274 COK MS AND BULBS. 



(132) Squill Bulb. 



The bulbs of Scilla maritima, L. (N.O. Liliaceee). 



The scales of which the bulb almost entirely consists exhibit 

 the following structure : 



(1) Epidermis, composed of rectangular cells covered with a 

 rather thick striated cuticle ; in surface view the epidermal 

 cells are polygonal and axially elongated. The epidermis is 

 furnished with rather large stomata. 



2. Parenchyma, between the two epidermises. This tissue 

 corresponds to the mesophyll of the leaf, and is composed of 

 parenchymatous cells which are polygonal and irregular in the 

 centre, but axially elongated in the layers near the epidermis. 

 Most of the cells contain mucilage, and some of them calcium 

 oxalate in addition ; the latter occurs sometimes in very large 

 prismatic crystals of rectangular section, sometimes in delicate 

 acicular crystals, which may be arranged in bundles or may be 

 irregularly disposed. In the rod variety of squill cells filled with 

 red colouring matter are also present. 



The parenchymatous tissue is traversed by numerous vascular 

 bundles. 



The diagnostic characters of powdered squill are : 



(a) The abundant mucilage. 



(b) The very characteristic calcium oxalate. 



(c) The occasional stomata, 



(d) The absence of starch. 



