130 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



pinnatifida; East Indian Arrowroot is prepared from several species 

 of Curcuma; South Sea Island Arrowroot is obtained from several 

 species of Arum and Dioscorea; Brazilian Arrowroot is identical with 

 Cassava or Tapioca starch. 



ORCHIDACEjE, OR ORCHID FAME/V 



A family of more than 12,000 species and on account of their 

 flowers it is probably the most interesting group in the entire plant 

 kingdom. They are widely distributed, although most abundant in 

 the tropics. They are sometimes classified according to habit of 

 growth as saprophytic, epiphytic and terrestrial. Most of the orchids 

 common to the United States are either saprophytic or terrestrial 

 plants. The epiphytic orchids are characteristic of the tropics and 

 are by far the most valuable of the orchids. They are sometimes 

 spoken of as parasitic, but this is erroneous, as none of the members 

 of this family are parasitic. The stems show a characteristic mono- 

 cotyledonous structure. Mucilage, in the form of a cell-content, 

 occurs in those genera producing tubers. Similar mucilage cells 

 are also found in the leaves and also in the roots of the epiphytic 

 forms. 



Vanilla. The fruit of Vanilla planifolia (Fam. Orchidacese), a 

 perennial climbing plant indigenous to Eastern Mexico, and now 

 cultivated in various tropical islands, including the Seychelles, 

 Mauritius, Java, as well as in the provinces of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca, 

 in Mexico, from whence the best fruit is derived. Most of the 

 vanilla used in the United States comes from Mexico. Some of the 

 Reunion (or Bourbon) fruit is now also entering the market. 



The pollination of the flowers of the vanilla plant may be effected 

 by insects but is Usually brought about by artificial means (hand- 

 pollination). The fruits require several months to become fully 

 grown and an equal period of time is necessary for their maturity, 

 which is indicated by their yellow color. They are then gathered 

 and cured by alternately steaming and drying them, when they 

 acquire the dark-brown color and the odor of the commercial article. 

 Vanilla is cultivated in all tropical countries where the temperature 

 does not fall below 18 C., and the humidity is very great. Usually 

 vanilla culture is combined with that of Cacao. The plants begin to 

 yield fruits the third year and continue bearing for thirty or forty 

 years. 



Mexican Vanilla. Pods narrow, linear, about 20 cm. long, 7 mm. 

 in diameter, 4 mm. thick; summit oblique, with a circular scar; 



