180 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



Description. Syconium pyriform or obovoid, usually compressed, 

 about 6 cm. long and 1.5 cm. in diameter; externally light brown, 

 longitudinally veined, wrinkled, frequently with an efflorescence of 

 grape sugar, summit with a small scaly orifice, base with a scar or 

 stalk about 7 mm. long and 4 mm. thick, and also with a leaf-rem- 

 nant; torus hollow, the walls 2 to 3 mm. thick, coriaceous, tough, 

 the inner portion with numerous lanceolate divisions, upon which 

 are borne numerous ovoid, brownish-yellow, glossy achenes about 1 

 mm. in diameter, the latter with a reserve layer and a curved embryo; 

 odor distinct, fruit-like; taste sweet. 



Constituents. Grape sugar 50 to 60 per cent; about 1.5 per cent 

 of fat in the form of oily globules found in the milk- vessels; starch 

 in the form of spheroidal grains; water about 30 per cent in the par- 

 tially dried fruit. 



Allied Plants. Other species of Ficus also yield edible figs, as 

 the mulberry fig tree (F. Sycomorus), of Africa; F. religiosa, of 

 India; F. glomerata, of Burmah; the false banyan tree, G. benga- 

 lensis, of tropical Africa and India, and F. Rumphii, of Asia. 



A peptonizing ferment is obtained from the milk-juice of Ficus 

 Carica, F. Sycomorus, of Africa, and F. exima, of Brazil. 



When figs are dried, roasted and ground, they form a coffee 

 substitute known as Fig Coffee, which is also used sometimes as 

 an adulterant of coffee. It is detected by the large, thin-walled 

 and broad non-glandular hairs of the outer epidermis; the broad 

 latex-tubes, 0.030 to 0.050 mm. in width, and the small achenes. 

 The latter somewhat resemble the achenes of strawberry fruits, but 

 are distinguished by the reticulated thickening of the outer cell- 

 wall. 



URTICA. Stinging Nettle. The flowering plant of Urtica 

 urens and Urtica dioica (Fam. Urticacese). The plants are rather 

 common in waste places of Europe and the United States, the former 

 being known as the " small nettle " and the latter as the " stinging 

 or great nettle." Urtica urens is an annual herb, while Urtica dioica 

 is a perennial herb. The leaves and flowering tops are gathered 

 in the late summer and carefully dried. 



Description. Urtica urens has a rather stout, stinging bristly 

 stem; the leaves are thin, elliptical or ovate and with slender petioles; 

 the summit and base are obtuse, and the margin is very coarsely and 

 deeply serrate, the teeth being ascending or spreading; both sur- 

 faces are light green and more or less glabrous; the flowers are small, 

 green and in axillary clusters. 



Urtica dioica has much thicker stems, which are densely covered 



