208. Cydonium.—Quince seed.
Botanical name:
208. CYDONIUM.—QUINCE SEED. Pyr'us cydo'nia Linné. Habitat: Western Asia; cultivated. About 6 mm. (1/4 in.) long, ovate, somewhat triangularly compressed, with the hilum near the pointed end; testa dark brown, covered with a thin, mucilaginous membrane or epithelium, causing the seeds to adhere in masses. The two cotyledons are thick and oily, veined, with a short conical radicle. Taste and odor of the embryo like bitter almonds, of the unbroken seed mucilaginous and insipid. The testa contains a large amount of mucilage; the embryo, fixed oil. A decoction is often used as a demulcent, and as an addition to eye-lotions.
