Part 12

Habitat and range.—(1) The American blackberry is found in sandy or dry soil near the coast from Maine to South Carolina; (2) the high-bush blackberry occurs in dry fields and along roadsides from the New England States to Florida, west to Arkansas; and (3) the sand-blackberry frequents sandy soil from Connecticut to Florida, west to Missouri and Louisiana.

Descriptions of plants.—The blackberries are so well known that it is unnecessary to describe them. They are very similar to each other, differing principally in their habit of growth, the American blackberry being a trailing plant with slender branches, whereas the high-bush blackberry and sand-blackberry are more shrubby plants.

Other species.—Besides the blackberries just mentioned, and which are official in the United States Pharmacopœia, Eighth Revision, there are two others which were official in the United States Pharmacopœia for 1890, and which are still collected. These are the low-running blackberry (Rubus procumbens Muhl., syn., R. canadensis T. & G., not L.), and the low-bush blackberry or southern dewberry (Rubus trivialis Michx.), both being generally trailing plants. All are members of the rose family (Rosaceæ).

Description of bark.—The three species of blackberries mentioned as official have long, horizontal rootstocks covered with a thick bark, which is the part used medicinally. In the stores it is found in long, quilled pieces, or in bands, tough and flexible, the outside a dark reddish brown or dark brownish gray, rather smooth or slightly scaly; inside pale brown, with long coarse grooves. It breaks with a tough, fibrous fracture, and has no odor, but an astringent, somewhat bitter taste.

Collection, prices, and uses.—The bark of the root is the part collected, and is stripped by making an incision lengthwise on one side of the root, after which it separates easily from the root, forming long quills.

At present the amount paid for the collection of blackberry bark ranges from 2 to 4 cents.

The blackberry barks possess tonic and astringent properties and form a popular remedy in the treatment of diarrheal complaints.

AMERICAN MOUNTAIN-ASH.

Sorbus americana Marsh.

Synonym.—Pyrus americana DC.

Other common names.—Roundwood, round-tree, American rowan-tree, American service-tree, mountain-sumac, dogberry, quick-beam, wild ash, wine-tree, witchwood, life-of-man, Indian mozemize, missey-moosey, moose-misse.

Habitat and range.—The American mountain-ash occurs in swamps, low woods, or moist ground from Newfoundland south along the mountains to North Carolina, and to Michigan. It is most abundant in the northern portion of its range.

Description of tree.—This is a rather small, smooth-barked tree, very brilliant in fall and early winter with its clusters of bright red berries. Its greatest height is about 30 feet, with the trunk measuring about 18 inches in diameter, and covered with a smooth, dull brown or grayish bark. The leaves, resembling those of the sumac, consist of from 11 to 17 lance-shaped, long-pointed leaflets about 1-1/4 to 4 inches long (fig. 23). When young they are somewhat hairy, both sides becoming smooth later, bright green on the upper surface, but usually lighter colored on the lower, the margins sharply toothed with short, stiff teeth. The white flowers are borne in dense clusters measuring 3 to 6 inches across, and have an urn-shaped calyx, 5 rounded petals, and numerous stamens. The American mountain-ash, which belongs to the apple family (Malaceæ), flowers about May or June, and is followed later in the season by large, dense, showy clusters of round, bright red berries, about the size of peas (fig. 23). It is indigenous to this country.

Description of bark.—As found in the stores, American mountain-ash bark consists of coarse pieces of varying length, about a quarter of an inch in thickness, with the outer layer removed; the outside is yellowish or pale brown, smoothish or sometimes with faint, lengthwise wrinkles, the inside smooth and brown. It is odorless, but the taste is bitter and astringent.

Prices and uses.—At present American mountain-ash bark brings from about 3 to 5 cents a pound. It is used for its tonic, astringent, and antiseptic properties.

WILD CHERRY.

Prunus serotina Ehrh.

Pharmacopœial name.—Prunus virginiana.

Synonym.—Prunus virginiana Mill., not of Linnæus.

Other common names.—Wild black cherry, cabinet-cherry, black choke, rum-cherry, whisky-cherry, Virginian prune-bark.

Habitat and range.—The wild cherry occurs in woods or open places, and is most abundant in the Southeastern States, but its range extends from Nova Scotia to Florida, westward to Texas, and north through Indian Territory, the eastern portions of Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Description of tree.—The elongated, drooping, pretty clusters of white flowers of the wild cherry are usually produced in May. The tree sometimes reaches a height of 90 feet, and a maximum trunk diameter of 4 feet. The trunk is straight and covered with a rough black bark (fig. 24), the young branches, however, smooth and reddish. The reddish brown wood of the wild cherry is fine grained, hard and strong, susceptible of polish, and is used in cabinetmaking.

The leaves are thick and oval, about 2 to 5 inches long, smooth and shining, bright green above and somewhat hairy on the veins beneath, the margins furnished with callous teeth. The clusters of flowers borne at the ends of leafy branches are generally somewhat drooping, and consist of many small, white, 5-petaled flowers with numerous yellow stamens, the clusters of white against the green background making it a rather attractive tree. The cherries ripen about August or September, and are globular, black, or very dark purple, about the size of a pea, and have a sweet, somewhat astringent, and bitter taste. (Fig. 25.) The wild cherry, which is a native of this country, belongs to the plum family (Amygdalaceæ).

Description of bark.—In commerce wild cherry bark is usually found in curved or irregular pieces, the outer surface smooth and somewhat shining, of a light green or brownish green color, and showing numerous transverse, light-colored lines or grooves, or “lenticels,” as they are technically known. The inner surface is rust colored, marked with netlike grooves, or fissures. It breaks with a short, granular fracture. The taste is aromatic, astringent, and pleasantly bitter, reminding one somewhat of bitter almonds, as does the odor when the bark is soaked in water.

Collection, prices, and uses.—The bark, which is official in the United States Pharmacopœia, should be collected in autumn, as at that time it contains the greatest amount of hydrocyanic acid. The outside layer is removed, so that the green layer underneath shows, and the bark is then carefully dried and preserved. Wild cherry bark should not be kept longer than a year, as it deteriorates with age. The bark from very small or very old branches should not be used. Young, thin bark is considered superior.

The price to collectors at present ranges from 1 to 6 cents a pound, the highest amount being paid for the “thin green,” the next best price for the “thick green,” and the lowest for the “thick rossed.”

Wild cherry bark is used for its tonic properties, and it also exerts a sedative action.

PRICKLY ASH.