126 SEEDS. 



(64) Ignatius Beans. 



The seeds of Strychnos Ignatii, Berg. (N.O. Loganiacese). 



The Ignatius bean is covered, like nux vomica, with a 

 n seed-coat, the epidermal cells of which have developed into 

 hairs of extremely remarkable shape. These hairs are, however, 

 easily detached, and in the commercial drug usually only 

 isolated patches of them are to be found. They are distinguished 

 from those of nux vomica by the base, which appears much 

 ramified. During the process of pulverisation they become 

 broken and separated to a great extent into detached strands. 



The layer beneath the epidermis consists of rather small 

 polygonal cells with thickened and pitted walls. 



The endosperm is very hard and horny. The outer part is 

 composed of rather small cells with moderately thickened walls 

 and granular contents. Towards the centre of the seed the 

 cells increase in diameter and their walls in thickness, the 

 lumen at the same time assuming various, irregular shapes. 

 Like the walls of the corresponding cells of nux vomica they 

 swell when warmed with water, and still more so in hot dilute 

 solution of potash ; in the latter case the contents disappear 

 almost entirely. 



The diagnostic features of powdered Ignatius beans are : 



(a) The characteristic hairs with remarkable bases. 



(b) The polygonal cells of the subjacent layer. 



(c) The cells of the inner part of the endosperm, with 

 rcnj thick walls which swell in hot dilute potash, 



