98 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
the apex. Achenes irregularly 4-sided, striated. Pappus of a 
single row of hairs. 
In moist meadows, pastures, bushy places, and hedge-banks. 
Pare, and probably not native in many of its localities. It occurs 
in most of the Southern counties ; and Mr. Baker considers it 
truly wild in Yorkshire, and it may possibly be so in Durham and 
the Lake district. In Scotland, however, it is certainly introduced. 
England, [Scotland,] Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer 
and Autumn. 
Pootstock enlarged, fleshy, many-headed. Stem stout, erect, 
deeply furrowed, 2 to 5 feet high. Radical and lower stem-leaves 
very large, not unlike those of a Mullein ; those about the middle 
of the stem broader in proportion than the others, and amplexicaul. 
Anthodes solitary, or 2 or 3 in a corymb, on short peduncles. 
Pericline hemispherical, 1 to 2 inches across, the outer leaf-like 
phyllaries much developed in the larger anthodes. Florets all 
bright-yellow. Achenes glabrous, olive-brown, with 4 very strong 
ribs, which give it a prismatic shape ; the spaces between the ribs 
finely striate. Pappus longer than the achene, dirty-white usually 
tinged with reddish-brown ; hairs very shortly ciliated. Plant pale- 
green, the under side of the leaves and phyllaries softly pubescent. 
Elecampane. 
French, Aunee Officinale. German, Achter Alaut. 
This plant has a reputation attached to it even independently of its mythical 
name. It was highly valued by the older physicians for its medicinal virtues, and is 
still employed to some extent as an aromatic tonic. A sweetmeat, very popular with 
schoolboys, is made from the root candied with sugar. In former days it was esteemed 
as a cordial by the monkish herbalists, who celebrated its virtues in the line " Enula 
campana reddit pracordia sana." The name Elecampane is a corruption of the first of 
these words. Gerarde tells us "it is good for shortnesse of breath, and an old cough, 
and for such as cannot breathe unless they hold their neckes upright." Pliny affirms 
" that the same being chewed fasting doth fasten the teeth." Gerarde adds :" The 
root of Elecampane is with good successe mixed with counterpoisous ; it is a remedy 
against the biting of serpents, it resisteth poison ; it is good for them that are bursten 
and troubled with cramps and convulsions." Of the origin of the name of the plant 
our imaginative friend Gerarde says : " Tt tooke the name Helenium of Helena, wife 
to Mi-iiilaus, who had her hands full of it when Paris stole her away iuto Phrvgia." 
We arc told that the leaves were eaten by the Romans as a potherb : the practice may 
have extended to Troy, and account for the fact which Gerarde relates of the fair 
Helen. The root contains a large quantity of a principle called inulin, resembling 
Btareh in properties ; but this is combined with a resinous bitter substance and a 
volatile oil, to which the medical cpialities of the plant are due. A decoction of the 
root is said by Withering to cure sheep affected with the scab. 
