MAGNOL LACE | 4] 
} cMaotondtepte structure, ~The frit of I. Qrigithii has the same 
_ structure as that. of I. verwm, but in the external loose dark 
_ brown layer of cells, hardly any globules of essential oil can . 
4 be seen; on making sections for the microscope the knife is 
3 immediately stained hlack by tannin, which is not the’case with 
_ I. verwm; for.a microscopie description of the latter article 
~ eonsult ‘ais Pharmacographia, p. 21. Wood-cuts of the fruits 
_ of I. verum, I. religiosum and I. Grifithii may be found in a 
_ paper by ‘Mr. E. M. Holmes in the Pharm. Journ., 8rd Series, - 
«XI, 489. 
Chemical composition—Star-anise contains from 4 to 5 per 
cent. of volatile oil, which is chiefly solid and liquid anethol, like — 
that of Pimpinella Anisum. The specific gravity is 0-978, 
molecular rotation 0° to -0°4, with the chloral reagent.* it 
_affords eventually a red colour like Ol. Foeniculi. Its other . 
‘reactions are similar to those ‘obtained with aniseed oil. 
star-anise contains much sugar, probably cane. (Ligkman.) 
mney has pointed out that the congealing point of the oil when 
rest is about 35° F'., whereas that of aniseed oil is about 50°. 
When stirred, the ane es of both oils is from 50° 
to 60° F, 
“The fruit, of I. “Gripithis would appear to sone some bitter 
principle as well as tannin. According to J. F, Hijkman, the 
‘ _ fruit of I. religiosum, which has poisonous properties, contains 
. - proto- catechuic acid, shikiminic acid and shikimipicrin. The - 
‘ latter would appear to be the poisonous principle ; it forms 
_large transparent crystals, melting at 200° C., which are freely 
oluble in water, forming a’neutral solution with a very bitter | 
ste. The formula is C? H'® O° or C/° H' Q%, In the 
olatile oil of, the leaves he discovered eugenol, shikimen and 
hikimol ; the second is, he thinks, a terpine, and the last iden- 
cal with safrol. (Ree: Trav. Chim. IV., 32—54, Year-Book 
“a 
co * Alcohol oni with H cL 
