MALVACEA. 909 
Chemical composition.—The leaves contain a large quantity 
of mucilage precipitable with neutral plumbic acetate and 
ferric chloride, a little tannin or organic acid not affected by 
gelatine solution, and traces of asparagin, During the igni- 
tion of the dried leaves ammonia is evolved in some quantity, 
and when completely burnt, over 16 per.cent. of white mineral 
residue is left. Nearly half the ash consists of alkaline sulphates 
and chlorides, and the remainder of. magnesium phosphate, 
- calcium carbonate and sand. 
Commerce.—The seed is sold by all pieeees Value, Rs. 6 
per Surat maund of 37 lbs. - 
q HIBISCUS ABELMOSCHUS, Linn. = 
| -Fig.—Wight Ic., t. 399. Musk Mallow (Hng.), Ketmia 
_Ambrette (Fr.). 
Hab.—Most tropical countries. The seeds. 
Vernacular.—The seeds, Mishk-dinah, Mishk-bhendi-ke-bij 
(Hind.), Kasturi-benda-vittulu (el.), Kattuk-kasturi (Tam.), 
Kasturi-dina (Beng.), Kasturi-bhenda-che-bij (Mar.). 
: History, Uses, &c.—These aromatic seeds are regarded 
3 by the Hindus as cooling, tonic and carminative.' Arabic and 
_ Persian writers notice them —_ the name of Mishk-d4nah, 
and describe them as Indian, ially abundant in Bengal ; 
they consider them to be cold and dry, and to have stomachic 
‘are coe imported into France from the West 2 
by — me. use them as o-subetitate ec Usk, 
