Root - Specimen details
| Catalogue Number: 65424 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Image | Plant Name | 31.01 MALVACEAE Althaea sp | Entry Book Number | ||
| Artefact Name | Root | Vernacular Name | |||
| Iso Country | India | TDWG Region | India | ||
| Parts Held | Root | Geography Description | Goa | ||
| Uses | RootUse: FOOD User: Man | TDWG use | FOOD | ||
| Storage | Bottles, boxes etc | Related Items | |||
| Donor | Pharm Soc GB | Donor No | 27 D 6 | ||
| Donor Date | Donor Notes | ||||
| Collector | Collector No | ||||
| Collection Notes | Collection Date | ||||
| Exhibition | Expedition | ||||
| Number Components | Publication | ||||
| Notes: | Label source: The drug consists of several roots branching from a knotty woody stock, the largest being about as thick as the little finger. They are straight, unbranched and have a thin brown cortex covering a thick white farinaceous parenchyma in which, are seen well-marked yellowish medullary rays spreading from a tough woody central column, the diameter of which is less than the semi-diameter of the farinaceous portion. Examined under the microscope most of the cells of the farinaceous portion are se, en to be filled with starch granules; but some large ones contain mucilage only. The central woody column abounds in large pitted vessels. When soaked in water the root gives out abundance of mucilage having a faintly bitter taste. Alti is used by the Por, tuguese at Goa as a substitute for Althaea, of which the native name appears to be a corruption. It is a stunted woody shrub, with cordate, serrated leaves. I have not seen the flowers or fruit. The roots when properly scraped and dried are very white and, apparently an efficient substitute for the imported article. | ||||