442 



BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



MACIS.— MACE.— The arillode of the seed of Myristka 

 fragrans (Fam. M}risticace3e). (See Nutmeg.) ■ According to 

 Warburg the arillode arises in the region of the hilum before the 

 flower opens and fertilization is effected (p. 277). 



Description. — In coarsely reticulate bands about i mm. thick, 

 the whole having the outline of the nutmeg, the basal portion 





Fig. 190. Mace: E, epidermal cells, which in transverse section are nearly isodia* 

 metric, but in longitudinal section are elongated, sometimes being i mm. in length; P, 

 parenchyma cells with small starch grains which are colored reddish with iodine; Z, large 

 oil cells showing oil globules and protoplasmic contents lining the walls; T, tracheae; S, 

 small, irregular starch grains. 



united, but with a small, irregular opening ; usually in compressed, 

 nearly entire pieces, reddish or orange-brown, somewhat translu- 

 cent, brittle when dry ; odor and taste aromatic. 



Inner Structure. — See Fig. 190. 

 ; Constituents. — An aromatic balsam 24.5 per cent. ; volatile 

 oil 4 to 7 per cent, and resembling that obtained from nutmegs 

 but containing alarger percentage of terpenes ; fixed oil, and con- 



