352 



LOGANIACE^E 



ADULTERATION. Mixed with the true gelsemium there are sometimes 

 found the roots of the jessamine or jasmine; as an adulterant this 

 has become known as false gelsemium. The true yellow jasmine 

 (Jasminum fructicans Linne) is called Gelsemium officinale in Europe. 

 In cross-section the false root, according to Dohme, has no indurated 

 cells in the medulla. Its medullary rays are full of starch-grains, 

 and the sieve-ducts at the outer end of the woody cylinder are, in 



FIG. 200. Cross-section of the stem FIG. 201. Gelsemium Cross-section of root, 

 of Gelsemium. A, Epidermis. B, (19 diam.). A. Cork. B, Phloem. C, Xylem. 

 Collenchyma. C. Parenchyma of cor- D, Medullary ray. (Photomicrograph. 1 ) 

 tex. D, Bundles of sclerenchymatous 

 cells. E. Sieve tissue. F, Cambium. 

 G.Wood fibers. H, Tracheal tubes. 

 /. Pith cells. 



the case of every woody wedge, surrounded and protected by several 

 rows of bast fibers. The true gelsemium has no such bast fibers. 

 Accidental admixture of stems may be detected by the latter having 

 bundles of bast fibers near the cortex. In the rhizome the fibers are 

 not in bundles, but in a more or less interrupted ring. 



Powder. Microscopical elements of: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



CONSTITUENTS. Gelsemine, C 5 4H69N 4 Oi2, gelseminine, gelseminic acid, 

 volatile oil, resins, gallic acid, etc. Gelsemine is a brittle, white, 



