428 ASOLEPIADEE. 
- The, -plant may be easily’ recognised’ by its oleander-like 
leaves, and red and orange flowers in eign bunches. in 
follicles are like radish pods. 
Chemical composition.—Dr. Gram (Archiv. f. eap. Path. ts 
Pharm. xix., 384,) has found the plant to contain an active 
principle of a glucosidal character, which. he has named as¢ele- 
piadin, and appears to consider a purer form of the ascle- 
piadin of Harnack and the asclepin of Feneulle. ‘This 
substance was yellowish, amorphous, and when freshly pre- 
pared very soluble in. water; but either. in solution or in a 
dry state it quickly decomposed, sugar being separated,’ and 
the residual compound becoming in proportion insoluble im 
water and inert.. From an ethereal solution. crystals gradually 
separated out, apparently identical with List’s NN an 
7 inactive physiologically. 
The physiological action of the siniclversi asclepiadin was 
fiana to closely resemble that of emetin, but in view of thé 
instability of the compound, Dr. Gram doubts whether it can 
be advantageously introduced into medicine. 
Asclepione, €4#°H5*0°, was discovered by C. List in the 
milk sap of Asclepias syriaca. (Gmelin Handb. 17,868.) 
Feneulle separated a resinous substance and a bitter principle 
(asclepin) from Asclepias Vincetowicum. (J. Pharm. 11, 305.) 
CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA, B. Br. 
’ Fig.—Wight Ill, t. 155; Grif. Ic. Pl. Asi, t. 397, 998 
Gigantic Swallowwort (Eng.), Arbre a soie (Fr.). 
1a -—Throughout India, Malay Islands, S. China, ah 
-CALOTROPIS PROCERA, 8. Br... 
ea Sawai Ie., t. 1278; Bentl. and Prim. 1.176 
b.— 
: Mies ME hen pil Pie Ate Persia to. Africa, 
_Vernacular,—Ak, Madér (Hind. ), Akenda (Be - 
(Mar.), Erukka, Yeream (Tam.), Jilledu-chetin, re : 
(Tel.), Akado (Guz.), hae Yakke-gida (Gan.) as 
che aie? 
