Histology of medicinal plantsMansfield, William James
Science
Histology of medicinal plants
Mansfield, William James
Botany, Medical; Plant anatomy
The =phloem parenchyma= cells resemble the sieve cells, but they are
larger.
The =bast fibres= occur singly or in groups of two or three. The
walls are white, non-porous, and non-striated.
=Cambium.= The cambium layer is composed of rectangularly shaped
cells, which are frequently obliterated.
=Xylem.= The xylem contains vessels, wood parenchyma, and medullary
rays.
The =vessels= are large, rounded cells with thick walls.
The wood parenchyma consists of thick-walled cells of irregular size
and form.
The =medullary rays= are tangentially elongated and rectangular in
form.
=Pith parenchyma.= The pith parenchyma cells are rounded in outline
and as large as the cortical parenchyma cells.
POWDERED PINK ROOT
When the roots and rhizomes of spigelia are powdered (Plate 93) they
show the following structure:
The epidermal cells are small and brownish on surface view, varying
in size from 13 by 18 micromillimeters to 31 by 40 micromillimeters.
When associated with parenchyma they appear as black masses. The
cortical parenchyma cells are rounded and vary in size from 23 by
26 micromillimeters to 37.5 by 90 micromillimeters. Many of the
cells from the root contain larger quantities of minute single
rounded starch grains varying in size from 1 micromillimeter to 4
micromillimeters. The larger round single starch grains are found in
both the cortical and pith parenchyma of the rhizome. They vary in
size from 5 micromillimeters to 18 micromillimeters. The conducting
elements are pitted tracheids varying from 10 micromillimeters to 38
micromillimeters in diameter. A few pitted and annular vessels are
also found. The only fibres occurring are found in the xylem. They
are not a prominent feature of the powder, as their walls break up
into minute fragments. The pith parenchyma varies in size from 13 by
19 micromillimeters to 75 by 82.5 micromillimeters. It is in these
cells that the largest starch grains occur.
Distinguishing diagnostic characters of the powder:
1. Parenchyma with starch.
2. Dark masses of epidermal tissue.
3. Spigelia should contain starch, and it should not contain
cystoliths, stone cells, or long, white-walled bast fibres.
POWDERED RUELLIA ROOT
When the roots of ruellia root and rhizome are powdered (Plate 94)
they show the following structure:
[Illustration: PLATE 93
POWDERED SPIGELIA MARYLANDICA, L.
1. Epidermis and cortical parenchyma. 2. Tracheids and fibres. 3.
Parenchyma cells of the root containing the small starch grains,
longitudinal view. 4. Parenchyma of the rhizome containing the
large starch grams, transverse view. 5. Tracheids. 6. Surface view
of the epidermal cells. 7. Starch scattered through the field. 8
and 8´. Dark masses of epidermal and underlying tissue.]
[Illustration: PLATE 94
POWDERED RUELLIA CILIOSA, Pursh.
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