CROCUS. 60.3 



produce of Ifls getmianica L. (/. nepalensis Wall.), which, according to 

 Hooker, is cultivated in Kashmir. Orris root of ratlier low quality is 

 now often imported from Morocco ; it is obtained, we believe, exclusively 

 from /. germanica. 



Microscopic Structure— On transverse section, the white bark 

 about 2 mm. broad, is seen to be separated by a fine brown line from 

 the faintly yellowish woody tissue. The latter is traversed_ by 

 numerous vascular bundles, in diffuse and irregular rings, and cxhiljits 

 here and there small shining crystals of oxalate of calcium. It is 

 made up uniformly of large thick-walled spherical porous cells, loaded 

 with starch granules, which are oval, rather large and very numerous ; 

 prisms of calcium oxalate are also visible. The latter were noticed 

 already by one of the earliest microscopic observers, Anton van Leeu- 

 wenhoek, about the year 1716. The spiral vessels are^ small and run 

 in very various directions. The foregoing description is applicable to 

 any one of the three species we have named. 



Chemical Composition— When orris root is distilled with water, 

 a crystalline substance, called 0ms Garnishor, is found floating on the 

 aqueous distillate. This substance, which we first obtained from the 

 laboratory of Messrs. Herrings & Co. of London, is yielded, as we learn 

 from Mr. Umney, to the extent of 012 per cent.— that is to say, 3 cwt. 

 3 qrs. 2.S lb. of rhizome afforded of it 8i ounces.i Messrs. Schimmel & 

 Co. of Leipzig also presented us with the same substance, ot which tliey 

 obtain usually 0-60 to 0-80 per cent. Orris camphor ^^f ^h^/^*!^^^''^ 

 and persistent fragrance of the drug ; we have proved that this pro- 



consists 



sumed stearoptene or camphor vl um^:' xv-w. ^^* - .. , 



C'^H-0= (see page o08),impregnatcd with the minute quantity of essent a 

 oil occurring in the drug The oil itself would appear not to preexist 

 "1 the living root, but tS be formed on drying it. 



, By exhausting orris root with spirit of ^^'in'^'^/'^^^ -'T f \bXtlv 

 obtained, togethe? with a little tannic matter. The resm has a si ghtlj 

 acrid taste ; the tannin strikes a green colour with persalts ot iron. 

 ^^ Commerce-Orris root is shipped from Leghorn, Tne^^^e and 

 Mogador,-from the last-named port to the extent ml«7bot 

 834 cwt.^ There are no data to show the total ^Pf f jf ^^ ^J^^J 

 Britain. France imported in the year 1870 about oO tons ot oiris 

 root. ^ 



. Uses-Frequently employed as an ingredient in tooti;;-po^;de^-'^'^^^^ 

 ^n France for making issue-peas ; but the chief application is a^ 



perfume. 



CROCUS. 



Saffron*; F. and G. Saff 



mtiwis 



a 



rassy 



' The produce of some previous opera- S"''-"^'"\^JjS is tritld from the 



i7«' 111 r^ich 23 cwt. of orris was distilled, /'^.h^7°i,'J ^SZ 



Tnl^ but little over one-tenth per cent. Arabic Asfar, yello^v. 

 i^harm. Journ. vii. (1876) 130. 



