HORSERADISH 309 



HORSERADISH ROOT 



(Radix Armoracise) 



Source, &c. The horseradish, Coc-hlearia Armoracia, Linne. (N.O. 

 Cruciferce), is indigenous to eastern Europe, but is naturalised in 

 several parts of Britain, and is cultivated in this country as well as 

 in many others. It possesses a large perennial root, and produces 

 stout, erect, flowering stems about 1 metre high. 



Description. The root, which is used in the fresh state only, attains 

 a length of over half a metre and a thickness of 3 cm. or more. It is 

 nearly cylindrical except at the crown, where it often divides into a 

 few short branches, each of which is enlarged in its upper part and 

 marked with closely approximated, semi-amplexicaul leaf-scars. It 

 gives off but few slender, lateral roots, is pale yellowish or brownish 

 white in, colour, and fleshy in consistence. The transverse section 

 exhibits a thick bark and a distinct cambium, within which is a wood 

 consisting principally of parenchymatous tissue, groups of vessels 

 being visible as minute points, especially near the cambium. 



The root is odourless until broken, bruised, or scraped, when a 

 pungent mustard-like odour is evolved ; the taste is also pungent. 



The student should observe 



(a) The pale yellowish colour and cylindrical shape, 



(b) The pungent odour (when crushed) and taste. 



Constituents. Horseradish root contains sinigrin and myrosin, 

 and yields, when crushed and distilled with water, about 0-05 per 

 cent, of allyl isothiocyanate (compare p. 147). 



Uses. Horseradish root has properties similar to those of black 

 mustard seed, viz. stimulant and rubefacient. 



SENEGA ROOT 



(Radix Senegae) 



Source, &c. Senega root is obtained from Polygala Senega, Linne 

 (N.O. Polygalece), a small plant producing a perennial knotty rootstock, 

 from which numerous slender stems 15 to 30 cm. high arise. It is 

 widely distributed over the United States and the southern parts of 

 British America, the root being collected largely in Minnesota and 

 Manitoba (western senega) and in the north-western of the United 

 States (northern senega). It was formerly collected in the more 

 southern States, but is now nearly exterminated there. The root was 



