449 ASCLEPTADEZ. 
tion shaken with ether yielded up some more resinous sub- 
stance, which became encrusted with feathery crystals when 
the solvent had been dissipated. A larger quantity of alkaloid 
was present in the root than in the leaves, but it appeared to 
possess similar characters. It was amorphous, but formed a 
slightly crystalline hydrochloride. ‘The damp crystals of the 
hydrochloride brought into contact with the fumes from a 
drop of nitric acid produced a bluish-green coloration. With 
sulphuric acid the alkaloid was first coloured reddish-brown, 
passing to carmine, and then to purple. It was precipitated 
from solution by the usnal reagents. 
The alcoholic extract was emetic and purgative. A quan- 
tity from 2 grams of the leaves mixed with bread and given to 
a chicken produced frequent and watery stools. ‘The aqueous 
extract from the leaves, after removal of all that was soluble 
by means of alcohol, had no effect upon a guinea-pig. 
DAMIA EXTENSA, Br. : 
Fig.— Wight Ic.. t. 596 ; Jacq. Ic. Rar., t, 54: Hook. f. in 
Bot. Mag., t. 5704. 
Hab —Throughout India. The leaves. 
Vernacular.—Utran, Ségovani (Hind.), Veli-parutti, Ut- 
dani (Tam.), Jittupaku, Dushtupu-chettu, Guruti-chettu 
4 (Tel.), Veli-paritti (Mal.), Utarani, Utarandi (Mar.), Kuntiga, 
; Sattave, Talavfranaballi (Can.), N&gala-dudheli (Guz.), 
re eee (Beng.). 
History, Uses, &c.—The Sanskrit name of this plant is 
Phat kntakea; in allusion to its echinate follicles. The Hindi 
name Utran as well as the Marathi names are evidently deriv- 
ed from the Sanskrit Ut-tara, ‘‘ ejecting or vomiting,” and the 
Tamil name Dushtupn is also of Sanskrit origin, and signifies 
‘shaving tainted flowers.” The flowers and leaves have a 
fetid odour; they are used as an emetic and expectorant by o 
the natives, especially in the diseases of children. The stems _ 
yield a fibre, and the leaves are eaten by goats. The plan 
