PODOPHYLLUM 185 



161. PODOPHYLLUM. PODOPHYLLUM 

 MAY APPLE. MANDRAKE 



The dried rhizome and roots of Podophyl'lum pelta'tum Linne". Yielding not 

 less than 3 per cent, of resin U.S. P. IX. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Leaf y-g-lobed; peltate. Flowering stem bearing 

 two one-sided leaves with the stalk thickest near their inner edge. Flower 

 large, white, nodding. Fruit ovoid, slightly acid, edible. 



FIG. 88. Podophyllum peltalum Plant and rhizome. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. ^Rhizome 300 mm. (12 in.) or more long and 

 5 mm. (^ in.) thick, jointed, consisting of nodes and internodes, the 

 length of the internodes being about 50 mm. (2 in.). The rhizome 

 is very much thickened at the nodes, where it is sometimes branched 

 laterally, each node having a circular scar on the upper side and 

 about six to ten small brittle rootlets below or scars from broken 

 rootlets; externally smooth, slightly wrinkled longitudinally, of an 

 orange-brown color; fracture short, white and starchy, showing a 



