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155 



syriaca is known as milkweed or silk- 

 weed. Its younger roots occur in small 

 pieces 25 to 40 millimeters long and 7 

 to 14 millimeters wide. The older roots 

 are cut in transverse pieces 6 to 18 milli- 

 meters in thickness. The general ap- 

 pearance is almost smooth ; of a light 



buff to a slightly pinkish color. The 

 older portions are marked with very 

 fine, longitudinal striae, which are less 

 numerous in the younger fragments. 

 The transverse sections are marked with 

 concentric depressed layers and radiat- 

 ing woody tissue. The bark separates 



Asclepias decumbeos. 



H.— Starch. B.— Fibers. X.— Stone cells. C— Crystals. 



O.— Parenchyma. V.— Vessels. CU.— Cubical Crystals. 



G. — Longitudinal Parenchyma. 



easily from the wood. The root is eas- 

 ily broken, and shows a clean but un- 

 even fracture. Asclepias syriaca has a 

 pleasant odor and sweetish taste.' 



Asclepias decumbens, or butterfly- 

 weed, occurs in large pieces 100 to 175 



millimeters in length and 25 to 50 milli- 

 meters in width, also seen in transverse 

 sections. The color of Asclepias de- 

 cumbens is a dirty yellow to brown. 

 The general appearance is shriveled, due 

 to very deep longitudinal striations and 



