518 
ON THE ANATOMY OP HllUGS. 
pendent observations, viz. the presence of a line of minute rapliidian cells on the 
margin of each woody bundle. These cells are regular in shape, constant in 
their position, and usually each contain a single crystal. The chemical re¬ 
actions of the crystals are those of oxalate of lime, as indeed might have been 
expected. It should be noted that these peculiar cells and their contents can 
only be seen to advantage in a longitudinal section of the root. In addition to 
the figures of Glycyrrliiza glabra^ Dr. Berg gives small sections of G. echmata, 
the species yielding “ Italian juice,” which are not deficient in interest. 
Rhatany root also forms an interesting study to the microscopist. Until with- 
in about a dozen years but one sort was known in commerce—the Peruvian or 
Payta llhatany, the product of Krameria triandra; but since that time a 
second sort derived from Kr. Ixina has been imported from New Granada, 
under the name of Savanilla llhatany. Dr, Berg, in addition to these, figures 
a third kind as Texan Rhatany, and differing considerably in structure from 
either of the other sorts. Elaborate details of the anatomy of the Peruvian and 
Savanilla varieties may be found in a paper by Dr. Schuckhardt,* and it is 
therefore unnecessary to do more than describe them in general terms.f 
The figures in the ‘ Atlas’ are scarcely sufficient for the proper elucidation of 
the structural differences they are intended to explain ; indeed, it would be im¬ 
possible by their means to refer a specimen to its proper species. The rude 
woodcuts accompanying Dr. Schuckhardt’s paper are of even less value, and 
neither author gives any drawing of the appearance of the longitudinal section. 
Peruvian Rhatany has a ligneous centre and thin, separable bark. The woody 
portion is composed chiefly of elongated fusiform cells (prosenchyma), with but 
few pitted ducts interspersed. The medullary rays are numerous, narrow, and 
rendered conspicuous by the dark-coloured resinous contents of many of the 
constituent cells. There are also cells tilled with the same red resin, arranged 
in indefinite concentric lines at intervals through the wood. The three regions 
of the bark are easily distinguishable, the outer and middle layers being thin, 
the inner one equal in extent to the two others combined. The outermost is of 
a deep-red colour, that within it much lighter. The inner bark is traversed by 
horizontal cells arranged as irregular lines in the direction of radii, and filled 
up with minute crystals aggregated in masses. 
Savanilla Rhatany has the woody portion thinner than the foregoing, and 
its structure somewhat differs, in the increased number of large pitted ducts 
which form the bulk of the tissue, true wood-cells being comparatively scarce. 
The bark, of which the middle layer is especially developed, is thicker, and is 
not readily separable from the wood. Resin-cells are scanty, and almost con¬ 
fined to the outer layer of the bark. The raphidian cells are present as in the 
P ivta sort, but not in nearly the same numbers. 
Texan Rhatany has a still smaller woody core, consisting of similar elements 
to the Sav*milla sort, and relatively a much larger bark. The outer layer of 
the bark fs thin and very dark coloured, that in the middle is very wide, and 
composed chiefly of thin walled, oval, brownish cells containing starch, whilst 
the innermost portion is traversed by the lines of crystal-bearing cells before 
described. The longitudinal section presents one marked peculiarity, that is, an 
extensive system of laticiferous ducts (milk-vessels) in the soft tissue of the 
bark immediately surrounding the wood. This is a distinctive character not 
observable in the other varieties of Rhatany. 
* Botanische ZeiUing, Aug. 3 and 10.1865. Translated, Pharm. Jouni. vol. xvi. pp. 29,132. 
+ We are indebted to Mr. Haubury for authentic specimens, communicated to him by 
the late Dr. Berg, of the Savanilid anu . exan roots, and also for opportunity of perusing a 
manuscript account of the oo.^ervatinns ot juy Eadlkofer on this subject. Our own investiga¬ 
tions have yielded results almost entirely in acn i dance with those of Dr. Kadlkofer, though 
frequently at variance with the other two authors named in the text. 
