ROOTS AND RHIZOMES. 
1-57 
pith 1 mm. in diameter; odor slightly aromatic; taste 
bitter, pungent. 
Roots 5 to 10 cm. long, about 0'3 mm. in diameter, 
with numerous rootlets ; externally dark brown, longi- 
tudinally wrinkled ; internally light brown, wood 
nearly cylindrical, porous. 
Constituents. — A volatile alkaloid spigeline, a bitter 
principle, volatile oil, resin, tannin and starch. 
Adulterants. — Spigelia is frequently found ad- 
mixed with the rhizomes of other plants, among which 
may be mentioned that of Phlox Carolina, which is light 
brown externally and the roots of which are coarser 
than those of Spigelia. Another rhizome is sometimes 
found admixed with Spigelia, the origin of which has 
not been determined, and which contains calcium car- 
bonate in special cells in the cortex. 
VALERIAN (Valerian). 
The rhizome and roots of Valeriana officinalis (Fam. 
Valerianacete), a perennial herb indigenous to Europe 
and Asia, and cultivated in Holland, Germany, Eng- 
land and the New England States, being more or less 
naturalized in this country as far south as New York 
and New Jersey. The rhizome is collected in autumn, 
cut into longitudinal slices and dried by artificial heat. 
There are several commercial varieties, and it is said 
that some of the drug is derived from Valeriana syl- 
vatica Banks. 
Description. — Rhizome upright, slightly ellipsoidal, 
more or less truncate at both ends, from 2'5 to 4 cm. 
long and 1 to 2 cm. in diameter, usually cut longi- 
tudinally into two, four or more pieces; externally 
dark brown, upper portion with circular stem and leaf- 
scars, the sides sometimes with short branches or 
stolons from 5 to 8 cm. long, with numerous roots and 
