154 



C. U. C. p. ALUMNI JOURNAL 



A SCLEPIAS TUBEROSA AND TWO OF ITS SUBSTITUTES * 



Fanny Hart, N. Y. C. P.,'10. 



Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known meters thick, with stems and many 



as pleurisy root, occurs in large-knotted, small, fine rootlets adhering to the root, 



transverse and longitudinal pieces 75 to The color varies from gray to light pink; 



200 millimeters long and 25 to 50 milli- the younger pieces are yellow. Short, 



Asclepias tuberosa. 



H.— Starch. B.— Fibers. X.— Stone cells. K.— Cork. 



C— Rosette Crystal. V.— Vessels. O.— Parenghyma- 



CU.— Cubical Crystals. BD.— Bast Fiber. Z.— Fragment of crystal- 



longitudinal striae give the older por- 

 tions a scaly appearance, the younger por- 

 tions have deeper and longer striae. The 

 transverse striations are fewer, but ver> 

 marked in the younger roots. Inter- 

 nally, the root is pinkish-white and 

 marked with many longitudinal striae. 



The fracture of the dried root is tough 

 and uneven presenting a granular ap- 

 pearance. Asclepias tuberosa is practi- 

 cally odorless, but has a pfeasant, bitter 

 taste, similar to licorice. Its most com- 

 mon substitutes are Asclepias syriaca 

 and Asclepias decumbens. Asclepias 



''Read at the Annual Meeting of the N. Y. S. P. A., 1916. 



