Histology of medicinal plantsMansfield, William James
Science
Histology of medicinal plants
Mansfield, William James
Botany, Medical; Plant anatomy
=Wood parenchyma=, particularly of the older wood, function as
storage tissue. The wood parenchyma of quassia, like the wood
parenchyma of most woods, contain stored products. In some cases the
wood parenchyma contain starch, in others crystals, and in others
coloring matter, etc.
[Illustration: PLATE 65
1. Stone cells with starch of Ceylon cinnamon (_Cinnamomum
ceylanicum_, Nees.). 2. Stone cells with solitary crystals of
calumba root (_Jateorhiza palmata_, [Lam.] Miers). 3. Parenchyma
cells, with starch of cascarilla bark (_Croton eluteria_, [L.]
Benn.). 4. Cortical parenchyma with starch of sarsaparilla root
(_Smilax officinalis_, Kunth). 5. Cortical parenchyma, with
starch of leptandra rhizome (_Leptandra virginica_, [L.] Nutt.).
6. Crystal cells, with solitary crystals of quebracho bark
(Schlechtendal). 7. Bast fibre of blackberry root with starch
(_Rubus cuneifolius_, Pursh.).]
[Illustration: PLATE 66
MUCILAGE AND RESIN
1. Cross-section of elm bark (_Ulmus fulva_, Michaux) showing two
cavities filled with partially swollen mucilage.
2. Mucilage mass from sassafras stem bark (_Sassafras variifolium_,
L.).
3. Mucilage mass from elm bark.
4. Resin mass from white pine bark (_Pinus strobus_, L.).]
In many plants, however, the parenchyma cells contain crystals. The
parenchyma cells of rhubarb contain rosette crystals, while the
parenchyma cells of the cortex of sarsaparilla and false unicorn root
contain bundles of raphides. In every case observed the raphides are
surrounded by mucilage. This is true of squills, sarsaparilla, false
unicorn, etc. When cells with raphides and mucilage are mounted in a
mixture of alcohol, glycerine, and water, the mucilage first swells
and finally disappears.
STORAGE CAVITIES
Particular attention should be given to =storage cavities= whenever
they occur in plants, for the reason that they are usually filled
with storage products, and for the added reason that storage cavities
are not common to all plants. Storage cavities occur in roots, stems,
leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.
CRYSTAL CAVITIES
Characteristic =crystal cavities= occur in many plants. Such a cavity
containing a bundle of raphides is shown in the cross-section of
skunk cabbage leaf (Plate 67).
SECRETION CAVITIES
In white pine bark there are a great number of secretion cavities
which are partially or completely filled with oleoresin. In the
cross-sections of white pine bark the secretion cavities are very
conspicuous, and they vary greatly in size. This variation is due,
first, to the age of the cavity, the more recently formed cavities
being smaller; and secondly, to the nature of the section, which will
be longer in longitudinal section, which will be through the length
of the secretion cavity, and shorter on transverse section. Such a
section shows the width of the secretion cavity.
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