland pas- 

 tures. It is most abundant in the Ohio Valley, but it occurs from Maine to 

 Wisconsin, south along the Allegheny Mountains to Georgia, and westward to 

 Missouri. 



Description. — Cohosh bugbane, more commonly, but incorrectly, known in the 

 trade as black cohosh and black snakeroot, is a conspicuous woodland plant on 

 account of its tall flowering spikes. The tall rather slender plant sometimes 

 grows to a height of 8 feet. The leaves are divided on the plan of three numerous- 

 toothed leaflets about 2 inches long. The graceful flower spike, which is produced 

 from June to August, is from 6 inches to 2 feet in length. As the white, round 



