Aloe Socotrina
Bitter aloe, a plant of the lily family, which
furnishes the finest aloes. The bitter, resinous juice is stored
up in greenish vessels, lying beneath the skin of the leaf, so
that when the leaves are cut transversely, the juice exudes, and
is gradually
evaporated to a firm consistence. The inferior kinds
of aloes are prepared by pressing the leaves, when the resinous
juice becomes mixed with the mucilaginous fluid from the central
part of the leaves, and thus it is proportionately deteriorated.
Sometimes the leaves are cut and boiled, and the decoction
evaporated to a proper consistence. This drug is imported in
chests, in skins of animals, and sometimes in large
calabash-gourds, and although the taste is peculiarly bitter and
disagreeable, the perfume of the finer sorts is aromatic, and by
no means offensive. It is common in tropical countries.
Previous: Allamanda Cathartica
Next: Alsophila Australis
|
|
| SHARE | |
 |
|
| ADD TO EBOOK |
