304 POWDERED VEGETABLE DRUGS 



68. (Fig. 78.) COLCHICUM SEED. U. S. 



Fl. ex. 40. Tinct. 50. 



Origin as for (67).- 



Hard, granular feel. Seeds very hard and not easily reduced to 

 powder. 



Light brown to brown color. 



Odorless. 



Bitter, somewhat pungent. 



Rather large endosperm cells with greatly thickened large-porous 

 walls, with granular contents, composed of some starch granules, 

 abundant proteid granules and oil globules. Brown epidermal cells 

 present. Starch granules sparingly present, 2/x to 6/*; cross bands quite 

 distinct, right angled. 



Ash about 3 per cent. Impurities must not exceed 5 per cent. 



Adulterations easily detected. There should be no trichomes, 

 bast cells or sclerenchyma cells. 



