COCA 



355 



cular markings, one occurring in the center of each of the polygonal 

 cells; calcium oxalate in monoclinic prisms from 0.003 to 0.015 mm. 

 in diameter, occurring either singly or in crystal fibers; fragments 

 of tracheae and thin-walled sclerenchymatous fibers. In the powder 

 of Huanuca Coca the very long, separate hairs of the corolla of Inga 

 flowers with their thick yellowish walls are occasionally present; as 

 also the curved, unicellular, non-glandular hairs from the stems of 

 this plant. 







-666- 0' 



FIG. 156. Coca leaf: O, hexagonal prisms of calcium oxalate; U, surface section 

 of a cell of the upper epidermis; L, fragments of dorsal or lower epidermis in 

 surface section showing the papillae, in the form of circles when seen in 

 surface view, also transverse sections showing the papillose epidermal cells; 

 S, sclerenchymatous fibers; M, loose parenchyma. Two fragments with 

 annular trachea; are also shown. 



Constituents. Several alkaloids, including cocaine, cinnamyl- 

 cocaine, truxilline and ecgonine. Of these, cocaine is the most 

 important, the Bolivian leaves containing the greatest amount, or 

 0.5 to 1 per cent; the other alkaloids preponderate in the Peruvian 

 leaves, which usually do not contain more than one-half or two- 

 thirds as much cocaine as the Bolivian leaves; the Java leaves also 

 contain benzoyl-pseudotropine; in addition, coca leaves contain a 



