DESCRIPTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
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pus in many rows. It grows 3-5° high, with a furrowed 
stem, aud large spreading wavy-spinous leaves, of which 
those next to the root are pinnatifid and variegated with 
green and milk-white. The involucre is subglobose and 
spinous, and the florets purple with long tubes. It was 
formerly cultivated (in England and France), the young 
leaves being used as a spring salad, the roots boiled as a pot- 
herb, and the heads treated like the heads of the artichoke. 
It is a recent immigrant and was found at Sewanee and on 
a pasture two miles west of the city of Nashville. It may, 
perhaps, spread aud become more general. Parke, Davis & 
Co. have it on their drug list. 
Cantaurea benedicta, L. St. Benedict’s Thistle. Blessed 
Thistle. Low branching annual, with clasping scarcely 
pinnatifid cut leaves, and large sessile leafy-bracted heads; 
flowers yellow. Heads many riowered ; flowers all tubular, 
the marginal often much larger and sterile. Receptacle 
bristly. Involucre ovoid or globose, imbricated, the scales 
margined or appendaged. Achenes terete, 10 dentate, at- 
tached obliquely or at the base; pappus of 10 long bristles 
and 10 short inner ones. A recent immigrant from the At- 
lantic States, where it is naturalized from Europe. For- 
merly much used in low fevers, it was for awhile abandoned 
to be recently again brought into notice. Old fields near 
West Nashville. Eli Lilly & Co. prepare a fluid extract. 
Senecio aureus, L. Squaw-Weed. Golden Ragwort. Smooth 
herb 1-2° high from a perennial root; leaves thin, the rad- 
ical simple and rounded, the larger ones mostly heart-shaped, 
crenate-toothed, long-petioled ; lower stem-leaves lyrate, 
upper ones lanceolate, cut-pinuatifid, sessile or partly clasp- 
ing; corymb umbel-like, naked. Rays pistillate, involucre 
bellshaped, simple or with a few bractlets at the base; the 
scales erect-oonuivent. Receptacle flat, naked. Papjius of 
numerous very soft and slender capillary bristles. It is a 
variable plant. Can be found in early spring in moist ground 
and shady cliffs; common. The herb is used. 
