LEGUMINOS&. 513 . 
_ parallel seams, the dorsal and ventral sutures running down the 
_ whole length of the pod. The sutures are smooth, or slightly 
_ Striated longitudinally ; one of them is formed of two ligneous 
_ bundles coalescing by a narrow line; each of the 25 to 100 
seeds which a legume contains, is lodged im a cell formed by 
Very thin woody dissepiments. The oval flattish seed, from 
: 3-10th to 4-10th of an inch long, of a reddish-brown colour, 
_ contains a large embryo: whose yellowish veined cotyledons eross 
_ diagonally, as seen on transverse section, the horny white albu- 
men. One side is marked by a dark line (the raphe). - A very 
slender funicle attaches the seed to the ventral suture. In 
_ addition to the seeds the cells contain a soft black pulp which 
has a mawkish sweet taste. (Pharmacographia.) 
 ~ Chemical composition.—According to Braconnot, 20 parts. of 
_ the pulp consist of sugar 12°00, gum 1:35, astringent matter, 
: gluten, colouring matter and water make up. the remaining por- 
_ tion, the water amounting to about 3°80. 
4 C. Fistula roots.—The bark was carefully separated from 
- the root-wood, the two dried separately and reduced to fine 
powder. The root-bark was astringent in taste, while the root- — 
- wood possessed a somewhat bitter-sweet flavour. The analysis 
_ showed. the following results :— 
- Root-bark. Root-wood. 
VY GLOP oc sceoneecuees ius aes 8°21 
| a ei ean ee ST 8°92 2°29 
Petroleum ether extract... “32 52 
gf "45 
Kther extract 
Absolute alcohol extract... 17°62 
Manganese was absent in the ash both from the root-bark and 
 root-wood ; the former contained iron in very marked amount, 
No alkaloidal principle could be detected ; resins were pre~ 
c sent ; astringent matter in very marked quantity m the root-~ 
| bark, and to asmall amount in the wood. Theastrin gent matter 
was of the colour of kino, and afforded an inky coloration with 
ferric chloride; no gallic acid could be detected. 
65 
