SCOPOLA 



593 



plants characterized by tubular corollas and berry-like fruits (Fig. 

 242) and the latter to the Solaneae-Hyoscyaminae, or plants with 

 funnel-shaped corolla and transversely dehiscent capsular fruits 

 (Fig. 252). To this latter sub-group also belongs the genus Hyos- 

 cyamus and botanically Scopolia appears to be more closely allied 

 to Hyoscyamus than to Belladonna. 



FIG. 253. Scopola (Scopolia carniolica): A, rhizome showing prominent stem 

 scars. B, longitudinal section showing reticulate tracheae, parenchyma cells 

 containing starch and sphenoidal microcrystals of calcium oxalate. C, 

 individual crystals which separate from sections or in the powder, the single 

 crystals being from 0.005 to 0.010 mm. in diameter and the aggregates being 

 about 0.015 mm. in diameter. D, isolated starch grains, which are from 

 0.005 to 0.020 mm. in diameter. E, field showing starch grains and crystals 

 of calcium oxalate under polarized light. 



Description. Rhizome horizontal (Fig. 253), nearly cylindrical, 

 somewhat tortuous, usually cut longitudinally into pieces 5 to 12 

 cm. in length, 7 to 15 mm. in diameter; externally grayish-brown, 

 longitudinally furrowed, slightly annulate, with numerous circular 



