Root - Specimen details

Root - Specimen details

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Catalogue Number: 47207

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Plant Name 114.01 SOLANACEAE Withania somnifera Entry Book Number
Artefact Name Root Vernacular Name
Iso Country India TDWG Region India
Parts Held Root Geography Description India
Uses RootUse: MEDICINES User: Not defined TDWG use MEDICINES
Storage Bottles, boxes etc Related Items
Donor Pharm Soc GB Donor No 29 C 5
Donor Date Donor Notes India Museum Date: 00/00/1880x0Dx0ADymock Drx0Dx0A
Collector Collector No
Collection Notes Collection Date
Exhibition Expedition
Number Components Publication
Notes: Label source: The larger pieces from Dr Dymock, Bombay, the smaller from the India Museum 1.1880 Botanical Source uncertain - The dry root is from 6 to 8 inches in length, often less, and from one quarter to half an inch in diameter at the thickest por, tion, a little below the crown ; it is plump, smooth, tapering and of a light yellowish brown colour externally, white internally; brittle, fracture short and starchy. The root is seldom branched. Attached to the crown are the remains of several slender s, tems. Microscopic examination shows the substance of the root to be principally composed of starch enclosed in delicate oval scells ; the cortical portion is about 1/20 of an inch in thickness. The vascular system consists of a large central bundle of sca, lariform an dotted vessels; round this several smaller bundles and single vessels are arranged in a radiating manner. Asgund has a mucilaganous and slighty bitter taste. In the Makhzan ul Adwiya it is described as a tonic and alterative, and is said to ha, ve much the same properties as Centauria behen. The is no mention of it being a narcotic. It is uncertain where the drug comes from. The Makhzan describes it as an Indian root.

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