no RUTACEiE. 



a substance capable o£ being converted into salicylic acid. An aqueous 

 infusion of buchu leaves turns beautifully yellow if it is mixed with 

 alkali. 



On addition of perchloride of iron the infusion assumes a dingy 

 brownisli-green colour changing to red by an alkali. The infusion 

 added to a concentrated solution of acetate of copper causes a yellow 

 ])recipitate^ which dissolves in caustic potash, affording a green solution. 

 This may be due to the presence of a substance of the quercitrin or 

 rutin class. 



When the leaves are infused in warm water, the mucilage noticed 

 under the microscope may easily be pressed out. It requires for 

 precipitation a large amount of alcohol, being readily miscible with 

 dilute alcohol. Neutral acetate of lead produces a yellow precipitate 

 in an infusion of the leaves ; the liquid affords a precipitate by a sub- 

 sequent addition of hasic acetate of lead. The latter precipitate is 

 (probably) due to the mucilage, that afforded by neutral acetate partly 

 to mucilage and partly, we suppose, to rutin or an allied substance. 

 Yet the mucilage of buchu leaves is of the class which is not properly 

 dissolved by water, but only swells up like tragacanth. 



The leaves of B. crenulata afforded us upon incineration 47 pei' 

 cent, of ash. Jones (1879) obtained on an average 4-54 per cent, from 

 the same species; 5-27 from B. serrati folia ; and 4-49 from B. hetidvni. 



pointed out the presence of manganate in this ash. 



I he Diosmin of Landerer is entirely unknown to us. 

 Commerce— The export of 



<^ommerce— The export of buchu from the Cape Colony inl»'- 

 was .J79,12.5 ft., about one-sixth of which quantity was shipped direct 

 to the United States.^ ^ 



■ 



Uses— Buchu is principally administered in disorders of the unno- 

 genital organs. It is reputed diuretic and diaphoretic. In the tap 

 ^oJony the leaves are much employed as a popular stimulant ana 

 stoinachic, nifused in water, sherry, or brandy. They are also exten- 

 sively used m the United States, both in regular medicine and by tUt 

 vendors of secret rem(^diV« ^ 



ouustitutes-The leaves oi J^mdeunim sermlatum Ait., a snia 

 «Hrub of the same order as Barosma and growing in the sau 

 localities, have been imported rather frequentTy of late and sold a^ 

 +1,1 P'^^ ^'""^^ ^^^ «ame structure as regards mucilage, and ne^. 



the same form as those of B. serratijUia, but are easily distingi\ish ' 



dp7-^'''Vf ? '^f^^^-er, and often longer than those of B. serrd^^'^ 

 devoid of lateral vdns, and terminate in an acute point ivithof «'' ^ 

 ^HcJ. They have a bitterish tasle and a less powerful odour than thos 

 of Barosma, even in fresh leaves as imported in London. The odour 

 bZ n^'^'^Ti' li^^^-^^v^r distinctly ditferent from that of the Y^^' 

 an nn f" 1 ^^'^ ^r^"'' ^*' Emphnram are still more distinct, for t ;^ 

 cimpTot r\r^ ''^^'* ^^^^^^"- The fruit consisting of a ^ 

 iml ke ut tl'"? '^^"P^l' terminated by a flat-shaped horn, is q^"^ 

 iiniikt that of buchu. ^ , 



liie leaves of Barosma Edioniumi Berc. (regarded by Sonder • 



^^^^IS' ^' ^""8 as it is in the a Blue Boole publishe<l at CapeToW^' JV 



(1859-60) 393. 



