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SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



cter, 10 to 15 mm. in thickness; with a brownish-black groove 

 from 1 to 2 mm. in diameter extending about half way around the 

 edge, containing the raphe as a narrow line, and in which is frequently 

 found the remains of the white membranaceous funiculus, the micro- 

 pyle occuring near one end of the groove as a slight depression; seed- 

 coat brownish-red, hard, thick, smooth, but somewhat rough near 

 the groove; reserve layers wanting; embryo large, white, with a 

 short hypocotyl and two concavo-convex cotyledons; inodorous; 

 taste starchy. 



FIG. 146. Physostigma venenosum: A, flowering branch. B, a single flower. 

 C, flower showing ovary and part of the calyx. D, enlarged view of style 

 and stigma. E, legume. F, seed. After Bentley and Trimen. 



Powder. Grayish-white; starch grains numerous, from 0.005 to 

 0.150 mm. in diameter, ellipsoidal or somewhat reniform, and usually 

 with a distinct cleft and frequently with radiating or irregular fis- 

 sures; fragments of seed-coat with very thick, reddish-brown cells, 

 being either palisade-like in shape, or very irregular and resembling 

 stone cells, but the walls are not lignified; an occasional fragment 

 with tracheae showing reticulate thickenings. 



Constituents. Starch about 45 per cent; proteins about 20 per 

 cent; fixed oil about 2 per cent; ash about 3 per cent. Several 

 alkaloids have been isolated, the most important of which is physos- 



