CUBEB 



151 



4 stigmas; pericarp about 0.3 mm. thick; internally light brown, 

 smooth, oily, 1-locular, 1-seeded; seed atropous, broadly ovoid, 

 4 to 5 mm. in diameter, reddish-brown, straight, mostly smooth on 

 one side where it lies against the pericarp, chalazal end with a broad 

 scar, micropyle with a slight depression, a small embryo at the upper 

 end of the reserve layer; odor distinct; taste aromatic and pungent. 

 Inner Structure. See Fig. 67. 



B 



FIG. 67. Cubeb: A, transverse section of the pericarp showing epidermis (Ep), 

 stone cells (Sc), oil cells (Se), parenchyma (P), collapsed parenchyma tissue 

 (z), endocarp (En) composed of stone cells. B, spike showing bracts (d), 

 young sessile fruits (d), and a mature fruit with long pedicel (e). C, longi- 

 tudinal section of mature fruit showing pericarp (i), union (I) of seed and 

 pericarp, large perisperm (k), small endosperm (m), which surrounds the 

 embryo (E). D, flower diagram showing the position of the flower in refer- 

 ence to the rachis (a), bract (D) and pericarp (c) which surrounds the ovule 

 (S). After Meyer. 



Powder. (Fig. 68). Light brown to blackish-brown; stone cells 

 single or in isolated groups, nearly isodiametric, thick-walled, with 

 numerous simple pores, and colorless or light-yellow contents; 

 sclerenchymatous fibers few, short, thick-walled, strongly lignified; 

 parenchymatous cells with reddish-brown tannin masses; oil-secre- 



