Page 65 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303 (1)

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

Microscopical Characters:
1. Pericarp:
Epicarp is formed of polygonal cells elongated on the ridges with occasional
crystals of calcium oxalate and finely striated cuticle showing few anomocytic
stomata and no hairs.

Mesocarp is composed of parenchyma traversed longitudinally by
the schizogenous vittae on the outer side of which is a group of radiating club-
shaped cells, and in the ridges, by 5 vascular bundles, forming a crescent around a
comparatively large schizogenous duct. The vascular bundles are accompanied by
fibers and reticulate lignified parenchyma. The inner most layer of the mesocarp
consists of large, polygonal, brown-walled cells with thick, porous inner wall so
called porous layer.

Endocarp consists of narrow tangentially elongated cells, some of these
being regularly arranged in variously.

2- Seed
Seedcoat is formed of brownish polygonal cells within it a collapsed hyaline
layer. The endosperm is formed of thick-walled polygonal cellulosic parenchyma
containing fixed oil and several aleurone grains enclosing a globoid and one or
more micro- rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.

3- Carpophore:
Split passing at the apex of each into the raphe and at the base to the pedicel.

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