APOCYNACEA. 422 
PLUMERIA ACUTIFOLIA, Poir. . 
- Pig.—Wight Ic. t. 471; Bot. Mag. t. 3952; Bot. Reg. ¢, 
114. Jasmine tree (Hng.), Frangipanier (fr.). He 
- Hab.—Uncertain, Cultivated throughout India. The 
bark and flowers. ; 
Vernacular.—Khair-champa, Sufed-champa  (Hind.), 
Gobarchampa (Beng.), Dolo-champa (Guz.), Khera-chapha 
(Mar.).— , 
_ History, Uses, &c.— This plant is the Flos convalutus 
of Rumphius (vi. 43), who states that it is not used medicinally 
in Amboyna, but remarks that its juice partakes of the nature 
and properties of Gamboge. It appears to have been intro- 
duced into India by the Portuguese from Brazil, as it is usually 
_ planted in the churchyards of the native Christians, in order 
that it may deck the graves with its white deciduous flowers, 
_ which are produced almost all the year round. The Hindus 
_ make-use of its flowers in religious ceremonies, and have given 
the Sanskrit name of Kshira-champa, ‘‘ milky Champa,’’ to the 
_ shrob. Mir Muhammad Husain describes the tree under 
the name of A’chin (w3¢1), and states that the root-bark 
is a strong purgative, and also a useful remedy in gonorrhea 
and for venereal sores. He recommends buttermilk to be 
given in cases of excessive purgation after its use. Plasters 
made of the bark are said to be useful in dispersing hard 
tumours. 
The natives of India frequently use the bark as a purgative 
and apply the heated leaves to dispel swellings, and the milky 
juice as a rubefacient in rheumatic pains, and with sandal- 
_ - wood oil and camphor to cure itch. 
The flower buds are eaten with Betel leaves as a febrifuge, 
_ Dr Hové, who visited Bombay in 1787, found the plant grow- 
ing abundantly on Malabar Hill, which was then uninhabited, 
H e remarks that the natives use it in intermittents as we do 
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