GENTIAN 



535 



and with few buds, stem- and root-scars, roots longitudinally wrinkled ; 

 fracture short when dry, tough and flexible when damp; internally 

 dark yellow, bark 0.5 to 2 mm. in thickness, porous, cambium zone 

 distinct; odor heavy; taste bitter. 

 INNER STRUCTURE. See Fig. 230. 



FIG. 230. Longitudinal (A) and transverse (J5) sections of gentian: a, cork; 

 6, a kind of hypodermal layer; c, sieve; /, cambium; e, elongated fiber-like 

 cells; h, somewhat elongated parenchyma cells; g, short parenchyma cells. 

 After Meyer. 



Powder. Light brown or yellowish-brown; tracheae having 

 simple pores; intermediate fibers non-1 ignified, the walls being marked 

 with irregular, simple, oblique pores; few globules of a fixed oil. 

 Aqueous extract not less than 33 per cent. A substitute has been 



