Acer Striatum. Whistle Wood, Striped Maple.

Dock-Mockie Maple, Moosewood, Striped Dogwod.

Description: Natural Order, Aceraceae. A member of the Maple family. Genus ACER: Flowers polygamous. Calyx five-parted; corolla five-petaled or wanting; stamens eight; samara two, winged, united at base, one-seeded by abortion. Trees with opposite, palmately-lobed leaves, and small flowers; indigenous to America. A. STRIATUM: Leaves with three acuminate lobes, rounded at the base, sharply denticulate, smooth. Racemes simple, drooping, terminal. Flowers yellowish-green, appearing in May, and followed by long clusters of fruit with pale-green wings. A small tree ten or fifteen feet high, growing in clumps in rich woods. Bark beautifully smooth, and striped lengthwise with green and black striae.

Properties and Uses: The leaves of this tree are demulcent and relaxant, and were popular among our earlier settlers as a poultice in swelled breasts. They deserve the good opinion once held toward them by the people, and should receive the attention of the physician in mammary, scrofulous, and other swellings requiring a demulcent and mildly relaxing application. The bark is also demulcent, and deserves investigation. From some experience with it, I judge that it is a relaxant and stimulant to the kidneys, skin and mucous structures. I have found it of service in chronic gastritis, irritation of the bladder, and tetter; but can not go further than to give it a recommendation to notice. It is gentle in its effect, and a prompt and powerful influence should not be anticipated from its use. Probably it deserves to be classed among the relaxing alterants.

The Physiomedical Dispensatory, 1869, was written by William Cook, M.D.
It was scanned by Paul Bergner at http://medherb.com