U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY—BULLETIN NO. 107.

B. T. GALLOWAY, _Chief of Bureau_.

AMERICAN ROOT DRUGS.

BY

ALICE HENKEL, ASSISTANT, DRUG-PLANT INVESTIGATIONS.

ISSUED OCTOBER 25, 1907.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1907.

BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY.

_Pathologist and Physiologist, and Chief of Bureau_, Beverly T. Galloway. _Pathologist and Physiologist, and Assistant Chief of Bureau_, Albert F. Woods. _Laboratory of Plant Pathology_, Erwin F. Smith, Pathologist in Charge. _Investigations of Diseases of Fruits_, Merton B. Waite, Pathologist in Charge. _Laboratory of Forest Pathology_, Haven Metcalf, Pathologist in Charge. _Plant Life History Investigations_, Walter T. Swingle, Physiologist in Charge. _Cotton and Tobacco Breeding Investigations_, Archibald D. Shamel, Physiologist in Charge. _Corn Investigations_, Charles P. Hartley, Physiologist in Charge. _Alkali and Drought Resistant Plant Breeding Investigations_, Thomas H. Kearney, Physiologist in Charge. _Soil Bacteriology and Water Purification Investigations_, Karl F. Kellerman, Physiologist in Charge. _Bionomic Investigations of Tropical and Subtropical Plants_, Orator F. Cook, Bionomist in Charge. _Drug and Poisonous Plant Investigations and Tea Culture Investigations_, Rodney H. True, Physiologist in Charge. _Physical Laboratory_, Lyman J. Briggs, Physicist in Charge. _Crop Technology Investigations_, Nathan A. Cobb, Expert in Charge. _Taxonomic Investigations_, Frederick V. Coville, Botanist in Charge. _Farm Management Investigations_, William J. Spillman, Agriculturist in Charge. _Grain Investigations_, Mark A. Carleton, Cerealist in Charge. _Arlington Experimental Farm_, Lee C. Corbett, Horticulturist in Charge. _Sugar-Beet Investigations_, Charles O. Townsend, Pathologist in Charge. _Western Agricultural Extension Investigations_, Carl S. Scofield, Agriculturist in Charge. _Dry Land Agriculture Investigations_, E. Channing Chilcott, Agriculturist in Charge. _Pomological Collections_, Gustavus B. Brackett, Pomologist in Charge. _Field Investigations in Pomology_, William A. Taylor and G. Harold Powell, Pomologists in Charge. _Experimental Gardens and Grounds_, Edward M. Byrnes, Superintendent. _Vegetable Testing Gardens_, William W. Tracy, sr., Superintendent. _Seed and Plant Introduction_, David Fairchild, Agricultural Explorer in Charge. _Forage Crop Investigations_, Charles V. Piper, Agrostologist in Charge. _Seed Laboratory_, Edgar Brown, Botanist in Charge. _Grain Standardization_, John D. Shanahan, Expert in Charge. _Subtropical Laboratory and Garden, Miami, Fla._, Ernst A. Bessey, Pathologist in Charge. _Plant Introduction Garden, Chico, Cal._, August Mayer, Expert in Charge. _South Texas Garden, Brownsville, Tex._, Edward C. Green, Pomologist in Charge. _Cotton Culture Farms_, Seaman A. Knapp, Lake Charles, La., Special Agent in Charge.

_Editor_, J. E. Rockwell. _Chief Clerk_, James E. Jones.

DRUG-PLANT INVESTIGATIONS.

SCIENTIFIC STAFF.

Rodney H. True, _Physiologist in Charge_. W. W. Stockberger, Frank Rabak, _Experts_. Alice Henkel, _Assistant_. G. Fred Klugh, T. B. Young, S. C. Hood, _Scientific Assistants_.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF, _Washington, D. C., April 16, 1907_.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith and to recommend for publication as Bulletin No. 107 of the series of this Bureau the accompanying manuscript, entitled “American Root Drugs.” This paper was prepared by Miss Alice Henkel, Assistant in Drug-Plant Investigations, and has been submitted by the Physiologist in charge with a view to its publication.

