258 RUTACEH. . 
sometimes enclosing the round, black, shining seed. In 
perfect specimens we find a slender pedicel supporting the 
carpels, which are nominally four in number, but of which at 
least one or two are mostly abortive. The carpels are oval or 
nearly spherical, 7% ths of an inch in longest dimension ; 
externally they,are of a bright reddish-brown, covered with 
prominent tubercles filled with oleo-resin; internally they are 
farnished with a hard, papery, white membrane, which 
becomes loose, contracts and curls up‘when the seed falls. 
The drug has an aromatic taste (at first like coriander) and an 
agreeable aromatic odour. ‘The fruits of Z. Rhetsa and 
_ Budrunga are of the same shape, but as large as a pea, and 
the external surface of the carpel does not show the prominent 
tubercles above mentioned, but is finely wrinkled, of a reddish- 
brown colour, and not lined with a hard white papery 
metabrane. The taste is at first like that of lemon peel, but 
~ 
afterwards extremely pungent like that of Z. alatum, producmg 
much the effect of Pyrethrum upon the palate. The fruits of 
—— &. owyphyllum and Z. Hamiltonianum are of the same size 4S — 
_ those of Z. alatum, but sessile and without prominent tubercles ; 
they are of reddish-brown colour, and have a fine wrinkled 
_ surface like 4%. Rhetsa; a hard, white papery membrane is 
. present which becomes loose and contracts when the seed falls. 
Tn taste they resemble Z. Rhetsa. ‘The shining black seeds of 
all these species have a feeble peppery taste. Sections of the 
capsules when magnified show that their elasticity is due to the 
presence of strong bands of spiral fibres. The dry open ©4P- 
-sules when soaked in water resume the shape that they had 
before dehiscence. 
“The root bark of Z. Rhetsa is of a reddish-brown colour, 
and is covered with alight yellow suber, which easily separates 
in papery flakes; it has ay agreeable aromatic’ odour and & 
bitter taste. 
Chemical composition.—The bitter crystalline principle 
4 in the bark of the Zauthoxylew, and formerly called 
rite, has been recognised as identical with berberitte 
