Agathosma betulina (leaf)

Nomenclature

Agathosma betulina (P.J. Bergius) Pillans   Rutaceae  
Syn. Barosma betulina (Bergius) Bartl. & H.L. Wendl.  
Standardized common name (English): buchu

Organoleptic Characteristics

Odor and taste characteristic, aromatic, mint-like. Source: Culbreth, D. (1917) A Manual of Materia Media and Pharmacology, 6th ed.

Macroscopic Characteristics

Plants: Woody shrubs, 0.3-1.2 M. (1-4°) high, branches many, stiff, angular, bark smooth, purple; young twigs covered with immersed oil-glands; flowers solitary, pink; calyx 5 segments, deeply cut; petals 5, glandular-punctate; stamens 5; fruit 5-coccus capsule, adherent by inner margins, 9 Mm. (3/8') long, 12 Mm. (1/2') broad, 5-seeded. Leaves: (B. betulina): Short, rhomboidally oval, obovate, 9-25 Mm. (3/8-1') long, 4-13 Mm. (1/6-1/2') broad, apex obtuse, recurved, serrate, finely dentate, oil gland at the base of each tooth, cuncate base, yellowish-green, coriaceous, glandular-punctate, both surfaces papillose, under longitudinally striate, petiole 1 Mm. (1/25') long. Source: Culbreth, D. (1917) A Manual of Materia Media and Pharmacology, 6th ed.

Microscopic Characteristics

Powder: Yellowish-green, microscopically-- many sphaero-crystals from epidermis and mucilage cells. Source: Culbreth, D. (1917) A Manual of Materia Media and Pharmacology, 6th ed. Upper epidermis showing sphaerocrystalline masses of diosmin observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories Large spherical oil gland observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories