COLTSFOOT.

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perhaps, depend on the same principle. Volatilc oil is frequently prcsent: it communicatesaromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, and, in some cases, acrid properties. Bitter matter andvoladle oil are often associated in the same plant. A few of the compositae are narcotic.

Tribe I.— EUPATORIACE.E.

1. TUSSILA'GO FAR'FARA, Linn. L. D.— COLTSFOOT.

Sex Syst. Syngenesia, Polygamia superflua.(Folia et Flores, D.)

Histoky. —This is the ß'hx m °^ Hippocrates [Opera, p. 523 and 829, ed.Fces,) and Dioscorides, (Hb. iii. cap. 126.) By the Greeks and Romans it wassmoked, to relieve obstinate cough (see p. 312).

BoTAivv. Gen. ciwt.— Head many-flowered, heterogamous ; florets of theray females, in many rows, very narrowly ligulate; of the diso males, few innumber, tubulär, with a campanulate five-toothed limb. Receptacle naked.Involucral scales in about one row, oblong, obtuse. Anthers scarcely tailed.Styles of the diso inclosed, abortive; of the ray bifid, with taper arms. Acheneof the ray oblong-cylindrical, smooth ; of the diso abortive. Pappus of the rayin many rows; of the diso in one row, consisting of very fine setce (De Cand.)

s P . char.—The only species.

Rhizome creeping horizontally. Leaves cordate, angular, toothed, downybeneath. Scape clothed with imbricated scaly bracts, usually one-flowered.Heads appearing before the leaves. Flowers yellow.

Hab—Indigenous. Various parts of Europe and Asia. Flowers in Marchand April.

Description —The herb and flowers (herba et flores farfarce seu tussila-ginis) have a bitterish mucilaginous taste. The dried leaves are odourless, butthe flowers retain a slight odour. The watery infusion becomes green (tannaleofiron) oft the addition of sesquichloride of iron.

Composition ___No analysis of the plant has yet been made. Mucilage,

bitter eztractive, tannic acid, colouring matter, salts, and woody fibre, are theprincipal constituents.

Physiological Effects.— The effects are not very obvious: they may beregarded as emollient, demulcent, and very slightly tomc.

Uses.— Employed as a populär retnedy in pulmonary complaints (chroniccoughs especially.)

Administration. —The decoction (prepared by hoiling 3j., or gij. of the plantin Oij. of water to Oj.) may be taken in doses of fjij. or fgiij., or ad libitum.

(2. EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATÜM, Linn.)

Sex Syst Syngenesia. iEqualis.Eupatorium U. S. Thoroughwort. Tops and Leaves.

[Gen. Char.— Calyx simple or imbricated. Oblong. Style long and semibifid.'Receptacle naked. Pappus pilose, or more commonly scabrous. Seed smoothand glandulär, quinquestriate (Nuttall).

s P . Char.— Stern villous. Leaves connate, perfoliate, oblong, becominggradually narrower, serrate, rugose, tomentose beneath (Beck).

The common names for this plant are Boneset, Thoroughwort, Indian Sage,and Ague Weed.

It has a horizontal, crooked root, which is perennial. The stem is erect,round, hairy, simple at the base, and trichotomously divided above ; from twoto four feet high, of a grayish-green colour. The leaves in pairs are opposite,decussating each other, connate, perfoliate, broad at base, and tapering to apoint, serrate, scabrous above, and tomentose beneath. The flowers are in adense, depressed corymb, white.

Boneset is exclusively an inhabitant of North America. It is abundant in