238 



LEGUMINOS^E 



single, flattish, glossy, red-brown seed, imbedded in a sweet, blackish- 

 brown pulp ; odor prune-like. 



CONSTITUENTS. The pulp, which is the part used, consists mainly of sugar 

 (about 60 per cent.), with mucilage, pectin, albuminoids, and organic salts. 



ACTION AND USES. A mild laxative, generally combined with other mixtures. 

 Dose: I to 8 dr. (4 to 30 Gm.). 



248. CERATONIA. ST. JOHN'S BREAD. The fruit of Cerato'nia sil'iqua Linne 1 . 

 Habitat: Southern Europe. Broad, flat pods, brown and glossy, divided into 

 six to twelve transverse cells, in each of which is a sweet, black pulp having 

 a single seed imbedded in it. This pulp is used as a laxative and demulcent, 

 but chiefly as an ingredient in expectorant mixtures. 



FIG. 129. Trigonella fotnum graecum. Branch. 



249. TAMARINDUS, N.F. TAMARIND 



TAMARIND 



The preserved pulp of the fruit of Tamarin'dus in'dica Linn6 (the Indian date). 



A tough, reddish-brown mass, made adhesive by the syrup in which the 



fruit is preserved. This preserved pulp consists of a fibrous or stringy 



