Page 13 - Pharmacognosy-II (06-PG 303)

Microscopic characters :

The transverse cut section shows : five primary ridges in each mericarp, in
which a fibro-vascular bundle is present below each ridge, 6 brown vittae 4 in
the dorsal side and 2 in the commissural side, large oily orthospermous
endosperm and a small apical embryo.

a- Epicarp consists of thick-walled rectangular polygonal cells with
smooth cuticle showing few anomocytic stomata and no hairs.

b- Mesocarp is formed of rather thick-walled parenchyma traversed by 6
large vittae appearing elliptical in T.S. and having epithelial cells, and
in the ridges by vascular bundles; each having 2 lateral phloem strands
and an inner xylem accompanied by a upper and lower groups of
characteristic lignified reticulate parenchyma. These thickened cells
have large oval or rounded pits.

c- Endocarp is formed of a single layer of narrow flattened elongated
cells (varying in length) arranged parallel to each other and in groups
of 5-7 cells, forming parquetry arrangement.

d- Endosperm is formed of somewhat thick-walled polygonal cellulosic
parenchyma containing fixed oil, several aleurone grains and one or
more micro-rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.

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