ROOTS AND RHIZOMES. 
153 
Description.- — Horizontal, cylindrical, slightly com- 
pressed, usually split longitudinally into pieces 5 to 
15 cm. long, 5 to 12 mm. in diameter; externally light 
brown or yellowish green, annulate from remnants of 
circular bud-scales, upper surface with triangular leaf- 
scars or hair-like libers of fibrovascular tissue, the 
sides with large circular branch-scars, and the under 
and side portions with root-scars or short fragments of 
roots; fracture short; internally light brown, distinctly 
porous, with numerous intercellular spaces, endodermis 
distinct; odor aromatic; taste strongly aromatic. 
Constituents. — Volatile oil 01 per cent.; acorin, a 
bitter viscid glucosidal principle ; a crystalline alka- 
loid calamine; resin; tannin; mucilage; starch and 
calcium oxalate. 
An Indian variety contains from i to 2’5 per cent. 
of oil and is mostly preferred. 
CIMICIFUGA (Black Snakeroot, Black Coliosli). 
The dried rhizome and roots of Cimicifuga racemosa 
(Fam. Ranunculaceee), a perennial herb indigenous to 
Asia, Eastern Europe and North America. The drug 
is collected in autumn, the United States furnishing 
the principal supply. 
Description. — Rhizome horizontal, with numerous 
upright or curved branches and few roots, 2 to 15 cm. 
long, 1 to 25 cm. in diameter; externally dark brown, 
slightly annulate from circular scars of bud-scales, the 
upper surface with buds, stem-scars and stem-rem- 
nants, under and side portions with numerous root 
scars and few roots; fracture horny; internally, bark 
dark green, about 1 mm. thick, wood dark brown, 
4 to 5 mm. thick, distinctly radiate; pith 3 to 5 mm. 
in diameter; odor slight; taste bitter and acrid. 
Roots brittle, nearly cylindrical or obtusely quad- 
