CRUDE DRUGS. 



489 



Description. Rhizome horizontal, cylindrical, and sometimes 

 branched, jointed, in pieces from 3 to 17 cm. long, internodes 10 to 

 50 mm. long, i to 3 mm. in diameter, nodes with a circular scar, 

 not much thickened ; externally light or dark brown, longitudinally 

 wrinkled, somewhat annulate from scars of bud-scales, mostly 

 smooth between the nodes, upper surface of nodes marked by 



H" 



Fig. 213. Transverse section of central cylinder and portion of cortex of root of 

 Cypripedium hirsutum: E, epidermis; H, hypodermis; Ca, Raphides of calcium oxalate; 

 P, parenchyma containing starch (St) ; En, endodermis; F, Hgnified sclerenchymatous fibers; 

 T, tracheee; B, non-lignified, thick-walled fibers exterior to sieve groups; L, peripheral layer 

 of central cylinder. The latter usually consists of 6 to 8 radial fibrovascular bundles. 



stem-scars, side and under surface with root-scars, or usually with 

 three to five roots, fracture short or fibrous ; internally light or 

 dark brown, cortex 0.5 mm. thick, separable from the central cyl- 

 inder ; odor faint ; taste bitter, slightly acrid. 



