The root is fleshy and tapering, and attains a length of 1 ft., and a thickness of 1-2 in. ; when fresh, it is rough, and earthy-brown externally, but creamy-white internally ; its odour is earthy ; its flavour is scarcely apparent at first; but soon becomes powerfully acrid. The root occurs in com merce in a dried state, as rough pieces of dirty-grey colour, and with an earthy odour resembling liquorice root. The smaller roots are the better, as the bark is considered to contain the greatest proportion of the alkaloid principle. Its preparation has been described under Alkalies—Organic, p. 230. Our supplies are drawn chiefly from Germany, and are of poor quality ; a much better article is produced from home-grown roots, washed, sliced, and gently dried. The close resemblance of the roots of two or three species of Mandragora causes them to be easily mistaken for the drug. The leaves of belladonna are 3-6 in. long, bright-green in colour, acutely ovate, smooth, quite entire at the margin, soft and juicy ; when bruised, they emit an offensive, herby odour, which disappears on drying ; the flavour of the dried leaves is bitter and unpleasant ; the loss by drying is about 84 per cent. of the weight. The root, when scraped with the nail, shows white beneath the epidermis. Marshmallow root, which is sometimes mixed with it in commerce, has a fibrous fracture ; that of belladonna is short. Japanese belladonna root, recently offered for sale in this country, is the root or rhizome of Soopolia Japonica. It differs from the true drug in being twisted, marked with circular scars or discs, and in not showing a white interior when scraped with the nail. It contains atropine. Belladonna root is worth about ls. a lb.
Black roots.—The root of Leptandra Virginka yields leptaudrin, a cholagogue lately intro duced from the United States. The root is branched, and blackish externally. Another plant, Pterocaulon polystachyum, is called " black-root " in Georgia, but is of a different shape, being some what bulbous or turnip-like.
Boldo.—The leaves of Boldoa fragrans (Peumus Boldus) are used in Chili for diseases of the liver, and for syphilis, and have been imported into this country of late years. The leaves are oval, about 1 in. long, and in. wide, rather rigid, with recurved margins, and very rough to the touch. Their taste slightly resembles that of lemon thyme, or verbena.
Bonduc (Fe., Bonduc Cniguier ; GER., Guilandine, Schnellerhase).—The powdered kernels of the fruit of Ccesalpinia Bonducella (Guilandina Bonducella) are largely employed in India, either alone or with black pepper, as a tonic and febrifuge. The plant, which seems to be commonly confounded with the much rarer species C. Bonduc, is very widely distributed in the maritime regions of Tropical Asia, Africa, and America. It is found all over India, under the name Nate, and besides being administered, is mixed with castor-oil for application in hydrocele. In Cochin China, the leaves are considered deobstruent and emmenagogue, and the root astringent, while an oil from the former is used iu convulsions, palsy, &c. In Amboyna, the root is employed as a tonic. In the
W. Indies, the plant is called " horse-nicker," or "chick-stone," and is commonly used for fences, while the seeds are made into ornaments. It thrives in Egypt, and might probably be grown throughout the Mediterranean basin. The seeds are often washed upon the shores of Scotland, and are there called " Molueca beans " ; another name for them is "grey nicker seeds (or nuts)." The yellow seeds, similar in shape and size, sometimes mixed with them, are those of C. Bonduc : neither is used in this country.
(Fa., ; Besenginster, Pfriemenkraut).—The young herbaceous branches of Cyatisus &oparius (Spartium Scoparium, Sarothamnus vulgaris), or the common Broom, aro dried, and from them is prepared a decoction, used as a purgative and diuretic ; the fresh juice, preserved by adding alcohol, Is similarly employed. The plant is a woody shrub, 3-6 ft. high, • growing gregariously in uncultivated sandy places. It is common throughout Great Britain ; on the Continent, it is abundant in the Rhine Valley, S. Germany, and Silesia ; but it is absent from the Alps, and many parts of Central and E. Europe, though found in Central and S. Russia, and eastward of the Urals. The fresh branches, when bruised, emit a peculiar odour, which disappears on drying ; their flavour is a nauseous bitter. The stems are angular, and differ in this respect from a shrub very similar in appearance, which is common in gardens, and has smooth round stems —Spartium junceum.
Buchu, Bucchu, Bucha, or Buka (Fa., Bucco ; GEE., Buku).—The leaves of three species of Barosma are a valuable remedy in disorders of the urine-genital organs ; and in the Cape, are much used infused in water, wine or spirit, as a popular stimulant and stomachic. The three species ore B. bctulina, B. crcnulata (crenata), and B. serratifolia ; the two first are found in Worcester and Clanwilliam divisions, north and north-east of Cape Town, the last is met with further south, in Swellendam. The leaves of each species are gathered and despatched separately ; those of B. betulina are considered of least value, and fetch the lowest price. They appear to contain almost equal proportions of essential oil (see Barosma Camphor, p. 578); they possess a peculiar pene trating odour, and a strong aromatic flavour. The use of the drug was acquired from the Hottentots ; it is now largely consumed in Great Britain and America. The exports from Cape Colony, in 1872, amounted to 379,125 lh.; the price in the home market varies from 2d. to Is. 3d. a lb. The leaves of Empleurum serrulatum are occasionally imported and sold as B. serragifolia : they differ in not having the odour of buchu, and in the leaves being longer, and sharply pointed. The flowers, fruits, and leafy twigs of the plant are often mixed with the loaves.