458 POWDERED VEGETABLE DRUGS 



162. (Fig. 159.) QUASSIA. Quassia. U. S. 

 Fl. ex. 60. Tinct. 40. 



Bitter ash, Quassia wood, Bitter wood, E. Quassienholz, Fliegen- 

 holz, G. Quassie, Bois amere, Fr. 



The wood of Picrasma excelsa Planchon, Simarubaceae. 



Very pale yellowish brown; pale straw yellow. 



Odorless. 



Intensely bitter. 



Great bulk of tissue consists of typical wood fibers. Short pris- 

 matic crystal-bearing fibers. Medullary rays from one to four layers 

 of cells, with simple spherical starch granules. Very large, finely 

 porous ducts. 



Ash 2.5 per cent. 



Adulterated with wood and bark of allied species. Surinam 

 quassia (Quassia amara) differs from the above in that the medullary 

 rays consists of one layer of cells and furthermore sclerenchyma cells 

 from the bark are present. 



