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<br />h1INT FAAfILY
<br />interesting facts: bfrnlhoeJdia means mint-leaved. The
<br />leaves of this plant are uxd in making tea, for flavoring in
<br />cooking, and as a potherb. The antiseptic drug thymol is
<br />present in the volatile oils of bfonarda. Horsemint is eaten
<br />by cattle and game but is not particularly relished by horses.
<br />SKULLCAP Scvreslaria gulairduuu L.
<br />Family: Labiatae (h(int).
<br />Other names: hlarsh Skullcap.
<br />Deecripdoo: This hu very slender square stems 1-3 ft. tall,
<br />with a single duB blue @ower in aril of rash of the opposite,
<br />upper leaves. Flowers almost r,: in. long, tubular, and abruptly
<br />enlazged and curved near middle; though usually blue, 00
<br />cuionally pink or white. Leave lance-shaped, toothed around
<br />edge, and in length may vary 1-255 in.
<br />The skullcaps are most likely to be confused with the pen-
<br />stemons (Prutemork), but Sowers of penstemons do not Dour
<br />singly in arils of the ordinary leaves.
<br />Related species: (1) S. angwtrJdia has an entire, narrow leaf,
<br />sometimes slighily toothed; Sowers are bright blue; (2) dowers
<br />o[ S. fateriJfora occur m azillary racemes.
<br />POTATO FAMILY
<br />,~
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<br />t65 - `~7
<br />Flowering season: June to Aug. Blooms about time young
<br />spotted sandpipers hatch and begin to run about.
<br />Where found: Y, T, R. In wet or boggy places, often in
<br />shallow water. Lock for Skullcap among eatUils, (ales, xdgn,
<br />and other bog plants. Can be found from Alaska to New-
<br />foundland, south to Pennsylvania, New Me:ito, and California.
<br />There are about 100 species of ScWr!laria widely distributed
<br />over the earth; about a halfdoun species in Rockies.
<br />Interesting facts: Galnicdola means helmetlike. Several of
<br />the skullcaps, including this one, contain a crystalline glucoside
<br />(stutellarin) that has long been used in medicine. IL is an
<br />antispasmodic, uxd in cues of nervousness.
<br />HENBANE !lyorcyomur niger L. ~ PI. I7
<br />Family: Solanacrae (PoLS:o).
<br />Other names: Black Henbane, Hogbean, Stinking Nightshade,
<br />[mane Root.
<br />Description: The flowers are bell-shaped, about 1 in. long, and
<br />are often partially hidden by the leaves. The greenish or
<br />purplish-yellow petals are veined with deep purple. This
<br />coarse, fetid, leafy plant attains height of 1-3 ft. The numerous
<br />stalkless leaves are lanceolate or ovate in outline, irregularly
<br />lobed, and 3-8 in. long. 1Vhole plant clammy and downy to
<br />the touch. Vox-shaped xrd Capsules with their sharp-poieted
<br />tips are quite characteristic. Stem while growing longer
<br />Continues to flower near top. At the same time, old Bowers
<br />below may already have formed xrds.
<br />Henbane is most likely to be confused with Alkanel (A nclruro
<br />ofjcinalir) or Houndstongue (Cynaglotrwm ofJtciroalt), Plate
<br />I7; smaller flowers of thex xldom grow more than ys in. long.
<br />Their fruits consist of 4 small, hard outlets; Henbane develops
<br />an urn-shaped capsule (~?•I in. long) Containing numerous
<br />dark brown pitted seeds.
<br />Flowering ^eaaon: latter part of hfay until well through July.
<br />Where lound: Y', T. Dry roadsides and waste plans from
<br />valleys well up into cols. Henbane, a native of Europe, bas
<br />escaped cultivation in this country and is now stuttered aver
<br />our northern states and adjoining Canada. There are about
<br />IS species of Hyorcyomut, mainly from the Mrditerrant~n
<br />region; only l species in Rockies.
<br />Interesting facto: Nign means black. Henbane is very poi-
<br />sonous, but is xldom eaten beCaux of its fetid odor and un-
<br />pleasant taste. Cattle have 6ern poisoned by eating this
<br />plant, and chickens u well as children have been poisoned by
<br />eating the seeds. The alkaloids scopolamine and hyoscyamine,
<br />together with the glucoside hyoscypicrin, art extracted from
<br />Henbane. They are used u sedatives for insomnia, mania,
<br />spasms, and pain. In some places this plant is cultivated for
<br />Skullcap (Scrirllarw /drricWula L.)
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