The fifty drugs described include all the “official” roots found in this country, besides such “nonofficial” drugs as are most frequently quoted in drug catalogues.

There is a steady demand for information concerning the medicinal plants of this country, and this bulletin on American root drugs has been prepared as a first installment on the subject. It is intended as a guide and reference book for farmers, drug collectors, druggists, students, and others who may be interested in one way or another in the collection or study of our medicinal flora.

Respectfully, B. T. GALLOWAY, _Chief of Bureau_.

Hon. JAMES WILSON, _Secretary of Agriculture_.

Page. Introduction 9 The Collection of root drugs 10 Plants furnishing root drugs 11 Male-fern (_Dryopteris filix-mas_ and _D. marginalis_) 11 Couch-grass (_Agropyron repens_) 12 Wild turnip (_Arisaema triphyllum_) 13 Skunk-cabbage (_Spathyema foetida_) 15 Sweet-flag (_Acorus calamus_) 16 Chamaelirium, or Helonias (_Chamaelirium luteum_) 17 American hellebore (_Veratrum viride_) 18 Aletris (_Aletris farinosa_) 19 Bethroot (_Trillium erectum_) 20 Wild yam (_Dioscorea villosa_) 21 Blue flag (_Iris versicolor_) 22 Lady’s-slipper (_Cypripedium hirsutum_ and _C. parviflorum_) 23 Crawley-root (_Corallorhiza odontorhiza_) 24 Canada snakeroot (_Asarum canadense_) 25 Serpentaria (_Aristolochia serpentaria_ and _A. reticulata_) 26 Yellow dock (_Rumex crispus_) 27 Pokeweed (_Phytolacca decandra_) 29 Soapwort (_Saponaria officinalis_) 31 Goldenseal (_Hydrastis canadensis_) 31 Goldthread (_Coptis trifolia_) 34 Black cohosh (_Cimicifuga racemosa_) 35 Oregon grape (_Berberis aquifolium_) 36 Blue cohosh (_Caulophyllum thalictroides_) 37 Twinleaf (_Jeffersonia diphylla_) 38 May-apple (_Podophyllum peltatum_) 39 Canada moonseed (_Menispermum canadense_) 40 Bloodroot (_Sanguinaria canadensis_) 40 Hydrangea (_Hydrangea arborescens_) 41 Indian-physic (_Porteranthus trifoliatus_) 42 Wild indigo (_Baptisia tinctoria_) 43 Crane’s-bill (_Geranium maculatum_) 44 Seneca snakeroot (_Polygala senega_) 45 Stillingia (_Stillingia sylvatica_) 47 Wild sarsaparilla (_Aralia nudicaulis_) 48 Ginseng (_Panax quinquefolium_) 49 Water-eryngo (_Eryngium yuccifolium_) 50 American angelica (_Angelica atropurpurea_) 51 Yellow jasmine or jessamine (_Gelsemium sempervirens_) 51 Pinkroot (_Spigelia marilandica_) 52 American colombo (_Frasera carolinensis_) 53 Black Indian hemp (_Apocynum cannabinum_) 55 Pleurisy-root (_Asclepias tuberosa_) 56 Comfrey (_Symphytum officinale_) 57 Stoneroot (_Collinsonia canadensis_) 58 Culver’s-root (_Veronica virginica_) 59 Dandelion (_Taraxacum officinale_) 60 Queen-of-the-meadow (_Eupatorium purpureum_) 61 Elecampane (_Inula helenium_) 62 Echinacea (_Brauneria angustifolia_) 63 Burdock (_Arctium lappa_) 64 Explanation of plates 68 Index 69

