The bark of Myrica cerifera L., Myricaceæ.

Rather dull cinnamon brown.

Faintly aromatic, not agreeable.

Bitter, slightly pungent and astringent.

Bark parenchyma of brown cells bearing some simple, spherical starch granules. Thick-walled porous bast fibers accompanied by crystal-bearing fibers. Sclerenchyma cells, variable in size; some not very greatly thickened, porous.

143. (Fig. 141.) MYRISTICA. Nutmeg. U. S.

Coarse powder as a spice.

Muskatnuss, G. Muscade, Noix de muscade, Fr.

The seeds (arillus removed) of Myristica fragrans Houtt., Myristi

caceæ.

Rather dull reddish brown; fatty, oily.

Very aromatic; nutmeg odor.

Pungent, bitterish and somewhat astringent.

Endosperm cells quite large, thin-walled, of two kinds causing the marbled appearance of the interior of the seed. The colorless endosperm cells filled with compound starch, large proteid granules with distinct crystalloids, and fat; the fat causing the granules and proteid bodies to be indistinct. The reddish brown endosperm cells have very irregular walls and are empty or contain resin and volatile oil. The starch granules occur in twos, threes, fours, fives and even higher aggregates. The outer tissue consists of small, brown, tangentially flattened cells filled with reddish brown coloring matter.

Ash 3 per cent.

Adulterated (only rarely) with wild or false nutmeg (Myristica fatua). Poor quality of "grinding nutmegs" may be used.

a. Parenchyma (endosperm) with starch and crystals.

b. Reddish brown parenchyma.

c. Small-celled outer tissue with granular contents. d. Starch and crystals.

144. (Fig. 142.) NUX VOMICA. Nux Vomica. U. S.

Fl. ex. 40. Tinct. 60.

Poison-nut, Quaker buttons, E. Krähenaugen, Brechnuss, G. Noix vomiques, Fr.

The seeds of Strychnos nux vomica L., Loganiaceæ..
Light grayish brown.

Odorless.

Extremely and persistently bitter.

The outer covering consists wholly of elongated, thick-walled, colorless trichomes, with widened, porous base. The wall is unevenly thickened, ridges extending nearly straight to long spirally from base to near apex. Most of these trichomes are broken in the powdering. Endosperm cells very thick-walled, colorless, filled with oil globules and granular proteid matter. Beneath the trichomatic layer is a tissue of flattened cells. Cell-contents turn bright brownish yellow with tincture of iodine. Note color changes with strong acids (mineral) and alkalies.

Not generally adulterated. Ignatia beans may be substituted which are similar in structure and show similar reactions with acids, alkalies and with tincture of iodine.