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, Leguminosse. 



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. 



