52 



pith with several rows of parenchyma cells and scattered fibrovascular 

 bundles; central area hollow. 



Powder. Light yellowish; tracheae lignified, with spiral or annu- 

 lar thickenings or simple pores; sclerenchymatous fibers long, thick- 

 walled, strongly lignified; endodermal cells with inner walls thick- 

 ened and slightly lignified; parenchyma with irregular masses of a 

 soluble carbohydrate. 



Constituents. Triticin, a laevo-rotatory carbohydrate resem- 

 bling inulin, 8 per cent; dextrose and levulose 2.5 to 3.3 per cent; a 

 nitrogenous, gummy substance, 11 per cent; acid malates; and 

 about 4.5 per cent of ash containing much silica. The rhizome is 

 free from starch and calcium oxalate, and the lactic acid found in the 

 extract is apparently a fermentation product. 



Adulterant. Bermuda grass, the rhizome of Capriola dactylon, 

 has been used as a substitute. The rhizomes are from 2 to 3 mm. in 

 diameter, hard and brittle. There is no endodermis and the paren- 

 chyma is filled with starch. (Zufall, Jour. A. Ph. A., 1919, 8, p. 472; 

 Gathercoal, ibid, p. 26.) 



ZEA. Corn Silk. The fresh styles and stigmas of Zea Mays 

 (Fam. Graminese), an annual plant indigenous to tropical America 

 and known only in cultivation, being cultivated widely in nearly all 

 tropical, sub-tropical and temperate regions. 



Description. In matted masses consisting of several hundred or 

 more slender, very delicate, thread-like, purplish-red to greenish- 

 white, more or less translucent styles; 10 to 20 cm. long; stigmas 

 bifid, slender, 2 to 3 mm. long; odor slight; taste insipid. 



When viewed under the microscope the upper part of the styles 

 and the stigmas are seen to have numerous multicellular, non-glan- 

 dular hairs from 0.2 to 0.5 mm. long, among which are numerous 

 spinose pollen grains 0.010 to 0.015 mm. in diameter. 



Constituents. Not much is known concerning the constituents of 

 this drug, and the analyses have been chiefly of the dried commercial 

 article. The fresh drug contains about 83 per cent of water. The 

 dried drug contains a volatile alkaloid; two resins about 5.5 per cent; 

 a crystalline principle, maizenic acid, about 1.25 per cent; fixed oil, 

 5.25 per cent; sugar; ash, about 12 per cent. The coloring principle 

 of the fresh drug is soluble in water and alcohol and is changed to 

 yellowish-red with acids, green with alkalies, purple with potassium 

 alum, and olive-green changing to greenish-brown with ferric chloride. 



The Starches. Large amounts of capital are invested through- 

 out the world in the manufacture of starch. In the United States 

 alone not less than 300,000,000 pounds of this material are marketed 



