CIMICIFUGA 



299 



It grows freely in shaded woods in Canada and the United States, 

 extending southwards as far as Florida. In the autumn after the 

 plant has fruited and the leaves have died down, the stout, perennial 

 rhizome is collected, cut into pieces, and dried. It was introduced 

 into medical practice in the United States about 1823, and in this 

 country about 1860. 



Description. The drug consists of a thick, hard, and knotty 

 horizontal rhizome with numerous stout ascending branches. The 

 rhizome averages about 5 to 8 cm. in length and 1 cm. in diameter, but 

 may attain as much as twice these dimensions ; the commercial drug 

 consists, however, usually of pieces 2 to 5 cm. long. The branches, 

 which are so close together as almost to conceal the rhizome, are 

 about 1 cm. thick and 3 cm. or more long ; they curve upwards, and 



FIG. 149. Black Snakeroot, showing 

 branches curving upwards and marked 

 with leaf-scars. Natural size. 



FIG. 150. Black Snake- 

 root. Transverse section 

 through a branch of the 

 rhizome, and through 

 roots. Natural size. 

 (Maisch. ) 



terminate either in the remains of a bud or more frequently in a circular 

 cup-shaped scar exhibiting a distinctly radiate structure. Both the 

 rhizome and its branches bear encircling scars of cataphyllary leaves, 

 those on the branches being more conspicuous. 



From the under surface of the rhizome numerous straight stout 

 roots are given off. These are dark brown in colour and obscurely 

 quadrangular or longitudinally furrowed ; they are rather brittle, 

 and are usually broken off near the rhizome. The interior of the 

 drug is hard and horny. The transverse section of the rhizome 

 exhibits a thin dark horny bark surrounding a ring of numerous paler 

 narrow wedges of wood alternating with wide dark medullary rays ; 

 the centre is occupied by a large dark pith. The branches have a 

 similar structure. 



The transverse section of the root frequently exhibits a thick bark 

 and four (or sometimes five or six) distinct wedges of porous whitish 

 wood, arranged in the form of a Maltese cross, the medullary rays 

 being broad and dark ; this characteristic structure is usually best 

 seen in the stoutest roots. 



