232 POWDERED VEGETABLE DRUGS 



24. (Fig. 43.) ASPIDOSPERMA. Aspidosperma. U. S. 

 Fl. ex. 60. 



Quebracho. E., G., Fr. 



The bark of Aspidosperma Quebracho Schlecht., Apocynaceae. 



Rather light cinnamon brown. 



Faintly aromatic, nearly odorless. 



Very bitter. 



Very large sclerenchymatous bast cells lined with parenchyma cells 

 bearing prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate; larger and smaller typical 

 sclerenchyma cells and sclerenchymatous tracheids; starch granules 

 (simple to compound) sparingly present, 5 to 20/i; bark parenchyma 

 cells rather small, thin walled with groups of phloem cells; prismatic 

 crystals very numerous. Powder turns deep reddish brown with potas- 

 sium hydrate solution. 



May be adulterated with the barks of related species; the wood 

 tissue may be excessive ; old and worthless bark may be used. 



