68 



SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



those of the mesophyll. The seeds have a large thick- walled endo- 

 sperm as seen in the date and vegetable ivory. 



SABAL. Saw Palmetto. The ripe drupe of Sabal (Serenoa) 

 serrulata (Fam. Palmse), a small palm found growing in sandy soil 

 from South Carolina to Florida. The fruit is partially dried by arti- 

 ficial means (Fig. 23). 



FIG. 23. Saw palmetto (Sereona serrulata) : A, fruiting branch; B, longitudinal 

 section of fruit showing short stalk (s), epicarp (e), sarcocarp (s), endocarp; 

 (n), and anatropous seed with raphe (a); C, cross-section of outer portion 

 of fruit showing epidermis (c) composed of several layers of cells having a 

 dark reddish-brown content, cells of sarcocarp (p) with reddish-brown con- 

 tent and oil; D, a sclerotic cell from the sarcocarp showing the fine radiating 

 pores and concentric lamellae of the wall; E, sclerotic cells from endocarp; 

 F, cross-section of portion of seed showing epidermal cells (e), large paren- 

 chyma cells (p), inner epidermis (x), perisperm (r), endosperm (n); G, some 

 thick-walled endosperm cells from the inner portion of seed. 



The saw palmetto is characterized by having a creeping root- 

 stock or rhizome one end of which rises a short distance above 



