VEGETABLE POWDERS 393 



123. (Fig. 124.) KAMALA. Kamala. 



Naturally a rather coarse powder. 



Kamala, E., G., Fr. 



The stellate trichomes and glandular trichomes of Mallotus philip- 

 pinensis, Miiller, Euphorbiacese. 



Red, with brown. 



Odorless. 



Tasteless; sandy, gritty. 



Kamala consists of glandular and aggregate trichomes. The 

 glandular predominate; they are deep red, multicellular. The aggre- 

 gate trichomes consist of single celled, rather thick-walled, more or 

 less bent, light brownish hairs. Indistinct epidermal remnants are 

 present also, and some sand is normally present. 



Ash 6 per cent. 



Quite generally adulterated; usually with a fine sand and colored 

 starch (a maranta-like starch). Adulteration very easily detected 

 microscopically because the kamala elements are very characteristic. 



Fig. 124. KAMALA. 



a. Deep reddish brown glandular trichomes. 



b. Aggregate simple trichomes. 



c. Gland decolorized with a weak solution of potassium hydrate. 



