24. (Fig. 43.) ASPIDOSPERMA. Aspidosperma. U. S.

Quebracho. E., G., Fr.

Fl. ex. 60.

The bark of Aspidosperma Quebracho Schlecht., Apocynaceae. Rather light cinnamon brown.

Faintly aromatic, nearly odorless.

Very bitter.

Very large sclerenchymatous bast cells lined with parenchyma cells bearing prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate; larger and smaller typical sclerenchyma cells and sclerenchymatous tracheids; starch granules (simple to compound) sparingly present, 5 to 20μ; bark parenchyma cells rather small, thin walled with groups of phloem cells; prismatic crystals very numerous. Powder turns deep reddish brown with potassium hydrate solution.

May be adulterated with the barks of related species; the wood tissue may be excessive; old and worthless bark may be used.

6 00

Fig. 43. ASPIDOSPERMA.

a. Very large bast cell, all lined with crystal bearing cells.

b. Sclerenchyma cells.

c. Parenchyma with phloem group.

d. Parenchyma.

e. Sclerenchymatous tracheids.

f. Prismatic crystals.

g. Small celled parenchyma.

h. Crystal bearing parenchyma and stone cell.

25. (Fig. 44.) AURANTIUM AMARUM. Bitter Orange Peel.

Pomeranze, G. Orange amére, Fr.

The rind of the fruit of Citrus Aurantium var. amara L., Rutaceae. Very light yellowish brown.

Fragrantly aromatic.

Pungent, bitter.

Outer parenchyma of smaller thick walled closely united cells; inner parenchyma cells very loosely united leaving large intercellular spaces; numerous rather large prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate; epidermal cells small, with small yellow pigment granules, oil and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate. Oil glands destroyed in powdering. Vascular tissue deficient.

Histologically similar to peel of sweet orange, lemon and lime. Ash should not exceed 6 per cent.

Not generally adulterated. The rind of the orange, lemon and limes may be substituted for the rind of the bitter variety. The rinds are often old and wholly worthless and perforated by insect larvæ.

Fig. 44. AURANTIUM AMARUM.

a, b. Outer parenchyma with crystals.

c. Parenchyma, longitudinal view.

d. Inner spongy parenchyma.

e. Epidermis, vertical view.

f. Crystal bearing fibers.

d

26. (Fig. 45.) BELLADONNÆ FOLIA.

Belladonna Leaves. U. S.

Tinct. 60.

Belladonna, Tollkraut, Tollkirsche, G. Belladona, Morelle furieuse, F. Leaves and stems, inclusive of some immature fruits and flowers, of Atropa belladonna L., Solanaceae.

No. 80. Non-characteristic feel.

Rather dull green to brownish green.

Somewhat fragrant; narcotic when moistened.
Somewhat bitter and slightly pungent.

Stomata on both surfaces of leaves; vertical walls of epidermal cells thin, wavy; comparatively few and rather large simple, 2- to 5celled, thin-walled trichomes which are generally much broken in the powder. The trichomes are not pitted or warty as in Stramonium and a few are more or less distinctly branched. Calcium oxalate crystals (micro-crystalline) filling many of the leaf parenchyma cells; and single aggregate crystals. Glandular trichomes with one to many celled heads, few and indistinct. The non-glandular trichomes though sparingly present and the crystal bearing cells, are the most characteristic structures.

Ash from 15 to 18 per cent. Impurities (sand, dirt, foreign vegetable tissue) should not exceed 10 per cent.

Quite frequently adulterated. Suspect phytolacca leaves and stems (acicular crystals); scopola leaves and stems (histology closely similar to that of belladonna leaves and stems); chestnut leaves (singlecelled, curved, rigid trichomes of the stellate clusters); mallow leaves (stellate trichomes), and other foreign leaves and herbs. In the American grown belladonna the stems are included.