WAFER ASH 411 



grains numerous, nearly spheroidal, from 0.003 to 0.012 mm. in 

 diameter; fragments of cork with nearly colorless thin walls; secre- 

 tion cells with yellowish or brownish amorphous contents; calcium 

 oxalate in rosette aggregates from 0.015 to 0.035 mm. in diameter, 

 the amount in different specimens showing some variation. 



The stem-bark, as well as the whole twigs of E. atropurpureus, 

 are frequently admixed with or substituted for Euonymus and these 

 are distinguished by the presence of chloroplastids, the thick-walled 

 epidermal cells around the deeply sunken stomata (Fig. 175) and the 

 tracheal fragments. 



Adulterants. The bark of Wafer Ash (Ptelea trifoliata) is occa- 

 sionally substituted. It occurs in quills or transversely curved pieces 

 from 3 to 4 mm. in thickness; outer surface light brown with trans- 

 verse ridges and grayish-white lenticels; fracture short; broken 

 surface pale yellow and waxy. 



Constituents. Volatile oil, 1.3 per cent; a phytosterol glucoside; 

 dulcitol; starch; tannic acid; a mixture of fatty acids; furan-a- 

 carboxylic acid. Furthermore, four new crystalline alcohols were 

 obtained, which were designated respectively, euonymol, euony- 

 sterol, homoeuonysterol, and atropurol. No evidence could be 

 obtained of the presence of an active glucosidal substance in the 

 bark, as had previously been affirmed. Power, Jour. Chem. Soc., 

 1912, p. 1040. 



Literature. Youngken, Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1918, 90, p. 160; 

 Holmes, Pharm. Jour., 1918, 100, p. 88. 



Allied Plants. E. europseus and other species of Euonymus are 

 also used in medicine, and probably contain the same constituents. 



ACERACE^;, OR MAPLE FAMILY 



Shrubs or trees, represented chiefly by the genus Acer, and 

 of which there are about 100 species, growing abundantly in the 

 United States, Canada, China and Japan. They possess opposite, 

 3- to 5-lobed leaves, small, green, yellow, or crimson flowers, and 

 a fruit consisting of 2 long-winged samaras. They are extensively 

 used as shade trees and a great many horticultural varieties have 

 been produced, those of Japan being known for their highly dis- 

 sected leaves and their brilliant colorings. The wood of the maple 

 is extensively employed in the manufacture of furniture, flooring and 

 a variety of purposes. The sap of the Sugar or Rock maple (Acer 

 saccharum), is the chief source of maple sugar. This is yielded in 

 greatest quantities from the trees growing in New England, especially 



