Comparative Seed Structure of Medicinally Important Holarrhena antidysenterica (Roth.) A.DC. and its Adulterant, Wrightia tinctoria R. Br. (Apocynaceae)

Abstract

Seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica, known for curing dysentery, are confounded with those of Wrightia tinctoria. The seeds of the former taxon are characterized by having hairs on the micropylar whereas in Wrightia tinctoria they are developed on the chalazal end. The seeds of these two taxa have different patterns of folding of cotyledons and spermodermal ornamentation. Heavy tanniferous deposition in the outer epidermal cells of the seed coat in H. antidysenterica and its scanty deposition in W. tinctoria is also an additional character to be used as a distinguishing feature.