52 



AMERICAN ROOT DRUGS. 



fill perfume exhaled by its tlowers, filling the air with a fragrance that is almost 

 overpowering whereA-er the yellow jasmine is very abundant. 



The smooth, shining stems of this beautiful vine sometimes readi a length of 

 20 feet. The leaves are evergreen, lance shaped, entire, li to 3 inches long, 

 rather narrow, borne on short stems, and generally remaining on the vine during 

 the winter. The tlowers, which appear from January to April, are bright 

 yellow, about 1 to IJ inches long, the corolla funnel shaped. (Fig. 20.) They 

 are very fragrant, but poisonous, and it is stated that the eating of honey 

 derived from jasmine tlowers has brought about fatal results. 



Yellow jasmine is a iierenuial. and belongs to a family that is noted for its 

 poisonous properties, namely, the Logania family (Loganiacete), which num- 



l)ers among its members such power- 

 ful i)oison(nis agents as the strych- 

 nine-producing tree. 



Dcficriptioii of rontstocJc. — The root- 

 stock of the yellow jasmine is hori- 

 zontal and runs near the surface of 

 the ground, attaining great length. 15 

 feet or more ; it is liranchfed. and here 

 and there produces fibrous rootlets. 

 When freshly removed f r o m the 

 ground it is very yellow, with a i)ecu- 

 liar odor and bitter taste. For the 

 drug trade it is generally cut into 

 j)ieces varying from 1 inch to (i inches 

 in length, and when dried consists of 

 cylindrical sections about 1 inch in 

 lliickness, the roots, of course, thin- 

 ner, '{'he bark is thin, yellowish 

 brown, with tine silky bast fibers, and 

 the wood is tough and pale yellow, 

 breaking with a splintery fracture 

 and showing numerous fine rays radi- 

 ating from a small central pith. Yel- 

 low jasmine has a bitter taste and a 

 pronounced heavy odor. 



Collection, prices, and uses. — The 

 root of yellow jasmine is usually col- 

 lected just after the plant has come 

 into flower and is cut into pieces from 

 1 to (j indies long. It is often adulterated with portions of the stems, but these 

 ear. be distinguished by their thinness and dark purplish color. The prices range 

 from 3 to 5 cents, a pound. 



Yellow jasmine, which is otticial in the United States Pharmacopoeia, is used 

 for its powerful effect t)u the nervous system. 



PINKROOT. 



FiG.lJO. — Yellow jiismiiif {(iflsemiujnsemiteri'irrmK). 



Spit/eliii inarilaiidicd h. 



Pharmacopaial name. — Spigelia. 



Other coinnion nduies. — Carolina pinkroot. Carolina pink. Maryland pink, 

 Indian pink, starbloom, wormgrass, wormweed, American wormroot. 

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