CRUDE DRUGS. 501 



and Central United States and Canada (p. 376). The rhizome 

 and roots are collected in autumn from plants of the second year's 

 growth. When fresh the drug has an almond-like odor and a 

 bitter, nauseous taste, which it loses in a measure on drying, and 

 may be kept indefinitely (Fig. 207). 



Description. Rhizome horizontal, nearly cylindrical, some- 

 what branched, 4 to 10 cm. long, 3 to 8 mm. in diameter ; exter- 

 nally light brown to brownish-red ; annulate from circular scars 

 of bud-scales, upper surface with conical buds, short stem-rem- 

 nants or stem-scars, the under and side portions with numerous 

 roots or root-scars ; fracture tough ; internally, bark dark brown, 

 0.3 to I mm. thick, wood about 0.5 to 1.5 mm. thick, pith light 

 brown or brownish-black ; odor slight ; taste bitter, slightly acrid. 



Roots from i to 4 cm. long, 0.5 to i mm. in diameter, exter- 

 nally smooth ; longitudinally wrinkled, fracture short ; internally, 

 bark brownish-black, wood light brown. 



Constituents. Leptandrin, a glucoside, occurring in yellow- 

 ish-green crystals ; resin, about 6 per cent. ; saponin ; tannin ; and 

 starch. The drug yields a distillate containing formic acid. 



SERPENTARIA. The rhizome and roots of several species 

 of Aristolochia (Fam. Aristolochiacese), perennial herbs indig- 

 enous to the Southern United States. There are two commercial 

 varieties: (i) Virginia Snakeroot, yielded by Aristolochia Ser- 

 pciifaria, found growing east of the Mississippi, and (2) Texas 

 or Red River Snakeroot, yielded by Aristolochia reticulata, grow- 

 ing west of the Mississippi. The rhizome and roots are collected 

 in autumn and dried (p. 260). 



Virginia Snakeroot. Rhizome oblique, sub-cylindrical, with 

 numerous slender roots and frequently with leaves or fruiting 

 stems, 10 to 25 mm. long, and i to 2 mm. in diameter; externally 

 dark brown, slightly annulate from scars of bud-scales, upper por- 

 tion with stem-scars or stem-remnants, under' and side portions 

 with numerous roots and root-scars; fracture short; internally, 

 bark dark brown, 0.3 to 0.5 mm. thick, wood yellow, radiate, 

 porous, I to 1.5 mm. thick, pith i mm. in diameter; odor tere- 

 binthinate ; taste bitter, aromatic. 



Roots nearly straight, 4 to 7 cm. long, about 0.3 mm. in diam- 

 eter, longitudinally wrinkled, bark light brown, wood yellowish, 

 5-rayed. 



