210  MALVACE. 
Description.—The seeds are brown, about 2 lines long, | 
-kidney-shaped, slightly compressed, marked with minuto 
parallel elevated lines ; they have a small distinct hilum ; the 
-odour is purely musky. | 
- 
we 
Lae Se Se PME ee, 
Chemical compositton.—M. Bonastre, who analysed the seeds, 
found them to consist of parenchyme and moisture 52, gum 36, 
alumen 5:6, and fixed oil, solid crystalline matter, odorous 
principle and resin 6°4 per cent. The fixed oil was greenish 
yellow, fluid at 32° Fahr., but solidified gradually by exposure 
to theair. ‘The solid crystalline matter was deposited from the 
hot alcoholic solution of the seeds; it was white, pearly, of @ 
pleasant taste, soluble in ether, from which it crystallized in ray 
fusible at 95° Fahr. The odorous mattter was a light green fluid 
with a strong smell of musk ; it was not volatile —(Journal de 
Pharmacie, Vol. xx., p. 881.) Messrs. Schimmel of Leipaic 
give the following description of musk seed oil :—Speeilic 
gravity 900 at 25° C., it solidifies at a temperature below 
10° C., and contains a free fatty acid which partially separates 
even at the ordinary temperature.. This acid is not myristi® 
but probably palmitic acid. In the distillation the oil partially 
decomposes ; the distillate is strongly acid and contains free 
acetic and fatty acid. The oil after being freed from the fatty 
acid remains liquid at 0° ©. (Report, October, 1887.) 
__ Commerce.—The seeds do not appear to be exported from 
India ; those from the W. Indies fetch about 6 pence per Ibs 
at Mincing Lane. 
4 
, 
i 
ql 
SLPS. LO eee 
on HIBISCUS CANCELLATUS, Roz. 
: var. esculentus, Linn. 
Fig.—Bentl. and Trim., t. 36, Tsculent Okro, Gombe 
. (Eng.), Ketmia comestible (Fr.). 
Hab.—Cultivated in all tropical countries. The fruit. 
Vernacular.—Rém-turai (Hind.), Bhenda (Mar.), Vendaik- — 
kay (Tam.), Dheras (Beng.), Bhindu (@ua.), Bendekai (Cam) — 
Bonda-kéya (Tel.). a ee (a 
