254 
PHARMACOGNOSY. 
previously moistened with water (distinguishing it 
from other coniferous resins); it is completely soluble 
in ether, chloroform, benzol or oil of turpentine, and 
about 80 per cent, is soluble in alcohol (distinguishing 
it from other coniferous resins). 
Constituents. — Resin about 75 per cent., consisting 
chiefly of an acid resin, and an indifferent resin cana- 
doresene ; volatile oil 20 to 25 per cent., and pimaric 
acid. 
Allied Plants. — Pinus Larix, a tree indigenous to 
France and the Tyrol, yields the “ Larch or Venice 
turpentine,” a yellowish, slightly turbid, viscid liquid, 
with a terebinthinate odor, bitter and aromatic taste, 
which hardens very slowly when mixed with mag- 
nesia. The article imported as Venice turpentine 
is usually a mixture of other coniferous products. 
C. DRUGS DERIVED FROM CRYPTOGAMS. 
Besides the phanerogams, or those plants which pro- 
duce true seeds, there is a large group of plants which 
are known as C^ptogams ; they are also known as 
spore plants because they multiply by means of spores 
instead of seeds. The spores are distinguished from 
the true seeds in that they are unicellular, do not con- 
tain an embryo and are so small that the individual 
spores can only be studied by the use of the microscope. 
Cryptogams may be divided into two principal 
groups: (1) Thallophyta, or stemless plants, which 
include the Algse, Fungi and Lichens; (2) The Cormo- 
pliyta, or “ stem plants,” including the Moss-like and 
Fern-like plants. 
The Thallophyta are said to represent the lowest 
order of plants. They consist of a leaf-like body termed 
a thallus, but have no fibrovascular bundles and have 
