398 BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



root is used in medicine and was formerly official as Inula. It is 

 cylindrical, tapering, and in preparing the drug it is usually cut 

 into longitudinal pieces, which after drying are grayish-brown or 

 dark brown and longitudinally wrinkled on the outer surface. 



Fig. 182. Elecampane (/«Wa He/eHiMm) : One of the large basal leaves, 

 a root cluster and a flowering branch. 



somewhat lighter in color on the cut surface; the fracture of 

 thicker pieces is tough, of thinner pieces, short when dry; it is 

 pale yellow internally, with numerous radiate resin canals; the 

 odor is aromatic; the taste bitter and acrid. It is distinguished 



