290 BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



In addition to the fruit-ethers found in the common edible fruits 

 of this family and the volatile oil of rose, it should be mentioned 

 that oils containing salicylic acid are also present. A number of 

 species of Spircra contain salicylic aldehyde and methyl salicylate. 

 Quillaja Saponaria is a large tree having a thick bark and 

 hard wood. The leaves are oval, coriaceous, slightly dentate and 

 evergreen (Fig. 149). The flowers are monoecious or dioecious, 

 white, apetalous, and axillary in groups of one to four. The ovary 



Fig. 149. Orthorhombic crystals of Mannitol (Mannit) obtained from aqueous solutio;.s: 

 A, large crystals; B, feathery aggregates of needles. 



consists of 4 to 5 carpels and on ripening forms a star-like, spread- 

 ing group of follicles. The inner bark is the part used in medicine 



(p. 541)- 



A spurious quillaja bark {Q. Pccppigii^ differs from the 



ofificial in being thinner, darker and in having the surface covered 



with a coarse network of whitish lines. Another bark, occurring 



in quilled pieces, from 8-15 cm. long, and 1-5 cm. wide, has 



also been found in commerce. 



Hagcnia abyssiiiica is an ornamental tree with 7- to 13-foliate 

 leaves. The flowers are monoecious and occur in panicles ; 

 the staminate being greenish-yellow and with 20 stamens ; and the 

 pistillate fragrant, bicarpellary, and with a reddish calyx (Fig. 

 243). The fruit is a nutlet. The pistillate flowers are official 

 under the name of Cusso (p. 556). 



Various species of Prunus yield gums, as cherry, peach, 

 apricot, etc. Mucilage is found in the testa of certain seeds, as 



