STARCH 405 



starch is either raked on heated plates (flake tapioca) or pressed through 

 a sieve and heated (seed, pearl, bullet pearl tapioca). 



Sago is similarly prepared from the starch from the stem of 

 Metroxylon Rumphii, Martius, or M. Sagu, Rottboell, (N.O. Palmce). 

 Substitutes may be prepared from other starches, e.g. potato, &c. 



LYCOPODIUM 



(Lycopodium) 



Source, &C. Lycopodium consists of the spores of the common 

 clubmoss, Lycopodium clavdtum, Linne (N.O. Lycopodiacece), and 

 probably other species. The clubmoss, with its long creeping stems 

 and ascending branches covered with narrow moss-like leaves, is 

 distributed over Great Britain and Europe generally. It produces 

 fruiting branches covered with small scaly leaves and resembling 

 a slender elongated cone. On the upper surface of these leaves 

 (sporophylls) near the base are small receptacles (sporangia) filled with 

 minute spores. These spores form the drug ; they are collected by 

 shaking, the fruiting branches over a cloth in which the lycopodium 

 collects as a fine yellow powder which is freed from extraneous matter 

 by passing it through a fine sieve and is then packed in sacks, which 

 are usually covered with matting. It is collected chiefly in Russia. 



Description. Lycopodium appears as a pale yellow, fine, very 

 mobile powder that floats when thrown on to the surface of water. 

 Blown into a flame it burns instantly with a brilliant flash, but when 

 incinerated in a crucible it is slowly consumed, leaving only about 

 4 per cent, of ash. 



Examined under a microscope lycopodium is' seen to be composed 

 entirely of minute spores, each of which is about 25//- in diameter 

 and has the shape of a triangular pyramid with a convex base. The 

 entire surface of the spore is covered by a delicate network of 

 projecting ridges. When crushed the spores burst and a drop of 

 yellowish oil exudes from each. These characters are so well marked 

 that sophistication is readily detected. 



Constituents. The spores contain about half their weight of fixed 

 oil, which, however, does not make itself evident until the cellular 

 membrane in which it is enclosed is either broken or destroyed. 

 The oil consists principally of lycopodium-oleic acid (80 per cent.) 

 and myristic acid (about 2 per cent.) combined with glycerin. 

 Lycopodium-oleic acid resembles ordinary oleic acid but is not 

 identical with it. Phytosterin, sugar, and traces of an alkaloid are 

 also present in the drug. Pure lycopodium yields about 1 to T5 per 

 cent, of ash. 



