This reference presents the second volume of monographs on the safety, efficacy, and quality control of medicinal plants. Thirty plants are included in this volume in alphabetical order by scientific name. The entry for each plant contains a definition of the plant, a list of selected vernacular names (in many languages), its geographical distribution, a lengthy description of the plant, discussion of the material of the plant that's generally used, tests for purity, chemical assays, major chemical constituents, medicinal uses, and pharmacology. A full list of references is provided for each plant and a cumulative index for both volumes is included. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)