70 CYTISUS SCOPARIUS 



layer lying on the sides of the cotyledons in the seeds of this 

 species. 



About five or six other species are referred to Sarothamnus, 

 which is still maintained as a genus distinct from Gytisus by 

 many botanists. 



Syme, E. Bot., iii, p. 11 ; Hook, f., Stud. PI., p. 87 ; Watson, 

 Comp. Cyb. Br., p. 137; Gren. & Godr., PI. France, i, p. 348; 

 Ledebour, Fl. Ross., i, p. 515 ; Lindl., PL Med., p. 239 ; Fliick. 

 and Hanb., Pharmacogr., p. 148. 



Official Part and Names. SCOPAEII CACUMINA; the fresh and 

 dried tops of Sarothamnus scoparius, Wimmer (B. P.). The 

 fresh and dried tops (I. P.). SCOPARIUS; the tops of Sarotham- 

 nus scoparius (U. S. P.). 



General Characters and Composition. Broom tops are branched, 

 straight, angular, dark green, smooth, and tough ; their taste is 

 bitter and nauseous ; and in a fresh state they have a peculiar 

 odour when bruised, but this is nearly lost in drying. 



According to Stenhouse, broom tops contain two peculiar prin- 

 ciples ; one of which is neutral or somewhat acid, and has been 

 termed scoparin, and the other a volatile liquid alkaloid, called 

 sparteine or spartia. Scoparin is described by Stenhouse as 

 crystallizing in stellate tufts of a yellow colour, readily soluble in 

 water or alcohol, and without taste or smell. The experiments 

 of Stenhouse lead to the belief that scoparin is the diuretic prin- 

 ciple of broom tops ; it does not appear to have any poisonous 

 property. Spartia or sparteine is a colourless oily liquid at first, 

 but it becomes brown by exposure to light. It is heavier than 

 water, and but sparingly soluble in it ; it is distinctly alkaline in 

 its reactions, and forms extremely bitter crystallizable salts with 

 acids. Like nicotia and conia it is destitute of oxygen. Sten- 

 house regarded spartia as a narcotic principle ; it is very poisonous. 

 Stenhouse also states that broom grown in the shade contains less 

 spartia than that which flourishes in open sunny places ; and he 

 adds that shepherds are well acquainted with the narcotic pro- 

 perties of broom, from noticing that sheep after eating it become 

 excited and stupiiied. 



