72 
PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
132. Asagrsea officinalis Lind. Cevadilla. 
Cultivated. Poisonous. Used almost wholly to destroy head-lice 
and other body vermin. (U. S. D.) 
133. Asarum caudatum Lindl. Wild ginger. Aristolochiacece. 
Highly aromatic and would no doubt prove very useful in the manu- 
facture of perfumeries and sachet powders. Infusion said to be useful 
in female complaints. Two other species are reported, A. hartwegi 
and A. lemmoni. All require further study. 
134. Asclepias species. Milkweeds. 
These have the general properties of the Asclepiadacece and Apocyn- 
acece. The following species are native : A. mexicana Cov., A. speciosa 
Torr., A. eriocarpa, Benth., A. vestita, H. and A., A. cordifolia, Benth., 
and A. califomica Greene. The Pacific coast species have caused the 
poisoning of many heads of cattle. The poisonous principles require 
further study. The sticky juice of A. ericarpa and other species is 
considered an excellent lotion for cuts and sores ; to kill warts, and is 
used in tattooing. The Yokis eat the young shoots of A. mexicana. 
Other medicinal species are to be found escaped from cultivation or 
grown in the Berkeley and other economic gardens. Indians make 
various uses of some of the milkweeds. The fiber is used for cordage. 
The milky juice is generally believed to be poisonous. A. mexicana 
has received considerable attention. A. eriocarpa is also poisonous 
and requires further study. (Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 7 : (No. Ill) 
380) ; (Calif. Geol. Surv. Bot. 1 : 474.) 
135. Asclepias californica Greene. ( Gomphocarpus tomentosus.) 
Milkweed. Asclepiadacece. 
Said to be poisonous to cattle. Found in pastures. (U. of C. Agr. 
Exp. Sta. Rep., p. 248, 1890.) 
136. Asclepias comuti Desc. Milkweed. Asclepiadacece. 
Well known medicinally. For commercial value of caoutchouc in 
Asclepias cornuti (see Proc. A. Ph. A. (Abstract) 23: 157, 1875). 
137. Asclepias eriocarpa Benth. Milkweed. Asclepiadacece. 
Claimed to be one of the best remedies for inflammatory rheumatism. 
The juice is also used as a healing application to cuts and wounds. 
138. Asclepias mexicana Cav. Milkweed. Asclepiadacece. 
Properties like those of A. cornuti. It is claimed that an insect 
resembling the Spanish fly, Cantharis, settles on this plant, and trans- 
mits to it vesicant and diuretic properties. 
139. Asclepias speciosa Torr. Showy milkweed. Asclepiadacece. 
Said to be poisonous. Used medicinally like other species. Cul- 
tivated as an ornamental plant. 
Asclepias tuberosa L. and other species have been introduced. 
