466 



BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



mm. in diameter, 2 to 10 mm. thick ; externally, bark dark brown, 

 more or less wrinkled; fracture fibrous, tough; internally light 

 brown, characterized by alternating zones of collateral fibrovas- 

 cular bundles and parenchyma formed by secondary cambiums; 

 odor slight; taste acrid. 



Constituents. — A bitter, acrid glucoside resembling saponin; 

 a crystalline alkaloid phytolaccine, which is soluble in alcohol and 



Fig. 



I. Apocynunt androscBtnifolium: A, flowering branch; B, fruiting branch. 

 Apocynum cannabinum: C, flowering branch; D, fruiting branch. 



sparingly soluble in water ; sugars 10 per cent. ; starch 10 per 

 cent. ; phytolaccic acid ; formic acid ; potassium formate 2 per 

 cent. ; calcium oxalate 6 per cent. ; and ash 13 per cent., of which 

 about one-half is potassium oxide. 



Phytolacca Fructus or Phytolacca Fruit occurs in agglu- 

 tinated masses of a purplish-black color, and consisting of the 

 compound berries, which are about 8 mm. in diameter and com- 



