Part 2

B. P. I.—283.

AMERICAN ROOT DRUGS.

INTRODUCTION.

More than half of the root drugs recognized in the Eighth Decennial Revision of the United States Pharmacopœia occur in this country, some native and not growing elsewhere and others introduced. All of the official root drugs found in the United States have been included in this bulletin, as well as such native and introduced “nonofficial” roots (those not at present recognized in the United States Pharmacopœia) as seemed to be most generally quoted in the trade lists of the country, the total number of root drugs described being 50. While the most important root drugs thus given are limited to 50, there are included under each of these, wherever required, brief descriptions of related species. It would be impossible to include within the limits of this paper all of the root drugs that are used in this country, but the aim has been to give information concerning those which seem to be the most important commercially, according to the numerous drug lists that have been consulted.

All of the root drugs herein mentioned occur in quantities sufficient for commercial purposes, but the roots of many of the species that also occur in other countries are nevertheless largely imported.

In speaking of “root drugs” in this paper only those are included of which the underground portion is found in commerce, whether in the form of root, rootstock, bulb, or corm, excluding the roots that are used solely for their bark or for their gums or resins.

Except in the botanical descriptions, the term “roots” is generally used, regardless of the fact that the part under consideration may be a rootstock, root, or bulb. In this the commercial practice is followed, which makes no distinction as to the form of the underground portion as classified by botanists, but catalogues them all under the general term “roots.”

The medicinal uses are referred to in only the briefest and most general manner, for it is clearly not within the province of a publication of this character to go into details regarding these matters. The statements made are based on the information contained in various dispensatories and other works relating to materia medica.

The illustrations are for the most part made from a collection of photographs taken from nature by C. L. Lochman. A few have been taken from various publications, mention of which is made under the illustrations in question.

THE COLLECTION OF ROOT DRUGS.

Generally speaking, the roots of annual plants should be dug just before flowering, and those of biennial or perennial plants late in autumn or early in spring, the object being to collect them at a period when there is a cessation of growth; for besides shrinking more and weighing less if collected during the growing season, they are also deficient in medicinal properties. Very frequently a drug is of inferior quality simply because the collector has neglected to gather it in the proper season.

It is unfortunate that so much confusion exists with regard to the common names of American plants. The common name of a plant in one locality may be the same as that of an entirely different plant in another locality, and on account of this confusion the collector is not always sure of the identity of the plant he is collecting, nor the drug dealer as to what he will receive, unless a sample is submitted to him. If more care were exercised in this respect it would mean a saving of time and money to both collector and dealer.

Another important matter that the collector sometimes overlooks is the proper cleaning and drying of the roots. To insure a good market for his crude drugs the collector should be certain not only that he has the right plant, but that it is collected at the proper season of the year, and that he has a clean and thoroughly dried article.

After the roots have been dug they should be freed from dirt and all foreign particles, such as stones and bits of other plants. If the adherent soil can not be removed by shaking the roots, they may, in most instances, be washed in clean water, after which they should be carefully dried. In some cases the roots are sliced or split when green in order to facilitate drying, and wherever this is necessary it will be indicated under the descriptions of the different plants.

For the purpose of drying, the roots should be spread out in thin layers on racks or shelves, or on clean, well-ventilated barn floors or lofts, exposed to light and air but not direct sunlight, and turned occasionally each day until thoroughly dry. If the roots are dried out of doors, they should be placed under shelter at night or upon the approach of damp or rainy weather. Thoroughly dried roots snap readily when bent, and it requires from three to six weeks to cure roots, depending upon the weather conditions and the character of the roots.

Burlap or gunny sacks, or dry, clean barrels may be used for packing the roots for shipment.

The collector should always communicate with the dealers concerning the drugs to be disposed of, sending them a representative sample, plainly marked as to contents, with the name and address of the sender, and stating how large a quantity can be furnished.

The prices per pound mentioned in this bulletin will serve to give the collector an idea as to what he may expect to receive from dealers, but, as with other commodities, depending for their prices upon supply and demand, fluctuations are likely to occur from year to year. An increased demand or a shortage will send prices upward and stimulate collection, which in turn may result in glutting the market, and a decline in prices naturally follows. It is possible, therefore, to give only an approximate range of prices.

PLANTS FURNISHING ROOT DRUGS.

Under each plant will be found synonyms and pharmacopœial name, if any, the common names, habitat, range, descriptions of the plant and root, and information concerning collection, prices, and uses, while in the case of goldenseal and ginseng the methods of culture are included.

MALE-FERN.

(1) Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott and (2) Dryopteris marginalis (L.) A. Gray.

Synonyms.—(1) Aspidium filix-mas Sw. (2) Aspidium marginale Sw.

Pharmacopœial name.—Aspidium.

Other common names.—(1) Male shield-fern, sweet brake, knotty brake, basket-fern, bear’s-paw root; (2) marginal-fruited shield-fern, evergreen wood-fern.

Habitat and range.—These ferns are found in rocky woods, the male shield-fern inhabiting the region from Canada westward to the Rocky Mountains and Arizona. It is widely distributed also through Europe, northern Asia, northern Africa, and South America. The marginal-fruited shield-fern (Pl. I, fig. 1), one of our most common ferns, occurs from Canada southward to Alabama and Arkansas.

Description of plants.—Both of these species are tall, handsome ferns, the long, erect fronds, or leaves, arising from a chaffy, scaly base, and consisting of numerous crowded stemless leaflets, which are variously divided and notched. There is but little difference between these two species. The male shield-fern is perhaps a trifle stouter, the leaves growing about 3 feet in length and having a bright-green color, whereas the marginal-fruited shield-fern has lighter green leaves, about 2½ feet in length, and is of more slender appearance. The principal difference, however, is found in the arrangement of the “sori,” or “fruit dots.” These are the very small, round, tawny dots that are found on the backs of fern leaves, and in the male shield-fern these will be found arranged in short rows near the midrib, while in the marginal-fruited shield-fern, as this name indicates, the fruit dots are placed on the margins of the fronds. Both plants are perennials and members of the fern family (Polypodiaceæ).

Description of the rootstock.—These ferns have stout ascending or erect chaffy rootstocks, or rhizomes (Pl. I, fig. 1) as they are technically known. As taken from the ground the rootstock is from 6 to 12 inches in length and 1 to 2 inches thick, covered with closely overlapping, brown, slightly curved stipe bases or leaf bases and soft, brown, chaffy scales. The inside of the rootstock is pale green. As found in the stores, however, male-fern with the stipe bases and roots removed measures about 3 to 6 inches in length and about one-half to 1 inch in thickness, rough where the stipe bases have been removed, brown outside, pale green and rather spongy inside.