ROSACER. 568 
Chemical composition—The bark yields to boiling water 12. 
per cent. of extract, containing 7°4 per cent. of a tannin, which 
1s coloured green by ferric salts. It yields to alcohol 14 per 
cent. of extract containing a resin besides the tannin. Ether 
removes from the powdered bark a body allied to catechin. 
After exhaustion with boiling water and alcohol a large quantity. . 
of red colouring matter is dissolved by caustic alkali. The ash 
amounts to 9 per cent. 
Albizzia amara, Boivin, Roxb. Cor. Pl., t. 122, a tree 
of the Western Peninsula and Ceylon, has a medicinal reputa~ 
tion similar to that of A. Lebbekand A. odoratissima. For a 
description of the gum of these trees, see Substitutes for Gum 
Arabic. The insoluble gum of A, stipulata is used by the: 
Nepalese for sizing their Daphne paper. © 
ROSACE ZX. 
AMYGDALUS COMMUNIS, Linn. 
Fig.— Bentl. and Trim., t. 99, Almond tree (Hng.), Aman-, 
dier commun (£r.). 
Hab.—Europe, Central Asia. The almonds. 
Vernaculdr—Badim (Hind., Guz.), Vaidam-kottai (Tam.), 
Bidam-vittulu (Tel.), Béd&mi (Can.), Biléti-badém (Beng.), 
Bidém (Mar.); Bitter almonds, Kurwe-bédam (Hind.), 
Kashappu-vadamkottai (Tam.), Chedu-badam-vittulu (Zel.), 
Tikta-b4démi(Can.), Karti-bidém (Mar.), Karavé-badém (Guz.). 
History, Uses, &c.—Almonds are mentioned in the 
Book of Genesis as having been carried into Egypt from 
Palestine as a present by the sons of Israel ; they are freqaently. 
“Roticed by Theophrastus* ; Dioscoridest describes the use of 
the root, seeds and gum of the bitter almond tree as medicinal 
agents, Pliny also was acquainted with almonds and the 
almond tree (amygdala).¢ He, as well as Celsus and Columella, 
* H.P. 1. 18, 19, 21, 23; 11.3; VII. 12; IX. 1. 3 
+ Dios.i., 144. { Plin. 15, 24; 23, 75+ 