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PLATES. Page. PLATE I. Fig. 1.—Marginal-fruited shield-fern (_Dryopteris marginalis_). Fig. 2.—Skunk-cabbage (_Spathyema foetida_). Fig. 3.—Sweet-flag (_Acorus calamus_). Fig. 4.—Bethroot (_Trillium erectum_). 68 II. Fig. 1.—Chamaelirium (_Chamaelirium luteum_). Fig. 2.—Aletris (_Aletris farinosa_). Fig. 3.—Wild yam (_Dioscorea villosa_). Fig. 4.—Blue flag (_Iris versicolor_). 68 III. Fig. 1.—Large yellow lady’s-slipper (_Cypripedium hirsutum_). Fig. 2.—Canada snakeroot (_Asarum canadense_). Fig. 3.—Virginia serpentaria (_Aristolochia serpentaria_). Fig. 4.—Soapwort (_Saponaria officinalis_). 68 IV. Fig. 1.—Oregon grape (_Berberis aquifolium_). Fig. 2.—Blue cohosh (_Caulophyllum thalictroides_). Fig. 3.—Canada moonseed (_Menispermum canadense_). Fig. 4.—Hydrangea (_Hydrangea arborescens_). 68 V. Fig. 1.—Indian-physic (_Porteranthus trifoliatus_). Fig. 2.—Wild sarsaparilla (_Aralia nudicaulis_). Fig. 3.—Ginseng (_Panax quinquefolium_). Fig. 4.—Water-eryngo (_Eryngium yuccifolium_). 68 VI. Fig. 1.—American angelica (_Angelica atropurpurea_). Fig. 2.—Pinkroot (_Spigelia marilandica_). Fig. 3.—Pleurisy-root (_Asclepias tuberosa_). Fig. 4.—Comfrey (_Symphytum officinale_). 68 VII. Fig. 1.—Stoneroot (_Collinsonia canadensis_). Fig. 2.—Queen-of-the-meadow (_Eupatorium purpureum_). Fig. 3.—Elecampane (_Inula helenium_). Fig. 4.—Echinacea (_Brauneria angustifolia_). 68

TEXT FIGURES.

FIG. 1. Couch-grass (_Agropyron repens_) 13 2. Wild turnip (_Arisaema triphyllum_) 14 3. American hellebore (_Veratrum viride_) 19 4. Crawley-root (_Corallorhiza odontorhiza_) 25 5. Yellow dock (_Rumex crispus_), first year’s growth 27 6. Broad-leaved dock (_Rumex obtusifolius_), leaf, fruiting spike, and root 28 7. Pokeweed (_Phytolacca decandra_), flowering and fruiting branch 30 8. Pokeweed root 30 9. Goldenseal (_Hydrastis canadensis_), flowering plant and fruit 32 10. Goldenseal rootstock 33 11. Goldthread (_Coptis trifolia_) 34 12. Black cohosh (_Cimicifuga racemosa_), leaves, flowering spikes, and rootstock 35 13. Twinleaf (_Jeffersonia diphylla_), plant and seed capsule 38 14. May-apple (_Podophyllum peltatum_), upper portion of plant with flower, and rootstock 39 15. Bloodroot (_Sanguinaria canadensis_), flowering plant with rootstock 41 16. Wild indigo (_Baptisia tinctoria_), branch showing flowers and seed pods 43 17. Crane’s-bill (_Geranium maculatum_), flowering plant, showing also seed pods and rootstock 45 18. Seneca snakeroot (_Polygala senega_), flowering plant with root 46 19. Stillingia (_Stillingia sylvatica_), upper portion of plant and part of spike showing male flowers 47 20. Yellow jasmine (_Gelsemium sempervirens_) 52 21. American colombo (_Frasera carolinensis_), leaves, flowers, and seed pods 54 22. Black Indian hemp (_Apocynum cannabinum_), flowering portion, pods, and rootstock 55 23. Culver’s-root (_Veronica virginica_), flowering top and rootstock 59 24. Dandelion (_Taraxacum officinale_) 61 25. Burdock (_Arctium lappa_), flowering branch and root 64

B. P. I.—283.

AMERICAN ROOT DRUGS.