Lythrum. Spiked Loosestrife, Purple Willow-herb.

Lythrum. L. Salicaria L. Spiked Loosestrife. Purple Willow-herb. Salicaire, Fr. Rother Weiderich, G.—This is an elegant perennial plant of the fam. Lythraceae, a native of Europe, but naturalized from Quebec to Delaware. The dried herb is inodorous, and has an herbaceous, somewhat astringent taste. It has been used as a demulcent astringent in diarrhea and chronic dysentery. The dose of the powdered herb is about a drachm two or three times a day. A decoction of the root, prepared by boiling an ounce in a pint of water, may be given in the dose of two fluidounces (60 mils).

The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.