PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
73 
140. Asimina triloba Dun. Common pawpaw. Anonacece. 
Fruit edible, resembling the banana. Readily cultivated, orna- 
mental. (Proc. A. Ph. A. (Abstract) 35: 148, 1887.) 
141. Asparagus officinalis L. Asparagus. Liliacece. 
Escaped from cultivation. Extensively cultivated in low lands. 
The rhizome is said to be laxative and diuretic and to act as a heart 
sedative. Very likely of little or no medicinal value. 
142. Aspidium filix mas. Swartz. Male fern. Filices. 
Does not do well in cultivation. Root decoction is used for soreness 
and bruises. Well known medicinally. An old-time reliable vermi- 
fuge. (See Text-books and Dispensatories.) 
143. Aspidium (Dryopteris rigidum argutum. Yerba del Golpo. 
Filices. 
A decoction from the roots is used for the treatment of bruises and 
contusions. Used as taenifuge (same as Aspidium filix mas). Poultices 
made from mashed roots used externally for swellings, etc. 
144. Aster puniceus L. Aster. Composite e. 
The rootlets of this ornamental plant are employed as a stimulating 
diaphoretic in rheumatic and catarrhal troubles. Numerous native 
and cultivated species found in the State. 
145. Astragalus species. Loco weeds. Papilionaceoe. 
Many, not all, species of Astragalus are poisonous. Aragallus and 
Astragalus species are much confused. The following are the more 
important poisonous species from the State : A. hornii Gray, A. lentig- 
inosus fremontii AVats., A. leucopsis Torr., A. menziesii Gray, A. 
matthewsii Wats. Coahilla and other California Indians eat the seeds. 
(Barrows.) 
146. Astragalus blankinshippi Nels. Purple loco weed. Papilio- 
nacece. 
Poisonous. Requires further study. 
147. Astragalus drummondii Dougl. Papilionaceoe. 
This and other species are said to be poisonous. 
148. Astragalus lentiginosus. Loco weed. Papilionaceoe. 
Poisonous. 
Requires further study. Astragalus lentiginosus (Douglas) var. 
Fremontii. 
149. Astragalus mollissimus Torr. Wooly loco weed. Papilio- 
nacece. 
Native of the great plain region of the United States. A highly 
poisonous weed which has done inestimable damage to ranchmen. 
