Fenner's Complete Formulary - Southwest School of Botanical ...

ipe, thoroughly dried and prepared in various ways for the market.
Roots.—Commercially considered, roots are the parts of plants which
grow in the ground; in pharmacy, however, they are divided into
several classes according to their nature—as root, rhizome, rootlets,
bulb, cormus, tuber, etc., the three latter not being properly classed with
roots. Roots should generally be gathered after the leaves are off the
plants in the fall, or before they start in the spring. The bark, only, of
many woody roots is used, while some are gathered, entire, being cut,
sliced, crushed or otherwise prepared for market. The rhizome is the
main portion of the root or rootstock, to which the rootlets, if any, are
attached. Of the roots which consist of rhizome and rootlets, some are
used entire, while others, only the rhizome or rootlets may be used.
The bulb, cormus and tuber are classed with roots commercially, but are
botanically dissimilar. Bulbs are usually sliced and dried ; cormus and
tuber may be sliced or dried whole.
Seeds.—Many of the so-called "seeds," as caraway, cardamom,
coriander, fennel, etc., are classed in pharmacy as fruit. The botanical
distinction being, that when two or more separate seeds are enclosed by
a pericarp or envelope, the structure is called fruit, while the seed itself
is a single ovule, containing the embryo and its nutriment. Seeds are
generally gathered when ripe and dried if necessary by natural heat.
Some of the fruits which are commercially classed as seeds require
artificial heat.
Woods.—The greater part of the woods used in the drug-business are
for dyeing purposes. A few, however, are used as medicine. They are
generally furnished to druggists in chips, or shavings, or ground to the
proper fineness for use.
Fenner’s Complete Formulary - Part I-II - MISCELLANEOUS FORMULA - Page 23
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