1 56 
Local  Indigenous  Plants. 
Am  Jour.  Phara.. 
March,  1893. 
ness  of  horehound  certainly  not  being  questioned.  To  this  order  also  belongs 
a  plant  nearly  forgotten,  that  only  some  years  ago  enjoyed  quite  an  empirical 
distinction,  as  mad  dog  skull  cap,  Scutellaria  lateriflora;  whether  or  not  it 
has  outlived  its  usefulness  for  the  mad  dog,  we  know  not,  but  dogs  seem  better 
bred  now  than  formerly,  with  less  to  excite  their  ire. 
Plantago  major,  the  large  leaf  or  common  plantain,  and  its  twin  brother, 
P.  Rugelii,  also  P.  lanceolata  or  rib  grass,  belong  to  the  order  Plantaginaceae. 
The  first  two  species  are  closely  related,  but  the  lance  leaf  is  easily  recognized. 
This  species  is  the  one  that  figured  as  a  substitute  for  hound's  tongue  and 
lately  we  have  samples  from  an  importing  house  of  cumin  seeds  which  proved 
to  be  from  this  species  of  plantain,  but  we  have  never  heard  any  explanation 
made  for  the  substitution. 
The  chenopodiums  are  very  disagreeable  to  handle.  The  medicinal  ones  are 
introduced  species  and  our  natives  are  seldom  applied  ;  but  in  Phytolacca 
decandra  we  have  the  solitary  species  of  the  only  genus  of  its  order  in  this 
section.  A  robust  plant,  fond  of  clearings,  the  young  shoots  are  excellent  in 
spring  as  a  substitute  for  asparagus  ;  later  in  season  the  roots  are  large  enough 
for  all  remedial  purposes  to  which  they  may  be  applied.  Their  use  has  been 
sanctioned  by  most  schools  of  medicine. 
Yellow  dock,  Rumex  crispus,  order  Polygonacese,  and  bitter  dock,  R.  obtusi- 
folius,  are  not  native  to  the  country,  but  are  used  very  frequentty  and  are 
found  in  most  sections  throughout  the  country.    From  the  genus  Polygonum 
we  have  P.  acre,  P.  aviculare  and  P.  hydropiper  or  smartweed,  claiming  proper- 
ties worthy  of  consideration. 
With  the  order  Aristolochiaceae  we  introduce  two  plants  which  are  very 
interesting  as  well  as  curious  :  Asarum  Caiiadense,  or  wild  ginger,  and  Aristo- 
lochia  Serpentaria  or  Virginia  snake  root.  The  former  is  found  abundantly  in 
this  neighborhood  in  springtime  and  its  large  brownish-red  or  reddish-brown 
flowers  are  seldom  seen  above  ground  but  just  hidden  under  fallen  leaves.  The 
leaves  are  large,  glossy,  and  resemble  a  colt's  foot  in  outlines.  Serpentaria 
prefers  woodlands  and  is  seldom  in  profusion.  Its  place  in  Materia  Medica  is 
now  usurped  nearly  entirely  by  A.  reticulata  from  the  S.  W.  States.  Aristo- 
lochia  clemaiitis  is  an  European  species  found  in  Bartram's  Garden,  most  likely 
sent  here  by  one  of  the  correspondents  of  Bartram. 
Sassafras  officinale  and  Lindera  Benzoin,  or  spice  bush,  are  well-known  forms 
of  order  Eauraceae.  Surely  should  we  turn  back  a  few  day  pages  in  our  life 
book  we  would  find  the  odor  of  the  Sassafras  and  spice  bush  as  agreeable  now 
as  in  the  days  of  our  youth. 
Phoradendron  flavescens  in  the  order  Loranthaceae  is  a  parasite,  our  mistletoe, 
growing  in  this  locality  upon  blue  gum  trees  in  New  Jersey.  It  has  no  con- 
nection with  the  soil  but  derives  its  sustenance  from  the  branches  of  trees# 
It  has  little  narrow  leaves,  small  flowers  and  waxy-looking  fruit  that  is  very 
attractive  for  decoration  during  the  holiday  season. 
The  genus  Euphorbia,  in  that  valuable  order  Euphorbiacese,  has  many  spe- 
cies that  are  abundant  here,  though  few  of  them  receive  any  special  notice. 
Euphorbia  hypericifolia  is  an  inconspicuous  plant,  nearly  a  weed  in  fields. 
E.  Ipecacuanhce  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  is  very  common  in  the  sandy 
section  of  that  state  ;  when  in  bloom,  the  little  nearly  prostrate  plants  resemble 
bright  red  and  other  shades  of  coral.    The  root,  however,  is  seldom  obtained 
