ASPIDIUM 



31 



extends north to Prince Edward's Island. The rhizome is collected 

 in early autumn, the leaves cut off, leaving the lower portions or 

 stipes attached to the rhizomes; the dead portions of the rhizomes 

 and the chaff are removed. Usually the drug consists of the stipes 

 only, which are separated from the rhizome, the periderm being 

 removed (Fig. 12). The drug is carefully dried and preserved and 

 should not be used after it loses its green color. 



Description. Of horizontal or oblique growth, 5 to 15 cm. long 

 and 1 to 25 cm. thick, mostly covered with nearly cylindrical slightly 

 curved stipe-remnants (Fig. 12), which are about 25 mm. long and 



FIG. 12. A, B, Dryopteris Filix mas, showing a decorticated stipe and piece 

 of rhizome (A), and rhizomes and stipes (B); C, probably the rhizome of 

 Osmunda Claytoniana, which is sometimes substituted for Aspidium. 



5 to 10 mm. thick, between which is a dense mass of dark-brown, 

 glossy, transparent and soft chaffy scales; internally spongy, pale 

 green, becoming brownish with age; in transverse section showing an 

 interrupted circle of about six (D. marginalis) or seven to nine (D. 

 Filix mas) groups of fibre-vascular tissue, each of which is sur- 

 rounded by an endodermal-like layer; odor slight, taste acrid, 

 somewhat bitter and nauseous. 

 Inner Structure. See Fig. 13. 



