196 POWDERED VEGETABLE DRUGS 



9. (Fig. 10.) AMYGDALA. Almond. 



Paste; fine powder or meal. 



Mandeln, G. Amandes, Fr. 



The seeds of Amygdala communis L. Rosaceae. 



Very light brown, nearly cream color. 



Faintly aromatic; almond odor when moist. 



Faintly aromatic; almond odor when moist. 



Bitter almond Bitter, somewhat pungent. 



Sweet almond Bland, sweetish, slightly pungent. 



Large, reddish brown sclerenchymatous epidermal cells; endosperm 

 cells with proteid granules and oil globules, but no starch; deep reddish 

 brown typical sclerenchyma cells; vascular tissue very sparingly 

 present. The reddish brown sclerenchyma cells are quite thickwalled, 

 very porous and occur singly. The large sclerenchymatous epidermal 

 cells are mostly broken. Concentrated sulphuric acid colors the pow- 

 der a rose red. 



Ash 4 per cent. 



Almonds may be adulterated with a variety of drupaceous seeds, 

 as those of the peach, the apricot, and the plum. The seeds of the 

 bitter almond have been mistaken for the sweet almond and have 

 actually been used as an adulterant of the sweet variety. Almond 

 paste and macaroons are generally adulterated with cereal flour, and 

 the almond face powder is frequently adulterated with starch. The 

 adulterations are readily detected. 



