50 A COMPENDIUM OF 
osperme. This perennial plant is a native of 
Central Asia; it attains a height of 6 to 10 feet 
(2 to 2% meters), with large triangular leaves, 
and a number of cauline leaves somewhat like 
bracts or sheaths; flowers in umbels, on short 
stalks and polygamous; fruit monocarpus, ac- 
cording to the description given by Kauffmann. 
The root comes to this country from India and 
Russia, and when fresh occurs as a fusiform 
Toot, but as found in commerce and in the stores 
it occurs in irr 
length, but on an average % to 1 inch (12 to 25 
millimeters) in diameter. The external surface 
is wrinkled and annulated, and covered by a 
dark-brown bark; internally it is spongy and of 
ce, with many brown, 
le internal part of the 
the tissue called paren- 
fibro-vascular bundles. 
ot contains, according. 
tarch, sugar, balsamte 
, angelic and valerianic 
resin seems to contain 
, and is much increased 
