MESCAL 457 



ovary at the basal portion, attaining a length of 4 cm. and sur- 

 mounted by a long, hollow calyx tube upon which are borne the 

 numerous sepals in spiral series, varying from scale-like to long 

 linear-lanceolate leaves; corolla of 5 spreading, elliptical, delicate 

 petals about 8 cm. in length and 3 cm. in width, summit acute, base 

 somewhat contracted; stamens numerous in 2 series, the one inserted 

 upon the throat of the corolla tube forming a fring and the other in a 

 somewhat ascending series from 5 to 8 mm. inside the tube; style 

 cylindrical, orange-brown, from 15 to 19 cm. in length, about 2 mm. 

 in diameter and surmounted by a 15-rayed stigma, consisting of 

 narrow, thread-like, papillose filaments, being about 2 cm. in length. 



INNER STRUCTURE. See Fig. 199. 



Constituents. A glucoside, which is a cardiac stimulant; one or 

 more resinous substances, and possibly also an alkaloid. 



Mescal Buttons (Anhalonium) are the dried tops of several spe- 

 cies of Lophophora growing in northern Mexico. The main axis of 

 the plant is under the ground and from which arise a number of aerial 

 shoots, which are more or less button-shaped or disk-like, being about 

 20 to 50 mm. in diameter. In the center of the disk occur tufts of 

 hairs which vary in the different species, and among which are usually 

 found one or more pinkish flowers. The drug has been used like 

 Cactus grandiflorus, and contains several alkaloids, namely, anha- 

 lonine (similar to pellotine), mescaline, anhalonidine and lopho- 

 phorine. ' Alkaloidal principles are also found in other members of 

 the Cactaceae. 



, OR MEZEREON FAMILY 



A family of about 425 shrubs and trees, most abundant in Australia 

 and South Africa, a few of the genera, however, being found in the 

 United States. The plants have simple, deciduous or evergreen 

 leaves; small, mostly perfect flowers; and the fruits are usually 

 berry-like drupes. All of the plants are characterized by having in 

 the cortex numerous groups of bast fibers. An intraxylary phloem, 

 accompanied by bast fibers, occurs in the stem and is also present 

 in the fibrovascular bundles of the petioles and leaves. The tracheae 

 possess simple pores; the wood fibers are marked by bordered pores; 

 and the medullary rays are narrow. Calcium oxalate is secreted in 

 the form of ordinary crystals, styloids, rosette aggregates and micro- 

 crystals. The plants do not possess any internal secretory cells or 

 glandular hairs. The non-glandular hairs are usually unicellular. 

 In the leaves there is a mucilaginous metamorphosis of the epidermal 



