Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Feb.,  1892. 
False  Pellitory  Root. 
91 
The  apex  of  the  spurious  root  is  generally  crowned  ,with  small 
wart-like  protuberances,  such  as  frequently  occur  in  senega  root  and 
in  many  of  the  Caryophyllacece  ;  these  are  evidently  the  remains  of 
the  bases  of  slightly  woody,  slender  stems.  The  transverse  section 
of  the  root  is  of  a  yellowish-white  color,  with  three  to  five  pale 
opaque  concentric  rings  (tig.  j).  each  one  alternating  with  a  darker 
and  narrower  translucent  horny  ring.1 
The  taste  is  sweetish  at  first,  leaving  after  a  time  a  slight  tingling 
sensation,  which  recalls  that  of  senega.  The  root  possesses  scarcely 
any  odor.    It  is  softer  and  more  flexible  than  pellitory  root. 
In  the  root  of  Anacyclus  Pyrethrum  the  structure  is  quite  dif- 
ferent. 
The  apex  of  the  root  is  generally  crowned  with  a  tuft  of  short 
white  hairs.  The  transverse  section  exhibits  a  single  ring  of  radiat- 
ing linear  vascular  bundles,  which  appears  porous  and  of  a  yellowish 
color,  the  medullary  rays  and  inner  portion  of  the  bark  being  of  a 
creamy  white  tint,  becoming  much  darker  or  of  a  pale  brown  hue  in 
badly  dried  pieces.  Scattered  over  the  surface,  but  much  more 
abundantly  towards  the  circumference  of  the  section,  may  be  seen 
yellowish-brown  oil  receptacles,  containing  the  odorous  and  resinous 
matters  of  the  root  (Fig.  4). 
The  identification  of  the  root  proved  to  be  a  matter  of  some  diffi- 
culty, although  its  appearance  seemed  familiar  to  me.  A  section 
placed  under  the  microscope  showed  no  starch,  nor  did  tincture  of 
iodine  manifest  the  presence  of  it. 
Thinking,  from  its  resemblance  to  dandelion  root,  that  it  might 
possibly  belong  to  the  Composite?,  it  was  examined  for  inulin,  but 
without  result,  nor  were  laticiferous  vessels  observed  in  it,  nor 
raphides. 
I  then  sent  a  portion  of  it  to  Professor  Radlkofer,  of  Munich 
whose  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  of  the  stems  of  plants  is  probably 
unequalled,  asking  him  if  he  knew  any  plants  of  the  natural  order 
PhytolaccacecE  at  all  resembling  it,  for  the  roots  bear  a  greater  like- 
ness to  some  species  of  Phytolacca  than  any  other  plant  known  to 
me.  He  was  unable  to  identify  it,  but  suggested  a  comparison  with 
other  known  roots  coming  from  the  same  district,  if  possible.  Pel- 
1  In  this  character  it  recalls  the  appearance  of  dandelion  root,  but  in  that  root 
the  rings  are  interrupted,  narrower  and  more  spongy,  and  there  is  a  well- 
marked  woody  centre  of  a  yellow  color  and  porous  character. 
