334 SUBTERRANEAN ORGANS 



(6) The presence of oil-glands, 



(c) The absence of distinct radiate structure in the wood ; 



and. should compare the root with 



(i) Belladonna root, which has no oil-glands, and which should 



possess a starchy fracture, 

 (ii) Dandelion root, which has no oil-glands, a small yellow 



wood, and thick ringed bark, 

 (iii) Marslimallow root, which has no oil-glands, a radiate 



structure, and a fibrous, easily separated bark, 

 (iv) Pellitory root, which has oil-glands, but is distinguished 

 by its yellow, radiate wood, distinctive odour and taste. 



Constituents. By distillation with water elecampane root yields 

 from 1 to 2 per cent, of a crystalline mass associated with a little 

 volatile oil. The crystalline mass consists of alantolactone, 

 isoalantolactone (helenin), and alantolic acid, all of which are nearly 

 colourless and crystalline and have but slight odour or taste. Alantol 

 is an oily liquid with a peppermint-like odour found in the distillate. 

 Elecampane root contains also in large quantity, as reserve material, 

 inulin. The roots gathered in the autumn, when they are richest in 

 inulin, contain as much as 45 per cent, of this substance, in the spring 

 about 19 per cent. 



Inulin C 6 H 10 5 , can be obtained as a white crystalline powder, slightly 

 soluble in cold water but easily soluble in hot water without gelatinising. In 

 the fresh root it is in solution in the cell sap, although only slightly soluble in 

 cold water ; when the roots are immersed in alcohol it is slowly deposited in 

 sphero- crystalline masses ; in the dry root it occurs in transparent, irregular 

 lumps. It may be distinguished from starch by these characters as well as by 

 the cooled decoction not assuming a blue colour with iodine. It takes the place 

 of starch as a reserve material in many plants belonging to the order Composites, 

 and in several belonging to Campamdacece, &c. Hydrolysis by means of a dilute 

 mineral acid converts it into levulose. 



In the dried root the oil-glands contain crystals of alantolactone which are 

 also to be found in the powder when mounted in dilute nitric acid ; the powder 

 also contains irregular black masses of phytomelan which is chiefly found 

 in fruits of Composites. 



Uses. Elecampane root has been used in bronchitis and tuber- 

 culosis ; helenin is an effective antiseptic particularly for the tubercle 

 bacillus. 



PELLITORY ROOT 



(Radix Pyrethri) 



Source, &C. Pellitory root is obtained from Anacyclus Pyrethrum, 

 de Candolle (N.O. Composite], a small plant with perennial root, 

 indigenous to Algeria. In habit and general appearance the plant 



