Botany, Plant Identification & Materia Medica Flashcards

In botanical terminology, a 'drupe' is a fruit type exemplified by which medicinal plant?

Answer: Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree berry)

Vitex produces a drupe — a fleshy fruit with a hard inner stone (endocarp) enclosing the seed — a key distinction from the pome (hawthorn) or achene (rose).

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid found in Hydrastis canadensis, Berberis vulgaris, and Coptis chinensis, is primarily indicated for:

Answer: Antimicrobial and anti-diarrheal actions

Berberine demonstrates antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens and reduces intestinal secretion, supporting its traditional use for infections and diarrhea.

When a botanical key uses the term 'glabrous,' it means the plant surface is:

Answer: Smooth and without hairs

Glabrous means completely hairless or smooth, the opposite of pubescent, pilose, or tomentose surface descriptions.

Turnera diffusa (damiana) is traditionally classified as an herb acting primarily on the:

Answer: Nervous and reproductive systems as a tonic and aphrodisiac

Damiana has a long history of use as a nervous system tonic and reproductive tonic, with traditional claims of aphrodisiac properties in both men and women.

Which of the following correctly describes the materia medica action of 'emmenagogue'?

Answer: An herb that promotes or stimulates menstrual flow

Emmenagogues stimulate or increase menstrual flow; strong emmenagogues like pennyroyal are contraindicated in pregnancy due to risk of miscarriage.

Matricaria chamomilla is distinguished from the morphologically similar Anthemis cotula (mayweed) in the field by:

Answer: Hollow, conical receptacle and sweet apple scent in chamomile

True chamomile (M. chamomilla) has a hollow, dome-shaped receptacle when cut and a characteristic sweet, apple-like scent; Anthemis cotula smells unpleasant.

The energetic concept of 'tropism' in herbal medicine refers to:

Answer: An herb's affinity or preferential action toward specific body systems or organs

In materia medica, tropism describes an herb's tendency to exert its primary effects on particular organ systems, such as hawthorn's cardiac tropism.