TREES AND SHRUBS FURNISHING MEDICINAL BARKS. 



23 



"The commercial bark varies most widely, according to the species, the age, 

 and the presence or absence of the corky layer, so that a general description 

 is extremely difficult. The 

 outer surface of old bark 

 of all species is more or 

 less ashy gray, due to the 

 growth of lichens. When 

 young, it is smooth or even 

 glossy and of a brown 

 color, varying more or less 

 to orange or purplish red. 

 With age it gradually be- 

 comes warty, the warts at 

 length confluent into ridges 

 and the ridges at length 

 fissured. The inner sur- 

 face is at first whitish, be- 

 coming gradually yellow- 

 ish or pale brown, smooth. 

 and very finely and closely 

 striate, the stria? long and 

 straight. When the bark 

 has been deprived of the 

 corky layer, the outer sur- 

 face is almost exactly like 

 the inner. In young bark, 

 however, a green layer ap- 

 pears upon the removal of 

 the cork. The fracture of 

 the outer layer is smooth, 

 short, and granular, of the 

 inner more or less tough- 

 fibrous. The transverse 

 section is brownish and 

 exhibits rather broad bast- 

 wedges and medullary 

 rays. The odor is slight, 

 the taste warm, spicy, and somewhat astringent and, especially of the young 

 bark, bitter." 



Collection, prices, and uses. — The bark of the trunk or root is removed in 

 spring and summer. 



At present there does not seem to be much demand for magnolia bark. The 

 price paid for the collection of the bark is about 3 cents a pound. 



The bark is used for its tonic properties, for exciting perspiration, and in 

 the treatment of fevers. 



Fig. 17 



-Sweet bay {Magnolia glauca), leaves and fruit- 

 in? cones. 



TULIP-POPLAR. 

 Liriodendron tulipifera L. 



Other common names. — Liriodendron. tulip-tree, whitewood. canoewood. yel- 

 low poplar, blue poplar, hickory-poplar, lyre-tree, saddle-leaf, saddle-tree, 

 cucumber-tree. 



70075— Bui. 139—09 i 



