40 ACANTHACEM 



per cent, of albuminoids, traces of an alkaloid^ and 23 per cent. 

 of a yellow fixed oil. The mucilage is not affected by ferric 

 chloi'ide, plumbic acetate^ or by two volumes of alcobol. 



Commerce. —The seeds are kept by all druggists. Value Rs. o 

 per maund of 37^ lbs. The root is an article of commerce la 

 Soutliera India ; elsewhere it is generally supplied by the 

 herbalists. 



Several species of Strobilanthes yield stems as thick as a 

 walking-stick and quite straight, which are used, like bamboos, 

 in the construction of mud walls and fences. The aromatic 

 flower spikes of some of these plants are used as a rustic 

 medicine b}^ the natives. The bark of 8. callositSy Nees, with an 

 equal quantity of Undi bark {CalophyUnm imyjyhyUum) , is used 



Western India as a fomentation in tenesmus 



t 



with an equal quantity of Mdka- juice {Edipta alba), boiled to 

 one-half, is mixed with old Sesamum oil, a few peppercorns 

 and ginger, heated and applied in parotitis ; equal parts of the 

 juice of the flowers and of those of Randia ditmetorum are used 

 as an application to bruises. 



in shape and 



size, and are covered with a A'iscid resinous exudation called Md. 



m 



BLEPHARIS EDULIS, Ters. 



Y\g,—Bunn. FL Ind., t. 42; Delile Fl jEg., t. 33,/. 3. 



Hab. — Punjabj Sind, Persia. The seeds. 

 Veniaciilar. — Utanjau {Ind. Bazars). 



History, Uses, &C. — ruder the local name of Utanjaii 

 and the Persian name Anjurah, an Acanthaceous seed is sold in 

 the Indian bazars. From an examination of the capsules 

 which are sometimes found mixed with the seeds, there would 

 appear to be little doubt that they are those of the plant placed 

 at the head of this article. Utanjan is a standard native remedy 

 and is universuUy kept in the druggists' shops. The author of 



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