118 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



oily and of a yellow color, but in old dried rhizomes the contents are 

 darker and insoluble in alcohol, ether, glacial acetic acid, with solutions 

 of potassium hydrate or hydrated chloral. 



FIG. 48. Zingiber officinale, the rhizome of which constitutes the ginger of the 

 market. Entire plant showing rhizome and roots, a leaf-branch and a flower- 

 branch as also scars of previous year's growth after decay of leaf- and flower- 

 branches. A, entire flower, B, section of flower showing beak-like append- 

 ages at the summit of the fertile stamen, which encloses the style; C, three- 

 parted labellum or irregular segment of corolla showing two tooth-like 

 staminodes (rudiments of stamens) at the base; D, the ovary with lower 

 portion of style and two epigynous filiform processes which secrete nectar; 

 E, summit of funnel-shaped, fringed stigma. After Berg and Schmidt. 



Powder. (Fig. 51.) Light yellow; numerous starch grains 

 ellipsoidal or somewhat ovoid, slightly beaked, 0.015 to 0.060 mm. in 



