536 CONVOLVULACEZL. 
The ‘laticiferous vessels are ceeseiemprunie ‘towards the cortical 
part; raphides abound. 
Chemical composition.— The fresh tuber, collected in Novem- 
ber when the vine had died away, was sliced, dried at a low 
temperature and reduced to fine powder. The powder dried at 
100°C., yielded 2°68 per cent. of extractive to absolute alcohol 
of which 1°78 per cent. was soluble in ether. The resins con- 
tained in the alcoholic extract had the properties of Jalap resins 
as: regards colour, reactions, &c.; but we are unable to say whe- 
ther they possess any purgative action. Sugar, reducing alka- 
line copper solution on boiling, was present to the extent of 
10-909 per cent. calculated on the anhydrous tubers. The bulk 
of the tuber consists of starch. Supposing the resins to be 
purgative, they are present in so small a proportion that no 
ordinary dose of the root would have any aperient action. 
IPOMAAA BILOBA, Forsk, 
Fig.— Rheede Hort. Mal. xi., t. 57; Bot. Reg., 319. Syn.— 
I. pescapre. Goat’sfoot Convolvulus ( Hng.). 
Hab.—Coasts of India and Ceylon. The root and leaves. 
Vernacular.—Dopatilata (Hind.), Chhagal-khuri (Beng.), 
Marjadvel (Mar.), Ravara-patri (Guz.), Balabandi-tiga, Chevul- 
apilli-tiga (Tel.),  Kutherai-kolapadi, Anttoo-kala-dumbo, 
Adapu-kodi (Tam,), Adambu-balli (Can.). 
‘History, Uses, &cC.—Vriddhadéraka is the name of a 
drug in use throughout India; it is a twisted root about half an 
inch in diameter, upon the broken or cut ends of which may be 
observed a black, concreted juice. It is supposed to strengthen 
the body. and prevent the effects of age (Vriddha déraka). 
Datt states that in Bengal the root of Argyreia speciosa is used, 
but the drug sold as Vardhéra in Western India is not the 
root of this plant; it appears, however, to be obtained from a 
plant of the same order, but, as is usually the case in India, the 
herbalists will not indicate the source from which they obtain + 
it. If we turn to the Nighantas we find the following syno-— 
