42 ACANTHACEJE. 



a redJisli colour with sulphuric acid, green at the margin u 

 impure, and is best distiuguished by the fine violet colovu' its 

 solutions impart when brought into contact with ferric salts. 

 With H^SO* and K^CR^O^ an agreeable odour of salicylous 

 acid is evolved. It is associated with, a substance whicii 

 reduces Fehling's solution. Another white crystalline principle 

 is present in the seeds which is not bitter, and does not give 

 colour reactions with sulphuric acid and ferric salts. Tlie 

 latter crystals melted on the surface of heated mercury at 22o . 

 The aqueous extract of the seeds contained much mucilage and 

 vegetable albumen. The ash amounted to 7'1 per cent. 



Commerce. — Utanjan is imported into Bombay from Egypt- 

 Value Es. H per lb. In Sind and Northern India it is collected 

 locally. 



ACANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS, X'V''^ 



Vlg.— 'B.Jieede, Hori. Mai. ii., f. 48. Holly-leaved A 

 (Eng.). 



4 



Hab, 



bunds. The plant and root. 



Harkdchkanta {Hmd., Beng.), MirAndi {Mar.)^ 

 Moranna {Goa.), Paina-schulli {MaL). 



History, Uses, &C. — Roxburgb states that the Sanskrit 

 name of this plant is Harikasa, but w^e cannot find any plant 

 bearing tliis name mentioned bv Hindu medical writers. 



Ainslie 



and 



ground small and soaked in water as an application to snake- 

 bites. Bontius commends its expectorant qualities. It is ^ 

 plant in great request among tlie Siamese and Cochin- Chinese, 

 and is called by the latter Cay-o-ro, who consider the roots to be 

 cordial and attenuaut, and useful in paralysis and asthiBa. 



1 



(Flm 



In the Concan a decoc 



tion of the plant with sugar-candy and cumin is given i» 

 dysprpsia with acid crurfations. In Goa the leaves which 



