VERBENA OEM, S I 



The leaves of C. infortunatum were devoid of the odorous 

 principle noticed in the former species, and yielded no volatile 

 constituent when boiled with water. The ether extract contained 

 a quantity of resinous matter, and gave up th^ bitter principles 

 when heated with water ; the extract was of a less fatty consistence 

 than that from the C, inerme leaves. The spirituous extract was 

 also much larger than in the previous sample, and was differently 

 constituted, inasmuch as it almost entirely consisted of a tannin, 

 giving a green colour with ferric chloride. These leaves con- 

 tain much more soluble organic matter than the former, but 

 the percentage composition of the ash shows that the soluble 

 inorganic salts are much smaller. The ash of these leaves 

 amounted to 12'3 per cent, {Kooper in Pharm. Eecordy Aug. 1st, 



1888.) 



Clerodendron Siphonanthus, Br., Lam. Ill, «. 79^ 



/. i. ; Wight IlUy t. 173, is stated by M. C. Dutt to be in use in 

 Bengal as Bharnngi, but the samples of that drug w^hich we 

 obtained from Calcutta and Cawnpore proved to be the stems 

 and roots of C. serratum, Spr,^ Wight lo.y t 1472; BoU 



Mag. J t^ 2536. Fiom enquiries we have made thore is no doubt 

 that the latter plant is largely used in many parts of India as 

 a substitute for Premna heroacea^ the true Grnntu Bharangi, but 

 if we regard the root of (7. serratum as the true Bharangi, and 

 the root of P. herhacea as the Gantu (or knotted) Bharangi, 

 there will be no confusion. (7, serratum has a light-eoloured 

 root, very often contorted^ and seldom more than an inch in 

 diameter. A light brown epidermis and thin bark cover the 

 tough woody portion, which shows well-marked medullary rays 

 and concentric rings. The drug contains much starch, it is 

 faintly bitter, and has no peculiar odour. The young tops and 

 light blu(! flowers are used as a vegetable by the natives. 



The root of 0. serratum did not yield anything of great 

 activity when examined chemically, which proves that there is 

 little to recommend it as a medical agent. * The wood of the root 

 is almost inert and tasteless ; the thin bark constitutes only one- 

 fifth of the weight of the dried root and contains a small 



