COMPOSITA. 263 
Khar-i-khasak of Persia, and Haji Zein informs us that it is 
Ned Khar-i-sthék at Shiraz, and Harada at Ispahan; the 
name is an allusion to its yellow colour, Harad is the 
ld Persian for turmeric. Hasak is described by Mahometan 
iters on Materia Medica as useful for dispelling tumours 
and curing ophthalmia, also in renal and urinary complaints 
a diuretic, and in colic; it is said to be aphrodisiac, 
The Hindus consider the whole plant to be diaphoretic and 
Sedative, and very efficacious in long-standing cases of mala- 
Seckerit writers. Loureiro states that the seeds are attenuant 
and eapicont of inflammatory swellings. In America and 
dorific, sialogogue and slightly diuretic. The dose given 
been 10 grains of the ary leaves. ~ 
Description. —Stem erect, scabrous, clouded with ioe 
loured spots; leaves alternate, petioled, cordate or kidney- 
aped, notched, waved, 3-nerved, scabrous, about 4 inches 
iameter, petioles round, scabrous, as long*as the leaves : : 
ers terminal and from the superior axils, male aggregate 
ve the female, short peduncled ; female, subsessile, solitary ; 
erm superior, oblong, armed. with uncinate bristles, 2-celled, 
ch cell containing one ovule en veloped i in an interior tunic. 
enemical, composition.—Zander (1881) obtained. from 100 
ts of the fruit 5-2 ash, 38°6 fat, 36-6 albuminoids, 13 
inthostrumarin and organic acids, besides sugar, resin, &c. 
Xs mthosteamarin seems to bea glucoside, is yellow, amor- 
phous, soluble in water, alcohol, ether, benzol and chloroform, 
\d yields precipitates with group reagents for alkaloids, and 
7 sierric chloride, lead acetate, and salts of other metals, 
