English name:   Scammony Root

Synonyms:    none commonly used.

Botanical origin:   Convolvulus Scammonia L.

Part used:    Root.

Impurities:   None given officially.

Assay:     Not less than 8% of the total resins of Scammony Root.

Ash:   None given

Habitat:   Western Asia.

Description:     Scammony root occurs as a mixture of entire and broken pieces.  The roots are mostly simple and twisted, with few rootlets.  They measure up to 43 cm. in length and up to 4.8 cm. in diameter.  The crown is enlarged, and in the older roots it often has twenty-five stem bases or scars.  the texture is resinous and fibrous.  The color varies from gray to yellow or reddish brown.  The surface has longitudinal furrows, which are spiral in the twisted portion of the root.  If old, the root scars are slight depressions; if recent, elevations.  The fractures is vey strong, tough, and