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PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 



Family 6. MYRisxiCACEyE. — An order of apetalous trees — the 

 nutmeg family — comprising the single genus Myristica, of about 80 

 species. 



Myristica. — A large tropical genus of fragrant, apetalous trees — 

 the nutmegs — coextensive with the nutmeg family, having alternate, 

 entire, often punctate leaves, small dioecious regular flowers, and a 

 succulent, two-valved one-celled fruit with a solitary seed usually 

 covered by a lancinate aril. 



M. fragrans, a handsome tree, 20 to 30 feet high, of the Malay 

 archipelago, supplies the nutmegs and mace of commerce. 



Official drug 



Myristica 

 Oleum Myristicae 



Part used 



Kernel of seed 

 Volatile oil 



Botanical name 



Myristica fragrans 

 Myristica fragrans 



Family 7. Laurace^ or Laurel Family. — A family of aromatic 

 trees or shrubs with alternate, coriaceous, pellucid punctate leaves 

 containing considerable volatile oil; flowers polygamous, each having 

 a calyx of four or six colored sepals. 



Family 8. Myricace^, or Bayberry Family. — A family of ever- 

 green or deciduous, apetalous, mostly dioecious shrubs and trees in- 

 cluded within the single genus, Myrica. Flowers in mostly single, 

 seldom closely set aments, leaves single, occasionally (Myrica aspleni- 

 folia) pinnately cleft. Fruit, a waxy drupe. 



The outer waxy layer of the fruit is used in making a superior candle 

 while an infusion or fluid extract of the bark and leaves is used as a 

 specific in various affections of the mucous membranes, diarrhoea, 

 dysentery, etc. 



Family 9. Polygonace^ or Buckwheat Family. — Apetalous 

 herbs, shrubs, or rarely trees with alternate entire leaves, the' stipules 



