118 
PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
514. Lycoperdon species. Puffballs. Ly coper dacece. (Fungi.) 
Some unripe species are edible. The ripe spores puffed into the nos- 
trils are said to check nose bleed. Spores are also dusted on sores and 
ulcers to dry them up. Puffballs figure in Indian lore. Ghosts are 
said to paint their faces with the dust (spores). (Contrib. U. S. Nat. 
Herb. 7 : No. 3, 300.) 
515. Lycopodium species. Club moss. Lycopodiacece. 
Many species are cultivated as ornamental conservatory plants. 
L. clavatum yields the lycopodium powder (spores). The club mosses 
are reputed to have diuretic properties. Have been used in rheuma- 
tism, diseases of the lungs and kidneys. Now rarely used medicinally. 
The spores are much used as a dusting powder and in the making of 
pills, etc., to make the flashlight in photography, etc. 
516. Lycopus lucidum americanum Gray. Water hoarhound. 
Labiatce. 
Supposed to have properties similar to those of L. virginicus L. and 
L. europaeus L. U. S. D.) 
517. Lygodesmia juncea Don. Conipositce. 
A poisonous plant which requires further study. 
518. Lyonia (Pieris) mariana. Stager bush. Ericacece. 
A poisonous plant. The related plant Leucothoe catesbaei Gray. 
Branch ivy, Ericaceae, is also poisonous. 
519. Lysichiton chamchatcensis Shott. Skunk cabbage. Aracece. 
In bogs of Northern California. The pungent root is made into a 
salve for ringworm, swellings and inflammatory rheumatism. The root 
is said to form the chief ingredient of the patent medicine ‘ ‘ Skookim. ’ ’ 
Bears dig up the roots and eat them. 
520. Maclura aurantiaca Nutt. Hedge. Osage orange. Moracece. 
Cultivated as a hedge plant in the central states. Very hard wood, 
which takes a high polish. The large yellow fruits resemble the orange 
in appearance, though unfit for food. The root bark yields a yellow 
dye. (Am. Journ. Pharm. 46:257.) 
521. Madia species. Tar weeds. Conipositce. 
Tar weeds are exceedingly abundant in the State, constituting very 
annoying farm and roadside weeds. The tar weed odor permeates the 
country atmosphere in the fall of the year. A cooking oil has been 
obtained from the seeds of M. dissitiflora. The seeds of M. densiflora 
are agreeably aromatic. The old Spanish settlers used M. elegans 
medicinally. The madias are said to be useful in urinary troubles. 
(Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 7 : No. 3, 395.) 
