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PHARMACOGNOSY. 
Allied Products. — American sarsaparilla is the 
rhizome of Aralia nudicaulis (Fam. Araliacese), a peren- 
nial acaulescent herb, indigenous to Canada and 
Northern United States as far west as Nebraska. The 
rhizome is of variable length, from 5 to 15 mm. thick; 
externally brownish gray and somewhat annulate; 
internally light brown, more or less spongy, and hav- 
ing an aromatic odor and taste. It contains about 033 
per cent, of a volatile oil, which is bitter and pungent; 
3 per cent, of resin ; tannin, starch and calcium oxalate. 
ALTHiEA (Marshmallow). 
The dried root of Althsea officinalis (Fam. Malvaceae), 
a perennial herb, native of Central and Southern 
Europe, and naturalized in the United States in the salt 
marshes from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania. The 
commercial supply is obtained from cultivated plants 
in Germany, France and Holland. The roots are col- 
lected from plants of the second year’s growth, and the 
periderm and rootlets removed. 
Description. — Nearly entire, cylindrical, tapering, 
10 to 20 cm. long, 5 to 20 mm. in diameter; exter- 
nally very light brown, obscurely 4 to 6-angled, deeply 
furrowed longitudinally, covered with detachable bast 
fibers, with few circular root-scars; fracture of bark 
tough, fibrous, of wood short and granular; internally 
light brown, finely radiate, bark 0'5 to 2 mm. thick, 
and easily separable from the wood, cambium zone 
marked by a distinct browm line, wood porous; odor 
faint, aromatic; taste sweetish, mucilaginous. 
Constituents. — Mucilage 25 to 35 percent.; aspara- 
gin 1 to 2 per cent. ; starch about 35 per cent. ; pectin 
about 10 per cent.; sugar about 10 per cent.; ash about 
5 per cent. 
