PELLITORY 



335 



resembles the chamomile. The root is collected in the autumn and 

 dried. 



Description. Pellitory root varies from 7 to 15 cm. in length 

 and is usually simple. It is nearly cylindrical in shape, tapering 

 slightly towards the tip, and often towards the crown as well, where 

 there is frequently to be found a tuft of grey hairs on the remains 

 of leaves. The outer surface is brown and deeply and irregularly 

 wrinkled. 



FIG. 173. Pellitory root. A, root, natural size. B, transverse 

 section, showing radiate structure of the wood and the distri- 

 bution of the oleo-resin glands, magnified. (Planchon and Collin.) 



The root is tough and breaks with a short fracture. The bark is 

 closely adherent to the wood, which exhibits a prominently radiate 

 structure, narrow yellowish wedges of vascular tissue alternating 

 with whitish medullary rays of equal or even greater breadth. In 

 the latter, as well as in the bark, yellow or brown oleo-resin glands 

 are scattered. The drug when cut is of a horny, not starchy, or 

 fibrous nature. It has a characteristic though not strong odour, 

 and, when chewed, a pungent taste, exciting a copious flow of saliva. 



The student should observe 



(a) The distinctly radiate structure of the wood, 



(b) The wide medullary rays, 



(c) The presence of oleo-resin glands ; 



