320 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



Adulterants. In the powder of Argel Leaves (Solenostemma 

 Argel, Fam. Asclepiadaceae) the non-glandular hairs are 3- to 4- 

 celled; in the leaves of Castanea dentata (Fig. 73), the non-glandular 

 hairs are relatively few, 0.2 to 0.5 mm. in length, nearly smooth, 

 thick-walled, occasionally in groups of three to eight and spreading 

 from the base. The calcium oxalate crystals are numerous, in rosette 

 aggregates or in monoclinic prisms, 0.010 to 0.035 mm. in diameter, 

 occasionally in crystal fibers; the parenchymatous cells contain 

 irregular yellowish-brown tannin masses which are colored blue with 

 ammonio-ferric alum solution. 



SCOPARIUS. Broom. The tops of Cytisus Scoparius (Fam. 

 Leguminosae, sub-fam. Papilionacese), a shrub indigenous to the tem- 

 perate parts of Europe, and naturalized in waste places from Vir- 

 ginia to Nova Scotia. The tops are gathered before flowering and are 

 used in the fresh condition, or they are dried. 



Description. Usually cut into pieces; branches alternate, pent- 

 angular, 2 to 3 mm. in thickness; externally dark green, with 5 

 yellowish-green wings and numerous reddish-brown cork patches, 

 the younger branches somewhat pubescent; fracture short, fibrous, or 

 of the larger pieces, tough, splintery; internally yellowish, bark thin, 

 wood slightly porous, pith large, about 1 mm. in diameter. Leaves 

 elliptical, obovate, simple about 5 to 10 mm. in length, 3 to 4 mm. in 

 breadth, digitately trifoliate below; summit of both leaves and leaf- 

 lets acute; base acute; margin entire; upper surface dark green, 

 nearly glabrous; under surface slightly pubescent; petiole wanting 

 in the simple leaves and about 5 mm. in length in the compound 

 leaves, pubescent; odor peculiar; taste bitter. 



Powder. Dark green; non-glandular hairs 1-celled, 0.5 to 0.7 

 mm. in length, thick-walled; tracheae with spiral or double spiral 

 thickenings, slightly lignified; sclerenchymatous fibers narrow, 

 thin-walled and with simple pores. 



Constituents. A volatile, liquid alkaloid sparteine (0.03 per cent), 

 forming crystalline salt, the sulphate of which has physiological 

 properties similar to digitalin; a yellow erystalline principle scoparin, 

 which yields picric acid on treatment with nitric acid; volatile oil; 

 tannin; ash about 5 per cent. 



Allied Plants. Several plants of the Leguminosa3 are used like 

 Scoparius. Spanish broom is obtained from Spartium junceum, a 

 shrub indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Coronilla scor- 

 pioides yields a yellow glucoside coronillin. 



CASSIA FISTULA. Purging Cassia. The ripe fruit of Cassia 

 (Carthartocarpus) Fistula (Fam. Leguminosse, sub-fam. Caesal- 



