PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
113 
471. Lavatera assurgentifolia Kell. Tree mallow. Malvaceae. 
Common in the State. The leaves are rich in mucilage. Eaten by 
horses and cattle. Demulcent. 
472. Lavendula angustifolia Miller. Lavender. Labiatce. 
This European plant is extensively cultivated everywhere. The 
flowers and entire plant yield the oil of lavender, which is worth from 
one to three dollars per pound. The flowers bring about twenty cents 
per pound. The oil is much used as a flea eradicator and forms the 
base of many proprietary flea exterminators. 
The plant is easily cultivated in California. The grower should also 
manufacture the oil, which is obtained from the fresh flowers and 
entire fresh plants. Lavendula spica (spike lavender) is also culti- 
vated for the oil which it yields. Medicinally, the lavender oil and the 
pharmaceutical preparations made from the flowers are used in flatu- 
lence, as a carminative, in nervous headache, etc. 
473. Lavendula vera D. C. Lavender. Labiatce. 
Extensively cultivated. The flowers are very fragrant and are 
much used in sachet powders, perfumes, etc. Lavender oil is official 
and forms the chief ingredient of many flea exterminators. Good 
quality of lavender oil has been produced in California. Could no 
doubt be grown profitably. 
474. Lawsonia alba Lam. Henna. Lythraraicece. 
Cultivated in southern portions of the State. Used by the women 
of Egypt and of other countries to color the finger nails and by the 
men to dye the beard. The gum (labdanum) is collected by passing 
leathern rakes over the plants or is combed out of the wool of goats 
which have been among the plants. The plant is used in jaundice, 
leprosy, skin diseases, catarrh, dysentery, and in pulmonary affections. 
(U. S. Disp.) (Proc. A. Ph. H. 35 : 164, 1887.) 
475. Lathyrus sativus L. White vetch. Leguminosce. 
A forage plant. Horses feeding on this plant for a long time 
become paralyzed in the hind extemities. The laryngeal muscles are 
also paralyzed. The seeds contain a poisonous alkaline volatile sub- 
stance, which is destroyed on heating, hence cakes made from the seed 
and thoroughly baked may be eaten and are said to be very nutritious. 
This plant requires further careful study as to physiological action and 
possible therapeutic value. 
476. Lathyrus watsoni. Vetch. Leguminosce. 
An excellent fodder plant and sometimes cooked and eaten by the 
Indians, The older plants are boiled and applied as a poultice to 
swellings. (Cont-rib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 7: No. 3, 357.) 
8 — BF 
