Spec. Plant. Willd. iii. 2089. Cl. 19. Ord.2. Syngenesia Superflua. Nat. ord. Compositae. G. 1489. Receptacle naked. Pappus simple. Anthers ending in two bristles at the base. Species. I. Helenium. Elecampane. Med. Pot. 3d edit. 64. t. 26.

Smith, Flora Brit. 890. Flora Danica, t. 728. Officinal. Inula Helenium; Radix, Pub. Elecampane root.

Syn. Inula Laleniere (F.), Alantwurzel ( G.), Alantzwortel (Dutch), Aland (Dan. & Swed.), Omanowy (Pol.), Enula Campana (I.), Enula Campana (S.), Usululrason (Arab.), Beykzunjebulshamee (Pers.).

This species of inula is an indigenous perennial, found occasionally in pastures and rich moist soils1, flowering in July and August, and ripening its seed in September. The root is thick, branched, externally of a brown or grey colour, and internally white. The stem, which rises about three feet in height, is leafy, round, and furrowed; branched near the top, and villous. The leaves are large, ovate, serrated, veined, of a deep green colour on the upper surface; and on the under, reticulated, tomentose, and whitish: the radical ones are petiolate, but those of the stem sessile and embracing. The flowers are terminal, solitary, large, and of a golden colour. The calyx is scaly: the exterior scales are large, ovate, imbricated, and externally tomentose; the interior are narrow, linear, equal, and chaffy. The florets of the ray are numerous, spreading, twice the length of the calyx, linear, with the apex tridentate. The anthers end in two bristles at the base. The seeds are quadrangular, smooth, slightly curved, and furnished with a somewhat chaffy pappus.

The receptacle is reticulate and papillous.

Dioscoridis. It is not unfrequent in Essex.-Hudson. Between Worcester and Ludlow, and Bishop's Castle and Newton-Smith. I have seen it near Ewell, Surrey.

The roots of elecampane found in the shops are generally obtained from garden plants. They are fit for use in the second year of their growth; and at this age are preferable to the older roots, which become stringy and woody. They should be dug up in autumn.

Qualities.-Elecampane root when dry has an aromatic yet slightly foetid odour; and, when chewed, the taste is at first disagreeable, glutinous, and in some degree resembling that of rancid soap; then aromatic, bitter, and hot. According to the analysis of Funke, elecampane contains, 1. a volatile oil, which crystallizes; 2. a peculiar fecula (Inulin?); 3. extractive matter; 4. free acetic acid; 5. resin; 6. albumen; 7. fibrous matter. Both water and alcohol extract its virtues: the tincture possessing more of the bitterness and pungency of the root than the watery infusion. The decoction, after standing some hours, deposits a white powder resembling starch in appearance; but its properties show it to be a distinct principle; and it has, therefore, been named Inulin.1 In distillation with water, this root yields a concrete, flaky substance, which seems to hold an intermediate place between camphor and volatile oil in its nature.2

Medical properties and uses.-Elecampane is usually ranked as a tonic; and supposed to possess deobstruent, diuretic, and expectorant properties. It was formerly regarded as a remedy of great efficacy in dyspeptic affections, flatulencies, palsy, dropsies, uterine obstructions, and pulmonary complaints; but Cullen observed, that its diuretic powers were trifling; and could not discover that it possessed any expectorant properties.3 It is scarcely ever used by the regular practitioner. The dose of the powdered root may be from Э j. to 3 j.

Officinal preparation.- Confectio Piperis nigri, L. D.