22 



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



Part used. — The leaves and flowering tops, for which there is a reasonably 

 constant demand, collected when the plant is fully in flower. The coarser stems 

 and branches should be rejected. Catnip oil, which may be obtained from the 

 herb by steam distillation, is used in small quantities as a scent in trapping bobcats 

 and mountain lions. 



CELANDINE ] 



Chelidoniiimmajuslj. (Fig. 37.) 



Other common names. — Chelidonium, garden celandine, greater celandine, 

 tetterwort, killwart, wart flower, wartweed, wartwort, felonwort, cockfoot, 

 devil's-milk, Jacob's-ladder, swallowwort, wretweed. 



Habitat and range. — Celandine is found in rich damp soil along fences and 

 roadsides near towns from Maine to Ontario and southward. It is common from 

 southern Maine to Pennsylvania. 



Description. — This erect, branched, sparingly hairy herb is from 1 to 2 feet in 

 height, with thin leaves 4 to 8 inches in length, which have a grayish-green appear- 

 ance and are deeply and variously cleft. The small, sulphur-yellow flowers are 

 produced from April to September, followed by smooth, slender capsules con- 

 taining numerous seeds. The plant contains an acrid, yellow juice and when 

 bruised has an unpleasant odor. 



Part used. — The entire plant, collected when it is in flower. In limited demand 

 only. 



Figure 37.— Celandine (Chelidonium 

 majus) 



Figure 38.— Chamaelirium (Chamaelirium 

 luteum) 



CHAMAELIRIUM 



Chamaelirium luteum (L.) A. Gray. (Fi 



J.) 



Other common names. — Helonias, unicorn root, false unicorn root, blazing-star, 

 drooping starwort, starwort, devil's-bit, unicorn's-horn. This plant is frequently 

 confused with Aletris farinosa L., not because it bears much resemblance to the 

 latter but probably on account of a similarity in some of the common names by 

 which they are sometimes designated. In the drug trade it is perhaps best known 

 as Helonias, but the use of that name is likely to lead to confusion because the 

 plant has no relation to the genus Helonias. 



Habitat and range. — This native plant is found in open woods from Massachu- 

 setts to Michigan and south to Florida and Arkansas. 



Description. — Chamaelirium is an erect, fleshy herb. The male and female 

 flowers are borne on separate plants. The male plants grow to a height of l l / 2 to 2}i 

 feet, while the female plant is sometimes 4 feet tall and is more leafy. The leaves, 

 which are from 2 to 8 inches long, are spoon shaped, being wider at the top than 

 at the base. The white starry flowers are produced from June to July f The 



