142 FRUITS. 



(72) Anise Fruit. 



The fruit of Pimpinella Anisum, Linn. (N.O. Umbellif eras) . 

 The transverse section of the fruit exhibits the following 

 structure : 



(1) An outer epidermis composed of flattened cells and 

 provided with stomata as well as with numerous simple hairs 

 In surface view the epidermal cells appear polygonal and 

 strongly striated; the hairs are short, conical, thick-walled 

 warty, and usually one-celled. 



(2) The parenchymatous tissue next to the epidermis is made 

 up of polygonal cells, and is traversed by secretory ducts. The 

 number of the latter is variable, but always considerable, and 

 they are placed close together. This tissue is also traversed by a 

 number of fibro-vascular bundles surrounded by scleren- 

 chymatous tissue of varying extent, the cells of which are 

 polygonal and have thickened, pitted walls. 



(3) An inner epidermis, consisting of a single row of cells, all 

 of which are elongated in the same direction. 



(4) A seed-coat, which is represented by a single row of brown 

 flattened cells ; in surface view these appear polygonal and 

 jsodiametric. 



(5) An endosperm, composed of polygonal cells containing 

 fixed oil and aleurone grains ; in the latter a globoid or a rosette 

 of calcium oxalate may be found. 



The diagnostic characters of powdered anise fruit are : - 



(a) The short, stout, conical hairs. 



(b) The numerous, narrow, brown oil-ducts. 



(c) The sclerenchyma of the pericarp. 



(d) The contents of the endosperm cells. 



