192 
PITA RMA CO GNOS Y. 
vittee; seeds reniform, with a deep furrow on the com- 
missural side, and with a small embryo at the upper 
end of the reserve layer; odor distinct; taste slight. 
Constituents. — The most important constituent is 
the liquid alkaloid coniine, which exists to the extent 
of 05 to 3 percent.; the drug also contains metliyl- 
coniine and conhydrine, volatile oil, fixed oil, starch, 
calcium oxalate, and yields about 6 per cent, of ash. 
Coniine is naturally combined in the drug with 
organic acids, from which it is liberated on treatment 
with alkalies, and is distinguished by its disagreeable 
odor. 
KHUS GLABItA (Sumach Berries). 
The fruit of Rhus glabra (Fam. Anacardiacese), a 
shrub indigenous to Canada and the United States, 
extending as far west as Arizona. 
Description. — Drupe dry, superior, nearly globu- 
lar, flattened, 3 to 4 mm. in diameter, 2 - 5 mm. thick, 
and with a slender peduncle about 2 mm. long ; red- 
dish externally, very pubescent, apex with a scar and 
with the remains of the style, base occasionally with 
the five-cleft calyx ; endocarp smooth, shiny, light red ; 
one-celled, one-seeded ; seed campylotropous, dark 
brown, smooth, liilum marked by a distinct scar, 
reserve layer wanting, embryo curved ; inodorous ; 
taste acidulous and astringent. 
Constituents. — Tannic acid 5 to 25 per cent.; gallic 
acid, and acid calcium and potassium malates. 
CUBEBA (Cubeb Berries). 
The fruit of Piper Cubeba (Fam. Piperacese), a woody 
climber indigenous to Borneo, Java and Sumatra, 
where it is apparently also cultivated. The fruit is 
gathered when full grown but still green, and carefully 
