260 RUTACE^E 



RUTACE^. Rue Family 



To facilitate study, this order has been divided, one of the subdivisions being 

 the sub-order Aurantieas (see below). The rueworts'are remarkable for yielding 

 acrid and resinous principles and volatile oil. Ruta montana, growing in Spain, 

 is so extremely acrid that it raises pustules on the skin of those who gather it. 

 The peduncles and flower of the European Dittany are so laden with volatile oil 

 that the plant ignites at the approach of a lighted candle. 



Synopsis of Drugs from the Rutacea 



A. Barks. B. Leaves. C. Fruits. 



XANTHOXYLUM, 270. BUCHU, 274. Bela, 277. 



Angustura, 272. PILOCARPUS, 275. *Xanthoxyli Fructus, 271. 



Ptelia Trifoliata, 273. Ruta, 276. 



(Products of the sub-order Aurantieae, p. 267.) 



FIG. 142. Cross-section of Cranesbill. a. Bark. b. Wood- wedge, c. Pith. (12 diam.) 



270. XANTHOXYLUM XANTHOXYLUM 



PRICKLY-ASH BARK 



The bark of Xanthox'ylum america'num Miller, and of Fagara clava-her'culis 

 Linne", known in commerce respectively as Northern Prickly-ash and Southern 

 Prickly-ash. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. The northern prickly-ash, X. americanum, bears 

 its leaves and flowers in sessile, axillary, umbellate clusters; leaflets 2 to 4 

 pairs, and an odd one, obovate-oblong, downy when young. The southern 

 prickly-ash, F. clava-hercttlis, bears its flowers in an ample terminal cyme, 

 appearing after the leaves; leaflets 3 to 8 pairs, and an odd one, ovate 'or 

 ovate-lanceolate, oblique, shining above. 



HABITAT. United States. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Northern prickly-ash (X. americanum), as found 

 in commerce, is in curved or quilled pieces about i mm. (^5 in.) 

 thick; the outer surface is of a brownish-gray color, longitudinally 

 furrowed and showing a few yellowish-gray patches of foliaceous 



