232 



BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



veins, heavy, hard, somewhat aromatic, astringent and slightly 

 acrid. They contain about o.i per cent, of an oily liquid alkaloid, 

 arecoline, which chemically and in its physiological action resem- 

 bles pelletierine ; 14 per cent, of tannin, resembling catechiltannic 

 acid; gallic acid; a red coloring principle; and 14 per cent, of a 

 fixed oil. They also contain 3 other alkaloids : arecaine, arecai- 

 dine and guvacine, but these do not seem to give the drug its 

 properties. 



Fig. 127. Areca Catechu (Betel-nut palm). A, upper portion of an inflorescence 

 bearing staminate flowers; B, enlarged view of staminate flower; C, 3 stamens; D, upper 

 part of ovary with 3 styles; E, a branch bearing 4 pistillate flowers in the lower portion 

 and 2 staminate flowers above; F, a pistillate flower with bracts removed showing the calyx; 

 G, an ovary with rudimentary stamen; Hi, longitudinal section through ovary; H2, the 

 same giving a magnified view of the ovule; J, section through a berry showing the fibrous 

 sarcocarp and the seed covered by reticulated branches of the raphe; K, section of seed 

 showing the ruminating endosperm with small embryo near the base. — After Drude. 



C-\RNAUBA-WAX is obtained from the Carnauba-palm of Brazil 

 (Copcrnicia cerifera). The wax exudes from the surface of the 

 young leaves and is obtained by boiling them with water. 

 Deacon's blood, a bright red resinous substance, is obtained 

 from the juice of the fleshy fruit of Calamus Draco. It consists 

 chiefly of resin, some tannin and about 3 per cent, of benzoic acid. 



The Oil palm {Elceis guineensis) of equatorial West Africa 

 yields a drupe with an oily sarcocarp, from which by means of 



