PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
75 
155. Balsamorrhiza deltoidea Nutt. Balsam root. Compositce. 
Seeds used as food (roasted and ground) by the Klamath Indians 
of Oregon ; likewise the seeds of B. digittata. 
The Balsamorrhiza species (balsam roots) contain a terebinthine 
principle in the outer root parenchyma which the Indians remove 
before eating. This resin or turpentine requires further study. 
156. Balsamorrhiza sagittata Nutt. Wild sunflower. Compositce. 
Roots used medicinally by the Piute Indians. Petioles eaten. Frag- 
rant. No doubt contain volatile oil like B. terebinthacea. Reported to 
be poisonous. (U. S. Disp.) Kelly, Drug. Circular (1897). 
157. Balsamorrhiza terebinthaceae Nutt. Compositce. 
The root has a strong terebinthine odor and is used as a diuretic. 
158. Bamboo. (See Arundinaria, 130.) 
159. Bananas. (See Musa.) 
160. Berberis species. Barberry. Berberidacece. 
Three species occur, B. dictyota, B. pinnata (California barberry) 
and B. nervosa (Malionia). These, no doubt, have properties not 
unlike those of B. vulgaris. (See J. M. Maiseli. The Berberis species 
of the Pacific coast. American Journal Pharmacy, 50 :374-371, 1878, 
and Proc. A. Ph. A. 27:201-206, 1879.) 
161. Berberis aquifolium Pursh. Oregon grape. Berberidacece. 
Roots are used in treatment of ulcers and sores. The juice of the 
fruit fermented, with sugar added, makes an excellent wine. Cali- 
fornia Indians have long used the root decoction as a tonic. The bark 
is used medicinally. There is still considerable demand for this drug. 
(Calif. Geol. Surv., Bot. 1:14). (U. S. Surv., Wheeler’s Rep. Bot. 
6:41.) 
162. Berberis nervosa Pursh. False Oregon grape. Berberidacece. 
Berries are strongly acid, but are eaten and are said to promote the 
action of the liver. The bark and root are used in jaundice. B. repens 
has similar properties. (Calif. Geol. Surv. Bot. 1 : 15.) (Contrib. 
U. S. Nat. Herb. 7: (No. Ill) 348). 
163. Berberis pinnata Lag. Barberry. Berberidacece. 
Berries are edible. Stem and root contain a yellow die. ' Properties 
like those of B. nervosa. 
164. Beta vulgaris L. Beet. Garden or red beet. Sugar beet. 
Chenopodiacece. 
Escaped from gardens. Sugar beet culture is conducted on an 
enormous scale in California. (See paper by Geo. W. Shaw. Numer- 
ous state agricultural reports on sugar beet culture, etc.) 
165. Betula alba L. European white birch. Cupuliferce. 
Cultivated. Leaves used in gout, dropsy, rheumatism. Saccharine 
