244 SAGO SALEP. 



SAGO. Metroxylon Rumphil, Mart. 



N.O. Palmacea. 



Syn. Pearl Sago, Sago Meal, Sago Flour, Sagus 

 Rumphii, Willd., Sagus genuina. 



Part used Prepared pithstarch. 



Action Nutritive, demulcent. Mostly used in the 

 household and for convalescents as food or demulcent. 



Distinctive character Sago occurs in various forms 

 and sizes in commerce. Genuine Sago is rarely quite 

 white. The ordinary Sago of commerce is often made 

 from potato starch. The starch grains of the two 

 plants are quite different in shape and size, those of the 

 potato being larger with a round hilum at the smaller 

 end, and those of Sago smaller, more or less muller- 

 shaped, with one truncate end, and a linear hilum at the 

 larger rounded end. The heat employed in making 

 Sago is apt to break most of the granules, but in Sago 

 Meal or Flour they are easily distinguished. 



SALEP. Orchis mascula, Linn., O. maculata, Linn., 



and O. latifolla, Linn. 



N.O. OrchidacecE. 

 Syn. Salep Root. 



Part used Root. 



Action Demulcent, highly nutritious. Used for 

 similar purposes to Arrowroot. 



Distinctive character Tubers whitish or pale 

 brownish yellow, about i-i inch long and ^-J inch in 

 diameter, oblong-oval or elliptical, somewhat cylindrical 

 compressed, usually with a stem-scar at one end, and 

 tapering to a point at the other. Some varieties are 

 compressed-palmate, with three to five pointed lobes, 

 also with a stem scar at the crown, sometimes wrinkled 

 or shrivelled, but always horny and tough, and not easily 

 fractured. Taste mucilaginous. Odour, none. 



