TASTE 145 



Odor. Many stems are odorless, others have very pro- 

 nounced odors. In all cases the odor is characteristic of the 

 plant. 



Taste. Many stems are tasteless; most stems, however, 

 have a very characteristic taste. Like roots, the most 

 common tastes are mucilaginous, starchy, sweet, bitter, 

 astringent, pungent, acrid, tingling and aromatic. If the 

 stem has only one taste it is simple; if it has more than one 

 taste it is complex. 



10 



