14 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
minal, dehiscing vertically ; filaments either filiform, with the anther-cells horizontal, approximate, and each externall 
two-lobed ; or thickened at the apex, with the cells divaricating downwards, and separated by the connective. Female 
ovaries three, six, or numerous. Drupes one to six, or numerous, one-celled, one-seeded. Peduncles axillary, or resale 
lateral; males usually many-flowered ; females generally few-flowered, without bracts, or with very small ones 7 
resent. (Landley.) 
: Specir. Cuar.—The Colomba Plant has a perennial root, with spindle-shaped fleshy tubers, filled with Jo itu. 
dinal fibres; externally they are brown, with a warty epidermis, internally deep-yellow. The stems are annual Ll 
ceous and twining; of the males, simple; of the females, branched. Leaves alternate, nearly orbicular, cordate at th 
base, wavy on the margin, divided into five to seven lobes; entire, acuminate. Racemes axillary ; in the male Ate 
compound. Flowers small, green. Calyx of six sepals, in two series, with bracteoles. Petals six, obovate half én 
sing the opposite stamens. Anthers terminal, two-celled, dehiscing vertically. Ovaries three, united ‘“ the base 
— ve a ryt the an of a hazel-nut, densely clothed with long spreading hairs, tipped with a black oblong 
gland. e whole plant is hairy and rough from this cause. | 
This plant is a native of the Mozambique Coast of Africa. Cibo is mentioned as a locality of it 
spontaneously, and is not cultivated by the natives. The manner of preparing the root is to ‘aeve it fiom a 
during the dry season, which is in March, and after washing it, to cut it into sections, usually horizontal, and then dry 
peuimadaso os yatta serail — in peo Sg pieces are marked by a thick ring on the outside, 
nee, contrasting with the contracted interior, which is formed of more 
parenchyma. The surface is marked by concentric rings. ae 
The commercial root is easily powdered, and i | i ilaoi 
large pieces holes are present, Gh akon oe a wha i Pacha . eae 
Colomba is brought into the market in bales, and as it sastnites i article re ffic in the East, 
in most of the great marts of that portion of the world. Usually B ia Gr Cale eae 
rodent por . Usually Bombay, Madras, or Calcutta, are the indirect 
Ba oy — examined by Planche, and Wittstock. Among the principles, were found in it an odorous principle, 
il? iter principle, cry: ble, odourless, bitter and neutral (Colombi d i 
Redi, in 1677, first mentioned the properties of the root of th i a wr pear 
hock i headinestaans ac tes, - "om of tl e Colomba. It was not, however, introduced into 
feome:thdinaeiaar de fon ae ks : its origin. Commerson, in 1770, procured some specimens 
description of the plant, under the name of Meni. tN ‘ies a okie one sar eare ee i a 
speciinen of the plant in 1408+ ant i ahaa on + pa atum. Mr. Fortin, a resident of Madras, obtained a living | 
Try, in the Astatic Researches, figured and described it. In 1830, Sir William 
to Dr. Percival, in 1773. 
— vi tonic, assisting and promoting digestion, without any stimulating action. It 
cture. When boiled in water the starch is dissolved, and a turbid thick solu- 
Pra’ — } 
TE ie lag the plant in Jlower, and the inflorescence and fruit. 
Be a” 
