. 
262 COMPOSITZ, 
altered, but mostly reprecipitated on cooling; on the slow 
evaporation of its aqueous solution it may be obtained in crys- 
talline spheres, and by hydration it is converted into gum-like 
and horny modifications. It appears to be the anhydride of 
levulose, its formula being C°H!°Q5 °H’O, but it does not 
reduce Fehling’s solution, Heated with water in sealed tubes, 
it yields levulose ; with hot baryta-water lactic acid is formed, 
diluted nitric acid oxidizes it to formic, oxalic, racemic, gly- 
collic, and probably glyoxylic acids. Inulin differs from starch 
by the absence of concentric layers, does not yield a jelly with 
water, and it is coloured yellow (not blue) by iodine. (Stillé 
and Maisch.) ! 
XANTHIUM STRUMARIUM, Linn. 
Fig.—Eng. Bot. 36, t. 2544; Matth. Valg. 2, 545, fe 
Broad-leaved Burweed (Hng.), Lampourde (Fr.). 
Hab.—Hotter parts of India and Ceylon. Europe. The 
herb. 
Vernacular.—Gokhru-kallan (Punj.,Sind.), Ban-okra(Beng.), 
Marlumatta (Tam.), Veritel-nep (Tel.), Shankeshvar (Mar.), 
Shankhahuli (Hind.), Kadvalamara (Can.), 
History, Uses, &c.—The févbor of Dioscorides (IV. 
133,) appears to be this plant; he tells us how it should be used 
to dye the hair, and also notices its use in dispelling tumours. 
The generic name has been given it on account of its contain- 
ing a yellow-colouring matter, and the specific name is an 
allusion to its use in scrofula.. It is the Xanthium seu Lappa 
minor of Ray, Bauhin and Matthiolus. In some parts of 
Germany, where it is called Spitzklette, it has a popular repu- 
tation as a remedy for ague, and in Russia it is considered to 
be a prophylactic in hydrophobia. In the Punjab and 
Sind it is called Gokhru kallén, or * great Gokhra,’ and is 
given in small-pox on the doctrine of signatures (Stewart) ; 
its hairs and prickles are employed in medicine in China. 
(Smith.) {t appears to be the Hasak of the Eastern Arabian — - 
physicians, and the Hamaz-cl-amir of the Western, it is the 
