394, AN ACARDIACEE. 
Chemical composition.—The powdered bark exhausted with 
hot water affords 15 per cent. of extract containing 9°1 per 
cent. of tannin. The ash (9°3 per cent.) is very deliquescent 
on account of the presence of a considerable quantity of potas- 
sium carbonate. 
‘BUCHANANIA LATIFOLIA, Roz. 
Fig.—Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 165. 
Hab—Hot, drier parts of India, ascending to 3,000 feet. 
The seeds. 
Vernacular.—Chironji, Piy&r, Piy4l (Hind.), Chirongi, Piyal 
(Beng.), Chéroli (Guz.), Chara, Chéroli (Mar.), Moreda, Mouda 
(Tam.), Chira-pappo, Morala (Tel.), Nuskul, Murkalu (Can.), 
Chirauli (Punj.), Mura, Munga Peru (Mai.). 
History, Uses, &c.—This tree is called in Sanskrit 
Piy4la, Chara and Tapasa-priya, or “dear to hermits.” The 
seeds are an article of commerce, and appear to have been in 
use from a remote period in the preparation of sweetmeats, 
and as an ingredient in demulcent cough mixtures, generally ~ 
in combination with dates, almonds, sesamum and cucumber | 
seeds. Similar mixtures are also prescribed as a nourishment 
in debility. Charred slightly over the fire they form an excel- 
lent after-dinner dish. The oil has been recommended for 
baldness. The bark is used in Tranvancore for tanning. 
Description—tThe fruit is a sub-globose, slightly com- 
pressed drupe, half inch in diameter, of a deep purple colour. 
Stone hard, 2-valved. Kernels laterally compressed like a 
vetch seed, brown, mottled with darker brown, rather more 
‘than 7 inch in length, and rather less than } inch in breadth. 
Slight pressure separates the oily cotyledons, which have 4 
very agreeable nutty flavour. 4 
_ Chemical composition.—The seeds have been examined by _ 
Church, who found in 100 parts—~ Water 5 7, albuminoids 27° 9, 
 mucilage, &c., 2°7, oil 58-6, fibre 1-8, ash 3°3. The expressed 
" oil of the seeds commences to congeal into a white semi-solid 
