28PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON TRICALYSIA SPHAEROCARPA (DALZELL) GAMBLEThe present work has been taken up to study the crude drug of Tricalysia sphaerocarpa (Dalzell)Gamble of the family Rubiaceae. The morphological characters of the plant; the anatomical characters of the leaf, stem, and root, microscopic observations of the crude drug; qualitative analysis of primary and secondary metabolites such as carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins etc., of the powder as well as different solvent extracts of leaf and ash values were studied. Qualitative phytochemical observations revealed the presence of many primary and secondary metabolites. The values calculates/ data collected could be used for the identification and standardization of the powdered drug of this taxon. sachithananthakumarkumar@yahoo.comResearch322013Tricalysia sphaerocarpa,Pharmacognosy,PhytochemistryG. Anandhi,A. PragasamDepartment of Plant Science, Kanchi Mamunivar centre for post graduate studies, Lawspet, Puducherry-605008,Department of Plant Science, Kanchi Mamunivar centre for post graduate studies, Lawspet, Puducherry-605008