434 POWDERED VEGETABLE DRUGS 



148. (Fig. 146.) PHYSOSTIGMA. Physostigma, U. S. 

 Fl. ex. 30. Tinct. 40. 



Calabar bean, ordeal bean, E. Calabarbohnen, Gottesurtheilbohnen, 

 G. Feve d'e*preuve du calabar, Fr. 



The seeds of Physostigma venenosum Balfour, Leguminosae. 



Light brown; oily. 



Odorless; bean odor. , 



Almost tasteless. 



Outer brown hard layer consists of very long, slender, thick-walled, 

 brownish, palisade cells, with brown granular contents. Irregular, 

 thick-walled, somewhat porous, entirely colorless cells filled with bright 

 red coloring matter. Endosperm cells very thin-walled, large, loosely 

 united, filled with starch, fat and colorless granular matter. The 

 starch granules resemble those of the bean, but are much larger, hili 

 and stratification very distinct; only a few granules in each cell. 



Ash 2.5 per cent. 



Adulterated with seeds of Physostigma cylindrospermum, palm oil 

 seeds and seeds of Mucuna. 



