214 MALVACE. 
History, Uses, &c.—This tree is much valued on 
account of the toughness of its timber, which is used for 
carriage building. It is the Hibiscus populneus of Rumphius 
(III. 31), who speaks highly of the value of the heart-wood as 
a remedy in bilious attacks and colic, and in a kind of pleuro- 
dynia from which the Malays often suffer. The fruit abounds 
in a viscid yellow juice of the colour of gamboge, which the 
natives use as an external application in psoriasis. The leaves 
are applied to inflamed and swollen joints. he tree is called 
in Sanskrit Périsa and Gardhabhinda; it is noticed by 
Ainslie, who says that a decoction .of the bark is gives 
internally as an alterative to the extent of 83—4 ounces twice 
daily. The author of the Bengal Dispensatory also notices its 
but expresses no opinion as to its properties. Several trials 
with this remedy were made by the Editor of the Pharmaco- 
poeia of India in scabies and other cutaneous diseases ; in om 
cases it exercised a favourable influence, but in the majority m 
was productive of little or no benefit. 
According to Brannt (Animal and Veget. Fats and Oils) the 
seeds contain a dark red oil, known as ‘huile amére” which 
is stated to be used for medicinal purposes. 
a Description.—The capsule is about 1} inch m diameter, 
oblong, depressed, scaly, ultimately glabrescent, coriaceous 
4-celled, each cell being divided by a partial dissepiment into 
two parts; seeds the size of a pea, pilose, cotyledons con- 
duplicate, radicle thick, the capsule abounds in viscid yellow. 
juice, which is contained in lacune in the inner soft portion. 
This juice when mixed with water forms a primrose-coloured 
emulsion, which is not precipitated by oxalate of ammonla, 
sulphuric acid, chloride of barium, or subacetate of lead. On 
the addition of Liq. potasse and alcohol, the emulsion becomes - 
transparent and retains its yellow colour; on the addition of 
sulphuric acid to the clear potash solution, the colouring 
matter separates asa curdy precipitate of a greenish yellow 
_ eolour which floats upon the surface. The heart-wood is of 4 
_ purplish-red colour and has a pleasant odour; it is very hard : 
