Page 95 - Pharmacognosy-I (02-06-06-102)

Clove BP 2008

Definition:
Clove consists of the whole flower buds of Syzygium

aromaticum (L.) Merill et L. M. Perry (Eugenia caryophyllus (C.
Spreng.) Bull. et Harr.) dried until they become reddish-brown,
family Myrtaceae. It contains not less than 150 ml/kg of essential
oil.

Clove should contain not more than 6% of its
peduncles,petiols and fruits.

It is indigenous to Molucca islands (Cloves Island). It is
cultivated now in Zanzibar.
Macroscopic Characters:
Shape: The flower buds consists of quadrangular stalked
hypanthium surmounted by four divergent sepal lobes surrounding
a cone-shaped globular head, composed of four imbricated petals
enclosing numerous incurved stamens and a short, erect style with
a nectary disc at the base.
Size: 10 to 20 mm long; 4 to 6 mm in diameter
Kind: Regular, actinomorphic, hermaphrodite
Insertion: Pedicillate
Calyx: epigenous, polysepalous, and formed of 4 sepals. The sepal
is thick, triangular with acute apex.

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