173. Nectandra.—Bebeeru bark. Greenheart bark.
173. NECTANDRA.—BEBEERU BARK. GREENHEART BARK. From Nectan'dra ro'diaei Schomburgk. Habitat: South America. Large, flat, heavy pieces, from 250 to 300 mm. (10 to 12 in.) long, 50 to 150 mm. (2 to 6 in.) broad; usually deprived of the cork, leaving longitudinal depressions in the grayish-brown outer surface similar to the digital furrows of flat calisaya bark; internally pale brown, roughly striate. Its structure is chiefly short liber cells filled with secondary deposit, causing it to break with a short fracture. Inodorous; intensely bitter, somewhat astringent. It contains tannin, beberine (identical with buxine and pelosine), and sipirine.
ACTION AND USES.—Tonic, astringent, and febrifuge, introduced as a substitute for cinchona as an antiperiodic, but much inferior. Dose: 15 to 60 gr. (1 to 4 Gm.), commonly used in the form of beberine sulphate.
